The Battle of Kings Mountain, October 7, 1780, was an important Patriot victory in the Southern campaign of the American Revolutionary War. Frontier militia overwhelmed the loyalist militia led by British Major Patrick Ferguson. In The Winning of the West, Theodore Roosevelt wrote of Kings Mountain, "This brilliant victory marked the turning point of the American Revolution." This article is about military actions only. ... is the 280th day of the year (281st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1780 was a leap year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Blacksburg is a town located in Cherokee County, South Carolina. ... Kings Mountain redirects here. ... Patriots (also known as Americans, Whigs, Congress-Men or Rebels) were colonists of the British Thirteen Colonies who rebelled against the British control during the American Revolution and declared themselves an independent nation, the United States of America in July 1776. ... Britannia gives a heros welcome to returning American Loyalists. ... William Campbell (1745–August 22, 1781) was an United States farmer, pioneer, and soldier in western Virginia. ... John Sevier (pronounced severe) (23 September 1745 – 25 September 1815) served four years (1785–1789) as the only governor of the State of Franklin and twelve years (1796–1801 and 1803–1809) as governor of Tennessee, and as a U.S. Representative from Tennessee from 1811 until his death. ... Joseph McDowell (1756–1801) was an American planter, soldier, and statesman from Winchester, Virginia. ... Benjamin Cleveland (1738-1806) was an American pioneer and soldier in North Carolina. ... James Williams (1740–1780) was an American pioneer, farmer, and miller from the Ninety-Six district in South Carolina. ... Temporary grave of an American machine-gunner during the Battle of Normandy. ... Isaac Shelby (December 11, 1750 – July 18, 1826) was an American soldier and the first and fifth Governor of Kentucky, serving from 1792 to 1796 and from 1812 to 1816. ... Patrick Ferguson (1744–1780), was a British Army officer, rifle-designer, and early advocate of light infantry. ... Temporary grave of an American machine-gunner during the Battle of Normandy. ... The Southern theater of the American Revolutionary War became the central area of operations on land after France entered the war on the side of the United States. ... Drawing of the octagonal Williamsburg Magazine The Gunpowder Incident (also known as the Gunpowder Affair) was a conflict early in the American Revolutionary War between Lord Dunmore, the Royal Governor of colonial Virginia, and militia led by Patrick Henry. ... Combatants Patriot militia British militia Commanders William Woodford Lord Dunmore Strength 8,845 7,500 Casualties Americans: 20 killed, 56 wounded French: 52 killed, 134 wounded 156 killed 326 wounded 7,018 captured The Battle of Great Bridge was a battle of the American Revolutionary War, fought in the area... Combatants Patriot militia Loyalist militia Commanders Caswell, Lillington McLeod Strength 1,000 1,500 Casualties 1 killed, 1 wounded 30 killed or wounded, 850 captured The Battle of Moores Creek Bridge was fought near Wilmington, North Carolina, on February 27, 1776, between North Carolina patriots and Scottish Loyalists. ... The Battle of the Rice Boats was a battle of the American Revolution that took place in the Savannah River on the border between the Province of Georgia and the Province of South Carolina. ... The Battle of Alligator Bridge took place on June 30, 1778, and was the major engagement in Colonel Elijah Clarks third, and final, unsuccessful campaign to conquer East Florida. ... Combatants Loyalist militia Patriot militia Commanders James Boyd, Major William Spurgen, John Moore† Andrew Pickens, John Dooly, Elijah Clarke Strength 600 340 Casualties 20 killed, 150 captured 7 killed, 15 wounded The Battle of Kettle Creek is one of the most important battles of the American Revolutionary War to be... Combatants Patriot militia Loyalist militia Commanders John Ashe Samuel Elbert Archibald Campbell Augustine Provost Strength ~400 2,300 Casualties ~400 killed, Elbert captured 5 killed The Battle of Briar Creek was a Revolutionary War battle that took place on March 3, 1779. ... Combatants United States Britain Commanders Benjamin Lincoln John Maitland Strength 1500 900 Casualties around 300 (dead/missing) 150 The Battle of Stono Ferry was a poorly planned and badly conducted operation during the American Revolutionary War; it took place on June 20, 1779. ... Combatants United States France Kingdom of Great Britain Commanders General Benjamin Lincoln Admiral Comte dEstaing Count Kazimierz Pulaski † General Augustin Prevost Strength 1,550 American troops; 3,500 French troops and sailors 3,200 troops Casualties Total Allied: 800 killed 1200 wounded 40 killed 63 wounded The Siege of... Combatants Britain 17th Lancers{then called Dragoons} British Legion (1778) United States 3rd Virginia Detachment composed of 2nd and 7th Virginia Regiments Commanders Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton Colonel Abraham Buford Strength 270 400 Casualties 5 killed 12 wounded {11 horses killed 19 horses wounded} 113 killed 150 wounded and paroled... Combatants Kingdom of Great Britain United States Commanders Sir Henry Clinton and Mariot Arbuthnot Benjamin Lincoln Strength 14,000 troops 5,000 troops Casualties 76 killed, 182 wounded 92 killed, 148 wounded, 4,650 captured (see Trivia below) The Siege of Charleston was one of the major battles which took... Combatants Britain United States Commanders Charles Cornwallis Horatio Gates Johann de Kalb† Strength 2,239 3,052 Casualties 68 killed 245 wounded 64 missing 1,000 killed or wounded 1,000 captured 132 missing The Battle of Camden was an important battle in the Southern Theatre of the American Revolutionary... Combatants United States Great Britain Commanders Daniel Morgan Banastre Tarleton Strength c. ... Combatants United States Britain Commanders Nathanael Greene Lord Cornwallis Strength 4,400 1,900 Casualties 79 killed 185 wounded 1,046 missing Total: 1,310 93 killed 413 wounded 26 missing Total: 532 The Battle of Guilford Court House was a battle fought on March 15, 1781 inside the present... Combatants United States Britain Commanders Nathaniel Greene Lord Francis Rawdon Strength 1,551 900 Casualties 19 killed 115 wounded 38 killed 170 wounded 50 captured The Battle of Hobkirks Hill was a battle of the American Revolutionary War fought on April 25, 1781. ... Battle of Green Spring took place at Green Spring Plantation in James City County, Virginia during the American Revolutionary War. ... The Battle of Eutaw Springs was a battle of the American Revolutionary War, the last engagement of the war in the Carolinas. ... Combatants Kingdom of France  United States Great Britain German mercenaries Commanders Jean-Baptiste de Rochambeau François de Grasse Gilbert de La Fayette George Washington Nathanael Greene Charles Cornwallis # Charles O’Hara # Banastre Tarleton # (stationed at Gloucester, Virginia) Strength 10,800 French 8,500 Americans 24 French warships 7,500... is the 280th day of the year (281st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1780 was a leap year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Patriots (also known as Americans, Whigs, Congress-Men or Rebels) were colonists of the British Thirteen Colonies who rebelled against the British control during the American Revolution and declared themselves an independent nation, the United States of America in July 1776. ... The Southern theater of the American Revolutionary War became the central area of operations on land after France entered the war on the side of the United States. ... This article is about military actions only. ... Lebanese Kataeb militia A Militia is an army composed of ordinary [1] citizens to provide defense, emergency or paramilitary service, or those engaged in such activity. ... Britannia gives a heros welcome to returning American Loyalists. ... Patrick Ferguson (1744–1780), was a British Army officer, rifle-designer, and early advocate of light infantry. ... Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. ...

