The Battle of Kings Mountain: Eyewitness Accounts

By Robert M. Dunkerly

On October 7, 1780, American Patriot and Loyalist soldiers battled each other at Kings Mountain, near the border of North and South Carolina. With over one hundred eyewitness accounts, this collection of participant statements from men of both sides includes letters and statements in their original form--the soldiers' own words--unedited and unabridged.

Rife with previously unpublished details of this historic turning point in the American Revolution, these accounts expose the dramatic happenings of the battle, including new perspectives on the debate over Patriot Colonel William Campbell's bravery during the fight. Robert M. Dunkerley's work is an invaluable resource to historians studying the flow of combat, genealogists tracing their ancestors and anyone interested in Kings Mountain and the Southern Campaign.

• Language: English
• Publisher: The History Press
• Release date: Mar 20, 2007
• ISBN: 9781625844255

Robert M. Dunkerly

Robert M. (Bert) Dunkerly studied history at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA, and historic preservation at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, TN. He led tours of the battlefield and researched its history, preservation, and its National Cemetery. Bert is the author of three other books in the Emerging Civil War Series and is active in historic preservation and research.

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INTRODUCTION

On October 7, 1780, a severe battle raged on the steep, craggy hillsides at Kings Mountain, South Carolina. Two armies that had been marching for weeks finally came to grips here on this isolated ridge. The battle was unique for several reasons: it pitted Americans against each other as Rebels fought Loyalists, and it marked the high tide of British occupation of the state. Surprisingly, while many historians consider the battle a turning point, there has been no effort to collect and examine eyewitness accounts from the battle.

This book fills that need. While Lyman C. Draper’s massive Kings Mountain and Its Heroes will always be the classic epic history of the battle, there are accounts to which Draper did not have access, chose not to use, used in part or edited from the original form. It is hoped that this work will further interest in the Kings Mountain campaign and be an aid to researchers.

Spelling, punctuation, abbreviation and other details of the accounts were preserved to capture the flavor of the originals. This allows us to see the writings as the veterans told their stories, using their writing and speaking style, expressions and spelling. This collection includes only actual accounts and pension statements by eyewitnesses or contemporaries.

The various conversations and statements found in Draper’s book were not included, since these were often only fragments and without the whole dialogue, they are of little value. Many of Draper’s sources were stories passed on by children, grandchildren or others who heard them from veterans. Only accounts written by the participants themselves are included here.

After the war, a controversy arose over American commander Colonel William Campbell’s actions in the battle. Several officers accused him of staying back during the fighting. Campbell, dead since 1781, could not defend himself, but several relatives and men who served with him did. A series of letters were exchanged discussing Campbell’s role in the battle, and only those with specific battle details are included. Draper included many of these statements at the end of his book, yet he edited them to fit his stylistic needs. They appear here in their original form in the Shelby-Campbell Controversy section.

A reference like this is needed to get to the true story. Many books about Kings Mountain quote participants or retell their stories, but this work is intended to present the men in their own words, with no filter. The battle of Kings Mountain lasted approximately one hour, yet for those who were there, it was no doubt the most exciting hour of their lives. Many Kings Mountain veterans lived into their nineties or beyond. Some died in the 1830s, 1840s or even 1850s. The oldest survivor, Robert Henry of North Carolina, died in 1863 at age ninety-eight. The longest living veteran was John Hammond, who lived until 1868, three years after the close of the Civil War.¹

This is a story of memories. Most of these men were in their seventies, eighties or nineties when they filed pension applications. Some memories are clouded; others are incredibly vivid. These men, Americans all, experienced things they would never totally forget at Kings Mountain. It is these stories—uncorrupted by historians, presented in their original form—that can speak directly to us.

In the heat of battle, did time slow down or stop? Did it speed up? Time is often either compressed or expanded for combat veterans. Few soldiers could see the larger picture: most rarely knew their own unit’s role in the battle, much less the overall situation. When the bullets began to fly, most focused on their own actions: loading and firing, finding cover and advancing. The accounts must also be read carefully since many contain contradictory information; how do we reconcile two versions of the same event, like the deaths of Colonel James Williams and Major Patrick Ferguson, for example?

Colonel Samuel Newell, who in his accounts wrote often that I do not recollect, I believe and I am not certain. He tells us of the stress that he was under, writing, I had been nearly thirty-six hours without any kind of refreshments and marched under an almost constant torrent of rain. I had lost, by my wound, as much blood, perhaps, as any one could, and retain life; and my wound was then Extremely painful. Decades removed from the fact, how could details not become confused?

