October 7th 1780 *230 years ago. American History

[Woodland Detectors]

In Memory of a Very important Revolutionary War battle that was decided near here 230 years ago.....Today around 3 PM


In North Carolina, Major Ferguson was patrolling with a force of over 1,000 Tory supporters attempting to pacify the countryside. With violence and atrocities rising on both sides, 1,200 militia men, most from North Carolina but with some Virginians and South Carolinians, gathered to stop Ferguson and his troops. When Ferguson became aware of the large contingent of militia gathering, he decided it would be prudent to move back toward Cornwalis' larger forces. The militia followed rapidly and, when Ferguson realized that they were overtaking him, he organized his defenses atop King's Mountain, a wooded hill with a clear top. On October 7, 1780 the militia arrived at the base of the mountain and surrounded it. Soon they began scaling it on all sides. The patriots had the advantage that the slopes of the mountain were very wooded, while the summit was not, exposing the Tory troops to attack by the concealed Americans. The defenders' losses quickly mounted and, when Ferguson was killed, the fight went out of the remaining soldiers. Of the Tory troops, 157 were killed, 163 were severely wounded and 698 were captured. The patriot militia lost only 28 killed and 62 wounded. This was a huge victory for American Independence.

**This thread is intended for education purposes only.
Not to debate whether war is right, or wrong. Or to suggest I dislike British people. Thanks!

 

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[Woodland Detectors]

Re: Today, October 7th 1780 *230 years ago

THE BATTLE BEGINS 3PM

Upon arriving at Kings Mountain, the Patriot soldiers dismounted. After tying up the horses, the soldiers formed in a horseshoe around the base of the mountain behind their leaders, who remained on horseback.

Ferguson was right in believing that his would be attackers would expose themselves to musket fire if they attempted to scale the summit. But Ferguson did not realize his men could only fire if they went out into the open, exposing themselves to musket fire. Most of the Patriot troops were skilled hunters who routinely killed fast moving animals. On this day, Ferguson's men would not find escape an easy task.

The fighting began around 3 p.m. when some of Ferguson's men noticed the Patriot soldiers surrounding the mountain. After a brief skirmish, the shooting began in earnest when two of the Patriot regiments opened fire on the Loyalists simultaneously. The Loyalists fired back but the Patriots were protected by the heavily wooded area.

The regiments commanded by Colonels Isaac Shelby and William Campbell marched toward Ferguson's men but were driven back twice by Loyalist fire. But as one regiment was driven back, another would advance. Ferguson had to shift his reserves from one place to another while continuing to take heavy losses from the concealed American sharpshooters in the trees. Eventually, other Patriot troops provided enough support that Shelby and Campbell's regiments reached the summit.

During the battle, Patrick Ferguson commanded his men with the use of a silver whistle. Many Patriot fighters later recalled hearing the sound of Ferguson's whistle over the sound of the rifle fire. The whistle and the checkered hunting shirt he wore over his uniform made the Scottish commander quite noticeable on the battlefield.

After nearly an hour of fighting, Ferguson suddenly fell from his horse. One foot was hanging in his stirrup -- several, perhaps as many as eight bullets were in his body. Some accounts say he died before he hit the ground. Other accounts say that his men propped him against a tree, where he died. Ferguson was the only British soldier killed in the battle -- all others were Americans, either Loyalist or Patriot.

Ferguson's second in command then ordered that a white flag of surrender be hoisted.

Despite the call for surrender by the Loyalists, the Patriots could not immediately stop their men from shooting. Many Patriots remembered that the infamous Colonel Tarleton had mowed down Patriot troops at Waxhaw despite the fact that the troops were trying to surrender. Eventually, the fighting at Kings Mountain stopped.

In all, 225 Loyalists were killed, 163 were wounded, 716 were taken prisoner. 28 Patriots were killed and 68 were wounded. Among the Patriot dead: Colonel James Williams of South Carolina.
BATTLE ENDS: PATRIOTS MARCH PRISONERS TO HILLSBOROUGH

After the battle, the victorious Patriots and the captured Loyalists had to camp together. Soon it became dark and the cries of the wounded were heard and often unheeded.

The next morning, the sun came out for the first time in days. Fearing that Cornwallis would soon be upon them, many of the Patriot militia left for their homes. A contingent of Patriots took the prisoners northward to the Continental Army jurisdiction in Hillsborough....

http://www.theamericanrevolution.org/battledetail.aspx?battle=25

 

[Woodland Detectors]

Re: TODAY , October 7th 1780 *230 years ago around 3 PM

Historians consider the Battle of Kings Mountain to be the "turning point in the South" in America's War for Independence. The victory of Patriots over Loyalist troops destroyed the left wing of Cornwallis army. The battle also effectively ended, at least temporarily, the British advance into North Carolina. Lord Cornwallis was forced to retreat from Charlotte into South Carolina to wait for reinforcements. The victory of the Overmountain Men allowed General Nathaniel Greene the opportunity to reorganize the American Army.

When British General Henry Clinton learned of his men's defeat at Kings Mountain, he is reported to have called it "the first link of a chain of evils" that he feared might lead to the collapse of the British plans to quash the Patriot rebellion. He was right. American forces went on to defeat the British ar Cowpens. A little more than a year after Kings Mountain, Washington accepted Cornwallis's surrender at Yorktown, Virginia.