The Patriots (Whigs) were entirely volunteer forces who fought under men that they choose to follow: William Campbell, John Sevier, Frederick Hambright, Joseph McDowell, Benjamin Cleveland, James Williams, John McKissack , and Isaac Shelby led their militia units as Colonels, while Captain Joseph Winston and Edward Lacey commanded the other mostly autonomous units. William Campbell (1745–August 22, 1781) was an United States farmer, pioneer, and soldier in western Virginia. ... John Sevier (pronounced severe) (23 September 1745 – 25 September 1815) served four years (1785–1789) as the only governor of the State of Franklin and twelve years (1796–1801 and 1803–1809) as governor of Tennessee, and as a U.S. Representative from Tennessee from 1811 until his death. ... Joseph McDowell (1756–1801) was an American planter, soldier, and statesman from Winchester, Virginia. ... Benjamin Cleveland (1738-1806) was an American pioneer and soldier in North Carolina. ... James Williams (1740–1780) was an American pioneer, farmer, and miller from the Ninety-Six district in South Carolina. ... Isaac Shelby (December 11, 1750 – July 18, 1826) was an American soldier and the first and fifth Governor of Kentucky, serving from 1792 to 1796 and from 1812 to 1816. ... Joseph Winston (1746 – April 21, 1815) was an American pioneer and farmer from North Carolina. ...