Private William Moore wrote how he acted during combat, explaining, I had neither time, nor inclination to be looking around during the action, except keeping my eyes upon the enemy, and occasionally seeing my own officers as they passed along. Going through the motions—loading, firing and watching the enemy shooting at him—took all his concentration during the battle.

Modern readers should also know that both sides referred to their own militias, which may be confusing. While the Americans had a militia system in place, the British established one in South Carolina in the summer of 1780. Major Patrick Ferguson organized seven Loyalist militia regiments at Ninety Six, and parts of those regiments fought at Kings Mountain.

Reading the accounts will make one point very apparent: the nature of militia service meant that families served together. These accounts mention fathers and sons, brothers, uncles and cousins serving together (or, in some cases, on opposite sides).

A surprisingly large number of the Whigs not only survived the battle and the war but also went on to file pensions. About 910 Americans fought in the battle; roughly 27 were killed that day and another 3 were mortally wounded, giving a total loss of 30. Fifteen more died before the close of the war, either in other battles or of natural causes, including the commander, Colonel William Campbell. Out of the 910 combatants, 45 died by the end of the war. The majority of those survivors filed pensions or statements about their service. According to Dr. Bobby Moss’s research, 664 federal pensions were filed for service at Kings Mountain, an incredibly large percentage. This has truly been a blessing, as these are often an invaluable source of information. Most pension applications merely state a solider was at Kings Mountain, but a few contained amazing details of the battle.²

Federal pensions are an important source in researching the Revolution. The Continental Congress first authorized pensions in 1776: half-pay for life, for officers and men disabled in service. Gradually during the war, compensation was expanded for anyone who served, regardless of rank, term of service or injury. Widows and orphans became eligible for pensions by the close of the conflict as well.³

In 1818 Congress offered the first remuneration for veterans that was truly compensation, not aimed at recruiting to fill the ranks. It was available to men who had served and were in need of financial assistance.⁴

A more groundbreaking measure—and one of immense benefit to historians—came in 1832, when Congress granted pensions to all Revolutionary War veterans and spouses, regardless of financial status. Veterans had to appear in court with witnesses and provide details of their service. Widows and children were also eligible. These pension applications are often straightforward, but some include a wealth of information on battles and leaders.⁵

Loyalists’ voices are hard to find. Loyalist pension records and muster rolls contain few details other than dates of service, commanders and locations. Draper’s manuscripts contain only fragments on the Loyalists, mostly letters written by descendants or neighbors who recounted stories they had heard. Robinson DeLancey, a Canadian writing to Draper in 1881, lamented, We are trying to establish a historical & genealogical…[museum]…in this Province to…[save]…as far as possible the memory of its early families from a most undeserved oblivion but from the…vandalism of their descendants…losing and destroying early documents & records we have come to the conclusion that we started just 20 years too late.⁶

Unlike the victorious Americans, few Loyalists wrote, spoke of or commemorated their deeds, especially concerning a defeat like Kings Mountain. It is not surprising, as many Loyalists, who were refugees after the war, merely wanted to start over and get their affairs in order. Draper did correspond with many descendants of Loyalists, both in the Carolinas and in the Atlantic Provinces of Canada, but these are secondary stories as they are retellings of what a relative said, rather than a primary source.

The voices of women are, unfortunately, also largely silent. Several women were in the battle of Kings Mountain, and one made it even possible. Mary Patton of modern-day Tennessee made most of the gunpowder used by the American forces. Gunpowder was a valuable and precious commodity on the frontier, and her contribution was invaluable. On the Loyalist side, Ferguson had two female servants with him in the battle: Virginia Sal and Virginia Paul. Sal was killed in the battle and is buried with Ferguson on the battlefield. Recent archaeology confirms this.⁷

Accounts mention that several women were held as prisoners by the Loyalist forces and were liberated at the close of the fighting. Ferguson’s army had taken several prisoners in the weeks before the battle as they moved through western North Carolina. Many local women also came to nurse the wounded and look for relatives. One woman even rode by herself from Virginia to find her wounded husband. None of these women wrote about their experiences at Kings Mountain (or at least so far none have been located) but several of the documents that follow below mention these women.