 

[Woodland Detectors]

Re: TODAY , October 7th 1780 *230 years ago around 3 PM

The Pemberton Oak was the landmark that was used by the Militia under Capt. John Pemberton's command as a muster site.

His men mustered here in 1780 on their way to the grand muster at Sycamore Shoals and on to the Battle of Kings Mountain.

 

[Woodland Detectors]

Re: TODAY , October 7th 1780 *230 years ago around 3 PM

A piece of History.

A large caliber lead ball that appears to have "Hit its mark"
One of many, I dug this year near the Battle Site on private property with permission granted.

 

[Dano Sverige]

Re: TODAY , October 7th 1780 *230 years ago. ALL AMERICANS MUST READ

HURRAH!...Ho Hum

(Not bitter at all here lalalalala)

 

[Woodland Detectors]

Re: TODAY , October 7th 1780 *230 years ago. ALL AMERICANS MUST READ

 

[Chug And Red]

Re: TODAY , October 7th 1780 *230 years ago. ALL AMERICANS MUST READ

WOW!!! Really amazing history, and your pics are wonderful!!!! I can't wait to show Chug when he gets home from work today, and my middle son, they both love stuff like this! My son would absolutely love the lead ball, he collects stuff like this!!! Thanks for sharing, you really made my day!!! Red

 

[littletwig]

Re: TODAY , October 7th 1780 *230 years ago. ALL AMERICANS MUST READ

Great history lesson. Really interesting.

 

[Obscurist]

Re: TODAY , October 7th 1780 *230 years ago. ALL AMERICANS MUST READ

Puts a lump in your throat... thanks so much for sharing, Mike. I'll be thinking of these brave men this afternoon.

 

[Woodland Detectors]

Re: TODAY , October 7th 1780 *230 years ago. ALL AMERICANS MUST READ

Puts a lump in your throat... thanks so much for sharing, Mike. I'll be thinking of these brave men this afternoon.

Same here Vance.
Maybe tomorrow we can dig some of that type of history huh?

 

[treasurehound]

Re: TODAY , October 7th 1780 *230 years ago. ALL AMERICANS MUST READ

Great story Mike. I can't wait to hunt some places like that.

 

[49r Relics]

Re: TODAY , October 7th 1780 *230 years ago. ALL AMERICANS MUST READ

Awesome post . . Thank you! You guys are really fortunate to live around such history

HH, Mark

 

[Charmin]

Re: TODAY , October 7th 1780 *230 years ago. ALL AMERICANS MUST READ

If that don't make you PROUD to be an American, I don't know what would!
Thanks Mike for a wonderful history lesson!
(And EXCELLENT photography, too!)

 

[Dano Sverige]

Re: TODAY , October 7th 1780 *230 years ago. ALL AMERICANS MUST READ

Don't forget the losing side were Americans too!
Civil wars are always bad and it's a shame when men from the same country fight each other for what they believe is right.(and yes i know this wasn't a civil war..but as there was only 1 Brit amongst both sides...that's how i see this battle.)
Nothing to be "proud" about in this one in my opinion.

 

[Old Town]

Re: TODAY , October 7th 1780 *230 years ago. ALL AMERICANS MUST READ

It was very much a civil war. More Americans killed fellow Americans than Redcoats. The Tories (or is it Torys?) were Americans who didn't mind the status quo. The rebel Americans killed them with glee just because they were of a different mindset. Not a good reason to kill if you ask me.

I never lionize the winning side in a civil war.

 

[Michaelangelo]

Re: TODAY , October 7th 1780 *230 years ago. ALL AMERICANS MUST READ

Not a Civil War but a revolution to overthrow a government that overburdened its citizens with unfair taxes (sound familiar?).
Dano and Old Town-Guess it all depends on what side you would have chosen to be on as to whether you would be proud or not.

 

[Old Town]

Re: TODAY , October 7th 1780 *230 years ago. ALL AMERICANS MUST READ

Not a Civil War but a revolution to overthrow a government that overburdened its citizens with unfair taxes (sound familiar?).
Dano and Old Town-Guess it all depends on what side you would have chosen to be on as to whether you would be proud or not.

Correct Michaelangelo. But I wouldn't kill my fellow neighbors over taxes. Unfair or not, that's no reason to kill in my eyes. I'd have sat out the American Revolution. Maybe headed west with the rest of the early mountain men. Find the Mississippi. Do anything but get chewed up in a war that wasn't needed. In time England would have lost control of such a large nation anyway. Look at the old USSR. In time the people just took over. The old system ran out of steam. Nations evolve. It takes time but getting killed to rush things doesn't make sense to me. No matter how romantic Mel Gibson made it look in the movie.

OT

 

[Adventure Wolf]

Re: TODAY , October 7th 1780 *230 years ago. ALL AMERICANS MUST READ

That's only a few hours away from where I live. I should go there sometime.

 

[Old Town]

Re: TODAY , October 7th 1780 *230 years ago. ALL AMERICANS MUST READ

No offense to 4-H for the sidetrack. I read the whole thing and liked it. Old battle plans and how they worked or failed is always interesting. No matter what war.

It would be fun to detect around that oak tree stump.

OT