| | 1 | Author: | English
Thomas Dunn
1819-1902 | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | The boy's book of battle-lyrics  | | | | Published: | 1996 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Text collection | UVA-LIB-Text | Chadwyck-Healey, American Poetry | CH-AmPoetry | | | | Description: | “On receiving intelligence that Major Ferguson had advanced up as high as Gilbert Town,
in Rutherford County, and threatened to cross the mountains to the Western waters, Colonel
William Campbell, with four hundred men, of Washington County, of Virginia, Colonel Isaac
Shelby, with two hundred and forty men from Sullivan County, of North Carolina, and Lieutenant-colonel
Sevier, with two hundred and forty men, of
Washington County, of North Carolina, assembled at
Watauga, on the twenty-fifth day of September, where
they were joined by Colonel Charles M'Dowell, with one
hundred and sixty men, from the counties of Burke and
Rutherford, who had fled before the enemy to the Western
waters. We began our march on the twenty-sixth,
and on the thirtieth we were joined by Colonel Cleaveland,
on the Catawba River, with three hundred men,
from the counties of Wilkes and Surrey. No one officer
having properly the right to the command-in-chief, on
the first of October we despatched an express to Major-general
Gates, informing him of our situation, and requested
him to send a general officer to take command
of the whole. In the mean time, Colonel Campbell was
chosen to act as commandant, till such general officer
should arrive. We marched to the Cowpens, on Broad
River, in South Carolina, where we were joined by
Colonel James Williams, with four hundred men, on the
evening of the sixth of October, who informed us that
the enemy lay encamped somewhere near the Cherokee Ford, off Broad River, about thirty miles
distant from us. By a council of principal officers, it was then thought advisable to pursue the
enemy that night with nine hundred of the best horsemen, and have the weak horse and foot
men to follow us as fast as possible. We began our march with nine hundred of the best men
about eight o'clock the same evening, and, marching all night, came up with the enemy about
three o'clock P.M. of the seventh, who lay encamped on the top of King's Mountain, twelve
miles north of the Cherokee Ford, in the confidence that they could not be forced from so advantageous
a post. Previous to the attack on our march, the following disposition was made:
Colonel Shelby's regiment formed a column in the centre on the left; Colonel Campbell's regiment
another on the right, with part of Colonel Cleaveland's regiment, headed in front by Major
Joseph Winston; and Colonel Sevier's formed a large column on the right wing. The other
part of Cleaveland's regiment, headed by Colonel Cleaveland himself, and Colonel William's
regiment, composed the left wing. In this order we advanced, and got within a quarter of a
mile of the enemy before we were discovered. Colonel Shelby's and Colonel Campbell's regiments
began the attack, and kept up a fire on the enemy, while the right and left wings were
advancing to surround them, which was done in about five minutes, when the fire became general
all around. The engagement lasted an hour and five minutes, the greater part of which a
heavy and incessant fire was kept up on both sides. Our men, in some parts where the regulars
fought, were obliged to give way a distance, two or three times, but rallied and returned with
additional ardor to the attack. The troops upon the right having gained the summit of the
eminence, obliged the enemy to retreat along the summit of the ridge to where Colonel Cleaveland
commanded, and were there stopped by his brave men. A flag was immediately hoisted
by Captain Depeyster, the commanding officer (Major Ferguson having been killed a little before),
for a surrender. Our fire immediately ceased, and the enemy laid down their arms (the
greater part of them charged) and surrendered themselves prisoners at discretion. It appears
from their own provision returns for that day, found in their camp, that their whole force consisted
of eleven hundred and twenty-five men, out of which they sustained the following loss: | | | Similar Items: | Find |
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