History of the Loyalists: The Battle of King's Mountain

HISTORY OF THE LOYALISTS THE BATTLE OF KING'S MOUNTAIN The Loyalist Force Annihilated—Tarleton Defeats Sumpter. BY JAMES HANNAY. CHAPTER XXXV. The successful defense of Augusta indirectly led to a very serious disaster. Lieutenant Colonel Cruger thought that it might be possible to cut off Colonel Clark’s retreat to the mountains and he communicated his design to Major Ferguson, who was on the frontier at the head of a body of loyal militia. Ferguson heartily concurred in the project, but Cruger, finding the pursuit was carrying him too far from fort Ninety six, abandoned it. Ferguson, unfortunately, adhered to the plan and followed him so far that Clark effected a junction with the leaders of the militia in that part of North Carolina. A body of 3,000 of these men, all skilled with the rifle, was soon collected at Gilbert town and of these 1,600 were sent after Ferguson, who by this time had discovered his danger and began to retreat. They were under the command of Colonels Campbell, Cleveland, Shelby, Seaver, Williams, Brandon and Lacy. Ferguson occupied Kings Mountain with his detachment, but was speedily surrounded by the enemy, who formed themselves into three divisions, led by Colonels Campbell, Shelby and Cleveland, and began to ascend the mountain in three different and opposite directions. The result showed that a force on an exposed mountain side is practically helpless against this mode of attack. Ferguson had with him only 120 regulars and a small detachment of the Kings American regiment. The rest of his force of 1,100 men, consisted of militia, many of them only partially trained. Nevertheless, he fell with great boldness and impetuosity on the first assailants with fixed bayonets and COMPELLED THEM TO GIVE WAY, but before one division could be dispersed another came up and poured in a heavy fire. Against the second body of assailants the bayonet was again used with effect. But before any material advantage could be gained a new enemy presented himself in another quarter. Ferguson again successfully used the bayonet, but both corps, which had been repulsed, coming up to renew the attack, a very galling fire was kept up against him on all sides. When the action had gone on in this manner for about an hour, Major Ferguson received a mortal wound, which killed him instantly, and destroyed any hope of a successful defense. Captain Abraham de Peyeter, who was second in command, hoisted a flag of truce, and the whole force surrendered, the killed, wounded and prisoners, amounting to 1,105; of the regulars, 1 major, 1 captain, 2 sergeants, and 15 privates were killed, and 35 privates wounded; left on the ground not able to march, 2 captains, 4 lieutenants, 3 ensigns, 1 surgeon, 5 sergeants, 3 corporals, 1 drummer, and 49 privates taken prisoners. The loss of the Loyalists was two colonels, three captains and 201 privates killed; one major and 127 privates wounded and left on the ground not able to march; one colonel, 12 captains, 11 lieutenants, two ensigns, one quartermaster, one adjutant, two commissaries, 18 sergeants and 600 privates taken prisoners. This was a heavy blow to the British cause in North Carolina. THE AMERICANS DISGRACED THEMSELVES after the battle by using every insult and indignity towards the dead body of the brave Major Ferguson, and by their cruelties to the prisoners who fell into their hands. On the morning after the contest, a considerable number of the Loyalist prisoners were hanged by the rebel Colonel Cleveland, under the pretense that they had been guilty of murder. In all their contests in the south the rebels displayed the spirit of savages, and although more than a century has passed since the battle of King’s Mountain, it is evident from the murders and lynchings that are frequent there, that the inhabitants of that part of the United States are not yet civilized. Many of the officers and men who fought at King’s Mountain settled in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Captain John Taylor, the grandfather of the harbor master of this port, was one of the officers engaged at King's Mountain, and another was Lieut. Anthony Allaire, who settled in the parish of Douglas. The battle of King’s Mountain took place on the 7th of October, and its effect was immediately felt all over the south. It profoundly disengaged the Loyalists and encouraged the enemies of Great Britain in a corresponding degree. It prompted many of the disaffected inhabitants of South Carolina to violate their paroles, and a large number of them were collected under Gen. Marion who became a famous leader of partisan forces during the war. An attempt was made against Sumpter by Major Wemyss, with a force detached from Lord Cornwallis's army in November, but it failed in consequence of the leader of the British force being wounded. A more successful attempt was made later in the month by Colonel Tarleton, who learned that Sumpter, with upwards of 1,000 men, was moving towards Williams's house, a post occupied by friendly militia 15 miles from fort Ninety six. Tarleton pursued him and came up with the American force in the vicinity of Tyger river, where Sumpter posted himself in a strong position. The British force, which consisted of a detachment of Tarleton’s legion and a part of the 63rd, made AN IMMEDIATE ATTACK, which resulted in Sumpter being completely defeated. The Americans were dispersed, but night put an end to the pursuit. General Sumpter was wounded and disabled from service for some time. Upwards of 100 of the rebels were killed and wounded and 50 made prisoners. It is a singular proof of the utter unreliability of American histories of the war that this defeat of Sumpter appears in them as a victory, although even in these works it has to be admitted that Sumpter retreated. Lossing, whose capacity for falsification is unequaled, represents Tarleton at leaving nearly 200 upon the field, the truth of the matter being that Tarleton’s attack was made by only 250 men, and that his total loss was only 50 killed and wounded. About this time the American forces in North Carolina began to become formidable. General Gates had advanced from Hillsborough, in the middle of November, to reinforce the detachments on the Yadkin. At Six Mile Run he was joined by Colonels White, Washington and Armand. General Greene took command of the American army in the beginning of December, and Gates RETIRED TO HIS VIRGINIA FARM. Soon afterwards General Morgan and Colonel Washington, with a body of regular infantry and cavalry, advanced to Hanging Rock, from which they sent a summons to Lieutenant Colonel Rugsley, who commanded the militia of the Camden district, demanding his surrender. Rugsley, who was colonel of the Loyal militia and who had 100 men with him, was intimidated and surrendered without firing a shot, upon which Morgan retreated with his prisoners to the main army. The Americans also advanced in the direction of Fort Ninety-Six, with the object of dispersing and frightening the militia. Brigadier General Robert Cunningham, who was in command of the militia, gave notice of the enemy's approach to Lieutenant Colonel Cruger, who secretly sent Lieutenant Colonel Allen with a detachment of the Second battalion of New Jersey volunteers from his garrison to give assistance to the Loyalists. The Americans, ignorant of this reinforcement, advanced upon Cunningham, who received them with firmness and repulsed them. At this time General Marlon was quite active with his detachment, and Lieut. Colonel Balfour directed the 64th regiment to pass the river Sautee and take post on the east of the communications, while Lord Rawdon detached the mounted infantry of the New York volunteers, under Major Coffin, to assist Major McLeroth, who commanded the 64th. Many skirmishes took place, but the object of the British was accomplished, and the supplies of the royal army were always protected, although occasionally they were delayed. New Brunswick readers will note the familiar names of Allen and Coffin connected with these operations. Lt. Col. Allan became one of the judges of the Supreme Court of New Brunswick and was the grandfather of Sir John Allen the present chief justice, while Major Coffin was a resident of Kings county, having a large estate in the parish if Westfield, and rose through all the grades of colonel, major general and lieutenant general, to be a full general in the British army, dying in this province in 1838 at the age of 87 years.