Hold the Loyalists Back to North Carolina!

Kings Mountain National Military Park January 20, 2013

Sophie and Tiger got to spend a day together at a pivotal and significant victory by the American Patriots during the Southern Campaign.

Here is a little bit of history.

October 7, 1780.

The battle was entirely Americans vs. Americans.  With about 1000 plus militiamen, without orders, formal military training against the English Col. Patrick Ferguson.  If it wasn't this war, the original number of colonies would have been ten, and not thirteen.

Within one hour and five minutes, the Patriots totally decimated Ferguson's soldiers, with every last man of them either dead or taken prisoner.  Col. Ferguson's warning was the result of his frustration over the refusal of most of the Overmountain men (east Tennessean and southwestern Virginians) to take the loyalty oath.  The message was delivered to Militia Colonel Issac Shelby, who immediately rode out to confer with Militia Colonel John Sevier.  The two agreed that the best solution was to "march with all the men we could raise, and attempt to surpriseFerguson, by attacking him in his camp".  

After an all-night forced march in pouring rains, on October 7, 1780, the men circled the mountain and charged. Only an hour later, Ferguson and scores of his troops were dead.  Go Patriots!  The victory halted the British advance into North Carolina, forced Lord Cornwallis to retreat from Charlotte into South Carolina, and gave General Nathanael Greene to opportunity to reorganize the American Army and later the decisive battle of Cowpens.

The trail is a very easy trail.  It is paved with mild incline.  Not to bad! 

Break time!

Panoramic view on the top of Kings Mountain. 

His unusual "checkered duster" made him an easy target.

Believe it or not.  I threw a little pebble on his grave and I came down with a cold after the trip! 

Sophie's Final Thought:

Sometimes I wonder where is the bravery these days?  I'm not saying or trying to put my two cents on the whole middle east issue.  Sometimes I wonder if one day our country needs us, will we be brave enough to step up just like these men?  Time has changed for sure. I just feel like we have become so tuned out about what is around us and it's all about me me and me... Maybe we all need to learn some history and appreciate what we have.  It surely doesn't come easy.