After the defeat of Horatio Gates's army at the Battle of Camden, British General Cornwallis was convinced that Georgia and South Carolina were under British control, and he began plans to move into North Carolina. However, a brutal civil war between colonists continued to rage in South Carolina. The Whig frontiersmen, led by a group of self-proclaimed colonels of the rebellion—Isaac Shelby, Elijah Clarke, and Charles McDowell—conducted hit-and-run raids on Loyalist outposts. To protect his western flank, Cornwallis gave Major Patrick Ferguson command of the Loyalist militia. This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Combatants Britain United States Commanders Charles Cornwallis Horatio Gates Johann de Kalb† Strength 2,239 3,052 Casualties 68 killed 245 wounded 64 missing 1,000 killed or wounded 1,000 captured 132 missing The Battle of Camden was an important battle in the Southern Theatre of the American Revolutionary... “Cornwallis” redirects here. ... A map of the Province of Carolina. ... A map of the Province of Carolina. ... A civil war is a war in which parties within the same culture, society or nationality fight against each other for the control of political power. ... This article concerns Patriots in the American Revolution. ... Elijah Clarke (1742 – December 5, 1799), born in Anson County, North Carolina, was a Georgian hero of the American Revolutionary War. ... Britannia gives a heros welcome to returning American Loyalists. ...

Cornwallis invaded North Carolina on September 9, 1780, and reached Charlotte on September 26. Ferguson followed and established a base camp at Gilbertown and issued a challenge to the Patriot leaders to lay down their arms or he would, "Lay waste to their country with fire and sword." But the tough-talking words only outraged the Appalachian frontiersmen who rallied at Sycamore Shoals and acted to bring the battle to Ferguson rather than wait for him to come to them. They crossed over the mountains and thus were called the "Over Mountain Men". is the 252nd day of the year (253rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1780 was a leap year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Charlotte redirects here. ... is the 269th day of the year (270th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... It has been suggested that Poverty in Appalachia be merged into this article or section. ... Sycamore Shoals is a stretch of the Watauga River near present-day Elizabethton, Tennessee, USA, offering a ford crossing of the river. ... The Overmountain Men were American colonial militiamen in the American Revolutionary War from west of the Appalachian Mountains, what is now eastern Tennessee, western North Carolina, and southwestern Virginia. ...

Having learned of the Patriot approach from a captured deserter, Ferguson withdrew eastwards towards Cornwallis main body at Charlotte, But at King's Mountain, he turned to face his pursuers. King's Mountain was one of many rocky forested hills in the upper Piedmont near the border between North and South Carolina. It is shaped like a footprint with the highest point at the heel, a narow instep, and a broad rounded toe.

Forces

With the exception of Major Ferguson all of the participants of the battle were Americans, as the forces under his command were composed entirely of Loyalists. Ferguson commanded over 1,000 Loyalist militia. The Patriots, about 900 strong, were under the command of frontier colonels. There was not enough supplies for the troops either.

