The Battle of King's Mountain, was a crushing defeat to the British and loyalist troops, but more importantly, brought a glimmer of hope to the Patriot forces in the South.
The war had not been going well for the American forces in the south.
Banaster Tarlton with 290 of his famed dragoon legion had unmerciously
butchered 400 of Bufords' troops at the Battle of Waxhaws Creek in 1780.
Bufords' troops had tried to surrendered, but Tarlton anxious to make a
name for himself, personally cut the surrender banner down, then lead the
final and fatal saber charge. This lead to his nickname "Bloody Tarlton",
and his terms of surrender were known as "Tarlton's quarter".
In addition to the capture of Savannah, and with the surrender of Charleston, S.C., things looked bleak for the Americans in the south.
Only through the "partisans" was any resistance kept alive. Partisans were bands of guerilla fighters, whose hit and run tactics disrupted the British communication and supply lines in the south. The famous partisans were Andrew Pickens (the Wizard Owl), Thomas Sumter (the Carolina Gamecock), and Francis Marion (the Swamp Fox).
(Belle Isle Plantation, Burial place of Col. Frances Marion -The Swamp Fox)
Americans troops were all too eager to repay the British for the massacre, which occurred at Waxhaws.
On October the 7th, Maj. Patrick Ferguson brings his Loyalist troops to high ground that is heavily wooded, and he mistakenly believes that this area is invulnerable to attack.
Ferguson is also noted worthy as he has also developed the first
breech loading rifle, but it is not adopted as it is considered too unreliable.
Also Ferguson is in control of the second largest group of Loyalist troops
(Tarlton being first).
Ferguson with his belief that he has secured an impregnable position
asks Cornwallis to send reinforcements. With his additional troops, Ferguson
will strike out and crush the frontier militia which as been harassing
the British. Ferguson however makes the mistake of not securing the slopes
of the hill, figuring that the heavily wooded terrain will make any type
of an attack, not feasible.
Ferguson has miscalculated the resolve and the practicality of the
backwoodsmen. Men from South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee,
and Kentucky, hearing about Ferguson and his Loyalists, starts to make
a treck to this area, and destroy him before he is allowed to destroy them.
The frontiersmen slowly creep up the backside of the mountain to within yards of the British and Loyalists. Americans attack the hill for opposite sides, and Ferguson orders a bayonet charge. The loyalists are easy targets for the woodsmen and their rifles that use the thickly wooded cover to their advantage. The remaining men are pushed back to their camp where they are surrounded by intense fire.
(Images of King's Mountain Nation Military Park)
Ferguson wearing a red checked shirt is easily identified, and shot
no less then 6 times.
Many of the others ask for surrender, but hear the response "Talton's
quarter", and the shooting continues until most are cut down.
Total casualties for the day are 157 Loyalists killed 163 wounded,
and 700 captured.
American figures are 28 killed and 64 wounded.
This is a major blow to the British in the south, and will lead Cornwallis
to his next defeat, Cowpens.
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