Bert did a wonderful job on this, and look forward to seeing his future historical treks on his blog!
I’ve got four ancestors who fought at Kings Mountain. I’ve always wanted to visit.
Cool! I wish I was along for the trip.
Thanks for letting us come along vicariously.
I bet the Dogwoods were magnificent.
Mt Laurel..
Got Pics?
A few details to add: Ferguson and his Loyalist forces left Gilbert Town just ahead of the Overmountain Men because he’d been warned by two Loyalist spies who had disappeared, they were under suspicion as such. Due to the threat posed by this, Campbell, Cleveland and other leaders decided to split up and take separate routes down from Quaker Meadows, a risky move.
At Kings Mountain, Ferguson was quite the target, he was a dandy and a fop, that red feather. Many were trying to blow that infernal whistle out of his mouth, they hated it. The war as fought in the south was brutal and fairly barbaric, and there was something of a repayment in kind for Tarleton’s Quarter that isn’t talked about much. Ferguson swore he was king of that mountain and it would never be taken while he was alive. He was right.
Ferguson directly threatened these men because they’d been harrying and harrassing his forces in upstate South Carolina and western North Carolina for some time. That, and many were former Regulators with a grudge going on a decade old. He knew who they were. Ferguson threatened by letter to come after them and burn them out and they believed he would do it, a fatal bit of bravado since they took the fight to him.
Wow! a lot of memories here. I got my old photo album from up in the attic. Dated 1960, I have my record of the monument put up by the Daughters of the American Revolution. It is of Patrick Ferguson, the redoubtable commander of the British forces. Adversary though he was, these good women saw fit to at least commemorate the man.
British myself, one has to accept this decisive battle in good grace. I was well versed by a kindly park authority on the results of the battle. He mentioned the charge of the British forces with fixed bayonets down the slope. It was a tactical mistake. I was surprised to learn that the British forces consisted of militia from Canada and and from New Jersey - forces loyal to King George.
Happily in once instance, the officer who took over on the death of Ferguson, Colonel De Peyster survived. He handed over his sword to the American commander. He found his way back to Scotland eventually. I am told the British were treated with civilized consideration. Sadly about nine local farmers were hanged for siding with the British, so I was told.
I was pleased to see the complete memorial list to the American dead and wounded on a monument. Very fitting. I believe 28 dead and 64 wounded. Ironically one of the wounded Americans bore my own surname.
Ah well, so it goes and thanks for reviving my memories of my excursions into the Southern United States.
The section you document near Lake James is just a couple of miles from my weekend retreat! In fact, it looks like the picture just above the bridge crossing Paddy Creek might have been taken within the “1780” community, where this home is located. A neighbor and friend in our lake community is an avid Revolutionary War historian, and extremely active in the group that builds, maintains and promotes the OVT.
SC ping
This is great.. The over the mountain victory trail runs within a mile or two of my house (I live in the Kings Creek community yes that King). I see mention of Quaker meadows, Lake James and multiple significant names in history including the community next door named after Major Ferguson.I drove by Kings Moutain last week on my way home from Charlotte. I didn’t realize I had so many distinguished FREEPER neighbors in “these here parts!”
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Great read, nicely written travel blog, thanks for sharing.
Which is a story in itself.
The victors held more or less sham trials and convicted 36 of the losers, executing 9 of them.
Also, all but about 130 of the prisoners escaped during the march, and the remaining ones, as well and their captors, almost starved.
Good job, rooms