Kings Mountain & Sandy Run Baptist Church visit - June 2002

Huzzah for Liberty!

Catch and destroy Ferguson.

After breathing out various threats to what he called "Black water men" Ferguson finally met up with them. The Overmountain Men prevailed and Major Ferguson never left the battle ground.

Along the trail

If you've never been to the South you have no appreciation for exactly how thick the forest can be.

Just imagine fighting a battle where the trees are this thick.

25th Anniversary monuments

Twenty five years after the battle a ceremony was held and a monument put in place. The scattered remains still in the area were gathered up and buried in a common grave.

The is the "New" marker next to the original.

Regretfully the location of this grave is not known.

Both old and new monuments commemoration the 25th anniversary of the battle

As the old marker has now suffered two centuries of weather a new has been placed along side.

Another view of the new monument.

Face to the Hill!

The war cry of Major William Chronicle before he fell

Carolina's Upcountry Men

South Carolina patriots under Colonel Edward Lacey fought valiantly.

This Poplar...

Stood amidst a virgin forest of hardwoods at the time of the Battle.

A burned out tree that still stands.

I wonder what tales this tree could tell.

Maggie along the trail

A stroke of irony...

Colonel James Williams of South Carolina, poorly esteemed by his fellow commanders, redeemed himself in their eyes by his heroic action at Kings Mountain.

Ironically he lost his life after the surrender by a ball from an unknown assailant.

Don't Give up the Hill!

At two critical junctures when victory or defeat hung in the balance, Patriot foot soldiers attacked the British forces on this front to relieve the hard pressed men of Colonels Sevier and Shelby.

The name Kings Mountain is somewhat a misnomer as it is only about 60 feet high.

Water! Water!

Though the Battle was brief, Patriot casualties from British musket balls and bayonets came rapidly. At this spring and along this stream wounds were washed and after the British surrender water was borne in hats and cups to those who had fallen along the slopes and the ridge.

A 360 degree view from the trail looking toward the spring.

Quick time required (No I don't even want to learn how to do it in other formats)

A closer view of the spring

Imagine how precious this water was to those who were wounded, and dying after the battle.

As i have walked the trail several times, I still believe this spot to be hallowed ground for those whose lives ended near here.

A look back towards the spring.

Continuing on the trail this is our final look back at the spring.

A 360 degree view from the spring.

Take a moment and enjoy the dense forest you are standing in.

Quick time required (No I don't even want to learn how to do it in other formats)

More of the woods along the trail.

More cobwebs than your worst dreams!

As for me, it would take being shot at to want to run through this area of the woods.

Colonel Shelby's "Damn Yelling Boys"

Shelby's Overmountain Men were in the thick of the battle from start to finish.

"In God and our Rifles We Trust"

Colonel Sevier's Overmountain Men were stationed with Colonel Campbell's on the west of Kings Mountain

President Hoover at Kings Mountain

To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Kings Mountain

Hoover Monument

President Herbert Hoover's visit to the Kings Mountain Battlefield in 1930 was the first time an American president had visited a Southern Revolutionary War Site. An estimated 75,000-80,000 people attended the 150th anniversary in 1930.

"Shout like Hell and Fight like Demons"

Commander of the Patriot force and of the Virginia Militia as well, Colonel William Campbell devised the Battle Plan that took Kings Mountain. His Virginia troops fought off the initial assault by Ferguson's Rangers.

The Centennial Monument

Erected to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the battle.

Colonel Coward Marker

To honor Col. Asbury Coward President, Kings Mountain Centennial Association, 1880. Acknowledged, inspirational force in perpetuating the glory and importance of the Battle of Kings Mountain.

An old split tree near the summit of the hill.

Another marvelous survivor of the forest than makes one want to know its secrets.

Retreat and Surrender

The Patriot forces' relentless advance from all sides of the mountain soon drove the British back to the northeastern end of the ridge. There, amid the confusion of the battle's final moments Ferguson's beaten troops made several attempts to lay down their arms before the victorious Patriots finally accept their surrender..

A close up of one of the bronze tablet on the United States Monument

Though the obelisk was erected in 1909 the bronze tablets were not installed until 10 Jan 1910.

Ferguson's grave

After breathing out threats to the mountain folk Major Patrick Ferguson finally got to meet them on October 7, 1780. He paid with his life for what he said. Ferguson never left the mountain.

Major Patrick Ferguson

Major Patrick Ferguson was the only Briton at the battle of Kings Mountain. The 1,000 or so men fighting on the British side were all American born.

He was the inventor of a breech loading rifle and arguably the best shot in the British forces. He once had General George Washington in his sights but did not shoot.