Captain Patrick Ferguson's Chosen Men

10/08/2024

Chasing the Bulldog!
The Bulldog was caught; Part III.

4:05 – Part III: The account of Uzal Johnson, the time when Ferguson falls and the Loyalists were defeated.

From the diary of Dr. Uzal Johnson:
“October 7, 1780 Saturday... The North Carolina Militia had twice repulsed a Body that attacked their Line. Unfortunately their Ammunition being now exhausted, they were obliged to give way. Capt DePeyster with the first Division of American Volunteers charged the Enemy again at the Point of the Hill and drove them a second time. The North Carolina Militia, having quit their line, it hove the others info confusion and the Enemy (whose Numbers enabled them to completely surround us) encouraged by the confusion of our Militia rushed on Col Ferguson gave the Word to charge again. He then rushed in amongst the Rebels with about half a Dozen Men. He was soon shot from his Horse. Capt DePeyster then gave the Word to form and charge. The cry throughout the Militia line was, “we are out of Ammunition,” this being our unhappy condition, and the Militia (tho they stood and fought bravely while their Ammunition lasted) were now getting into the utmost disorder. IT was thought most expedient to send out a Flag to save a few brave Men that had survived the heat of action. The engagement lasted an Hour and five Minutes. We were then reduced to the Necessity of Yielding to far Superior Numbers. We had only Seventy American Volunteers (fifty of whom got killed and wounded. Among the killed was Col Ferguson and Ensign Mr Ginnis [McGinnis, 3rd NJV, former Kings Ranger] of Col Allens Corps. Among the wounded was Capt Ryerse) and of the eight hundred Militiamen engaged, two hundred and twenty five Militiamen were killed and seventy two wounded. How many of the Enemy got killed is uncertain. Not far inferior to ours if we judge from the Number of their wounded, which was equal to ours, I being employed to dress them in preference to their own Surgeon enabled me to get the Number"

10/07/2024

Chasing the Bulldog!
The Bulldog was caught; Part II.

3:00 – Part II: The account of Alexander Chesney, the time that the first shots rang out on the slopes of Kings Mountain.

From the recollections of Capt. Alexander Chesney:
“we were attacked before any support arrived by 1500 picked men from Gilbert’s-town, under the command of Cleveland, Selby, and Campbell all of whom were armed with Rifles, well mounted and of course could move with the utmost celerity; so rapid was their attack that I was in the act of dismounting to report that all was quiet and the pickets on the alert when we heard their firing about half a mile off; I immediately paraded the men and posted the officers, during this short interval I received a wound which however did not prevent my doing duty; and on going towards my horse I found he had been killed by the first discharge.
Kings Mountain from its height would have enabled us to oppose a superior force with advantage, had it not been covered with wood which sheltered the Americans and enabled them to fight in the favorite manner; in fact after driving in our piquets they were able to advance in three divisions under separate leaders to the crest of the hill in perfect safety until they took post and opened an irregular but destructive fire from behind trees and other cover... by this time the Americans who had been repulsed had regained their former stations and sheltered behind trees poured in an irregular destructive fire; in this manner the engagement was maintained near an hour, the mountaineers flying whenever there was danger of being charged by the Bayonet, and returning again so soon as the British detachment had faced about to repel another of their parties. Col Ferguson was at last recognized by his gallantry although wearing a hunting shirt and fell pierced by seven balls..."

10/07/2024