Unlike most British officers, Ferguson was convinced that Loyalist militia could be trained to be as effective as British regulars. Years earlier, Ferguson personally invented, patented, and successfully field-tested a breech-loading musket which he called 'the Ferguson Rifle' which could fire faster and with greater accuracy than the British Brown Bess muzzle-loading musket. More importantly, it could be loaded and fired while the soldier was lying down on the ground and not standing up, being exposed to enemy fire. Ferguson commanded an 80-man loyalist unit earlier at the Battle of Brandywine where his men were armed with the Ferguson Rifle, and took advantage of it to contain Patriot sorties and attacks. But despite its obvious utility, the British hierarchy saw that it threatened the traditional, time-tested way of warfare and refused to sanction its use. Disappointed by this endeavor, Ferguson became determined to prove his other theory. He drilled his men firmly but with compassion and produced a tightly knit and well-disciplined unit which he was eager to test against the Revolutionary militia. During the battle Ferguson was killed by the "over-mountain men." outside the town of Dilworth to hold off the British long enough for the rest of the Continental Army to retreat. ...

Battle

The battle opened on October 7, 1780, when 900 frontiersmen (including John Crockett, the father of Davy Crockett), approached the steep base of King's Mountain at dawn. The rebels formed eight groups of 100 to 200 men. Two parties, led by Colonels John Sevier and William Campbell, assaulted the 'high heel' of the wooded mountain, the smallest area but highest point, while the other seven groups, led by Colonels Shelby, Williams, Lacey, Cleveland, Hambright, Winston and McDowell attacked the main Loyalist position by surrounding the 'ball' base beside the 'heel' crest of the mountain. (see map at www.britishbattles.com/kings-mountain.htm) is the 280th day of the year (281st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1780 was a leap year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Colonel David Crockett (August 17, 1786 – March 6, 1836) was a celebrated 19th-century American folk hero, frontiersman, soldier and politician; usually referred to as Davy Crockett and by the popular title King of the Wild Frontier. He represented Tennessee in the U.S. House of Representatives, served in the... John Sevier (pronounced severe) (23 September 1745 – 25 September 1815) served four years (1785–1789) as the only governor of the State of Franklin and twelve years (1796–1801 and 1803–1809) as governor of Tennessee, and as a U.S. Representative from Tennessee from 1811 until his death. ... William Campbell (and Bill Campbell) are common names. ...

The Patriots crept up the hill and fired on the scarlet-clad Loyalists from behind rocks and trees. Ferguson rallied his troops and launched a bayonet charge against Campbell and Sevier's men. With no bayonets of their own, the rebels retreated down the hill and into the woods. But Campbell rallied his troops, returned to the base of the hill, and resumed firing. Two more times, Ferguson launched bayonet attacks. During one of the charges, Colonel Williams was killed and Colonel McDowell wounded. But after each charge, the frontiersmen returned to the base of the hill and resumed shooting. It was hard for the Loyalists to find a target because the Patriots were constantly moving using cover and concealment similar to training in use today. For other uses, see bayonet (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Look up hiding in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

After several hours of combat, Loyalist casualties were heavy. Ferguson rode back and forth across the hill, blowing a silver whistle he used to signal charges. Growing desperate, he slipped on a plaid shirt to cover his officer's coat. A soldier saw this and alerted his comrades immediately. At the crest, as the Patriots overran the Loyalist position, and Ferguson fell dead from his saddle with eight rifle balls in his body.

Seeing their leader fall, Loyalists lost heart and began to raise their arms in surrender. Eager to avenge defeats at the Waxhaw Massacre and elsewhere, the rebels were in no mood to take prisoners. Rebels continued firing and shouted, "Give 'em Tarleton's Quarter!" But after a few more minutes of bloodletting, the colonels asserted control and gave quarter to around 700 Loyalists. Combatants Britain 17th Lancers{then called Dragoons} British Legion (1778) United States 3rd Virginia Detachment composed of 2nd and 7th Virginia Regiments Commanders Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton Colonel Abraham Buford Strength 270 400 Casualties 5 killed 12 wounded {11 horses killed 19 horses wounded} 113 killed 150 wounded and paroled... Lieutenant-Colonel Banastre Tarleton by Sir Joshua Reynolds Sir Banastre Tarleton, 1st Baronet (August 21, 1754–January 25, 1833) was a British soldier and politician. ...