Together these accounts shed light on many overlooked aspects of the campaign, such as the fate of prisoners, participants switching sides and the battle’s dramatic close. These stories give a more complete picture of the complex Kings Mountain story. Often accounts were illegible due to the poor preservation of documents, faded ink or difficulty in reading handwriting, so words that could not be made out have been marked with _____ in the text.

The following assisted in this project: Dr. Bobby Moss, Michael Scoggins, Chris Revels, Todd Braisted, James Costner, Karen Schlechty and Steven Biggers.

As always, thanks to Karen A. Smith, whose patience, understanding and assistance made this possible. Karen assisted with research and helped transcribe documents when my eyes had seen enough eighteenth-century handwriting.

AMERICAN ACCOUNTS

Proof of the Spirit and Resources of the Country

General George Washington, American commander in chief, on the news of Kings Mountain.

William Alexander’s Pension Application

⁸

…entered the service as a volunteer under the command of Captain David Beatty, he does not now recollect who was the Lieutenant, but is under the impression his name was Robert Edmonson and Major Nathaniel Dreyden was killed in the Battle of Kings Mountain. Col William Campbell commanded the Regiment. Col John Sevier and Col Isaac Shelby was along we marched by way of Holston and Watauga Rivers, Yellow Mountain, Green River, Broad River, at the Cherokee Ford and within about four days march of Kings Mountain, when the mountain troops were ordered to go on ahead of the foot Troops who were to follow but after marching a day or two, we met the Troops _____. The Battle of Kings Mountain having been fought the Troops then marched to the Island Ford on Catawba River where the mounted men were directed to escort the prisoners taken in the battle of Kings Mountain to Salisbury in North Carolina and the Foot men returned home.

Alexander was a soldier who was on the march. He did not fight in the battle and later guarded the prisoners.

Richard Allen’s Account

⁹

…after the Troops were organized they all set out on their March to meet Major Ferguson Upon the way they were joined by Col Campbell and a body of Troops from Virginia, as also by Col Sevier, Shelby, and McDowell with Troops from North Carolina after a _____ of the Troops formed, and most of them had horses, it was proposed that all of those who had horses or could procure them should advance immediately upon Ferguson this _____ had a horse, and was ancsious to proceed on to the Main Army, but a great many were on foot and would necessarily be let behind, it became necessary that the charge of those should be committed to some officer. Offered to Col Joseph Herndon but he positively refused to accept it unless this _____ who he said had more experience than him should be detained to stay with him—In that state of affairs Col Cleveland thought proper to order this _____ to remain in charge of the footmen, and he accordingly did so. They continued their march, however with all possible speed in the direction of Kings Mountain, but were not able to reach it in time to engage in the battle, it having been fought and the Americans with their prisoners being on their return some short distance before they met with them. When they rejoined the Army they continued with them and assisted in guarding the prisoners until they proceeded as far as the Moravian towns in the County of Stokes, and after remaining there a considerable time they were relieved by Col Winston with a detachment of foot troops, and Col Cleveland and his men returned home—which place they reached sometime in November, the precise time not recollected—but they were in service in this _____ about two months.

Allen was one of those left at Cowpens while the army moved on to Kings Mountain.

Martin Armstrong’s Letter to General Horatio Gates

¹⁰

Surry County, Novr 7th 1780

Sir

The first Instant I relieved the guards, at this place, the fourth Received your Orders of the 31st October, Inclosed you will have a Report of the prisoners Delivered me by Colo. Cleveland, out of which number One hundred & Eighty Eight are the Inhabitants of Salisbury District, and are taken out of my Hands by the Civil power, & bound over to ye law.

Last night three British Lieutenants On parole made their Escape (To witt) William Stephenson, Anthony Allaire, & John Taylor, and one Guest a South Carolina Tory Captain.

The Inclosed Letter from Captain Depeyster was wrote before the above Circumstance of the Escape Happened, but I have reason to confide in these officers present, as they show every mark of Uneasiness for the Ungentlemanly Conduct of Those absent

I have the Honour to be

Your Most obedient &

Most Humble Servant

Majr. General Gates

P.S. Since I wrote the above 16 Solders made their escape from the guard Capt. DePeyster has now helped his word for the Remainder, the Torie prisoners have all inlisted into the Continental Service excepting a small number which the Justices have committed to Halifax, there being but a few of the British I am solicited by the officers from Virginia not to send them over the Mountains until your pleasure is further known I am

Reviews for The Battle of Kings Mountain

[jepley38 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Using pension statements, memoirs and other documents, Dunkerly provides glimpses of the historic battle as related by participants.