Aftermath

On the Loyalist side, 225 were killed and 163 wounded, and 716 were taken prisoners. The Patriot casualties were 28 killed and 62 wounded. Loyalist prisoners well enough to walk were herded to camps several miles from the battlefield. The dead and wounded were left on the field. The Patriots hanged as many as nine Loyalists who had changed sides. Other accounts say that the Tories were tried before North Carolina judges for violation of the state's criminal laws. Those who were hanged were convicted of such crimes as arson, house breaking and murder of civilians. Image File history File links Adapted from Wikipedias SC county maps by Seth Ilys. ... The Skyline Parkway Motel in Afton, Virginia after an arson fire on July 9, 2004. ...

With the defeat as evidence of a ferocious patriot resistance, Cornwallis abandoned his plan to try to take North Carolina, and retreated to the south.

After the battle, Joseph Greer of the Watauga Association at Sycamore Shoals (located at what is today the city of Elizabethton, Tennessee) set off on a 600 mile (950 km), month-long expedition to notify the Continental Congress of the British defeat at the battle; he arrived in Philadelphia on November 7, 1780.[1] Greer's report of the American Patriot victory at Kings Mountain "re-energized a downtrodden Continental Congress."[2] Wikisource has original text related to this article: Watauga Petition The Watauga Association (sometimes referred to as the Republic of Watauga or the Watauga Settlement) was an semi-autonomous government from 1772 to 1777 in what is now Northeast Tennessee. ... Sycamore Shoals is a stretch of the Watauga River near present-day Elizabethton, Tennessee, USA, offering a ford crossing of the river. ... Elizabethton is the county seat of Carter County, Tennessee. ... The Continental Congress was the first national government of the United States. ... For other uses, see Philadelphia (disambiguation) and Philly. ... is the 311th day of the year (312th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1780 was a leap year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...

In 1931, the Congress of the United States created the Kings Mountain National Military Park on the site of the battle. The park headquarters is in Blacksburg, South Carolina, and hosts over a quarter million visitors each year. Congress in Joint Session. ... Kings Mountain National Military Park is a National Military Park near Blacksburg, South Carolina, close to the North Carolina border. ... Blacksburg is a town located in Cherokee County, South Carolina. ...

See Also

• Carter County, Tennessee
• Doe River
• Sycamore Shoals
• Watauga River
• Roan Mountain (Roan Highlands)
• Roan Mountain, Tennessee
• Roan Mountain State Park

Carter County is a county located in the state of Tennessee. ... The Doe River is a naturally flowing river in Northeast Tennessee that forms in Carter County, Tennessee near the North Carolina line, just south of Roan Mountain State Park. ... Sycamore Shoals is a stretch of the Watauga River near present-day Elizabethton, Tennessee, USA, offering a ford crossing of the river. ... The Watauga River rises in Watauga County, North Carolina, a mountainous county in western North Carolina along the Tennessee state line. ... The Appalachian Trail (foreground) crossing Round Bald, with Jane Bald (lower left) and the massive Grassy Ridge Bald in the distance. ... Roan Mountain is a census-designated place located in Carter County, Tennessee. ... // Roan Mountain State Park is located in Northeast Tennessee along the Tennessee-North Carolina border. ...

External links

• [3]
• National Park web pages
• The Real Battle of Kings Mountain
• Sycamore Shoals State Park - Tennessee Park Service.
• The Wataugans - The Official Outdoor Drama of the State of Tennessee
• Roan Mountain (Tennessee) Citizens Club - Overmountain Men Celebration
• "'Kings Mountain Messenger' bravery remembered by few". Kate Howard. The Tennessean. July 4, 2006. (Dead link)
• Georgia Participants at Kings Mountain (offered by Georgia Society, Sons of the American Revolution)
• Family related history of the Campbell's, the Houston's, the Crockett's, the Finley's and others who fought at the Battle of Kings Mountain.