Today, Bob and I headed to the amazing and free(!) Kings Mountain National Military Park to learn more about this battle that apparently helped turn the tide of the Revolutionary War. The battle was part of the Southern campaign and occurred on Kings Mountain (more of a hill really) in October 7, 1780.
One thing that I needed to be reminded of, as this war is often presented as colonists/Americans vs the British, but really this battle in particular and many others I’m sure we’re fought between colonists who wanted to be a free country (Patriots) and colonists who were loyal to the king (Loyalists). So a fight among neighbors sadly. In fact, the battle has been described as the largest all-American fight.
The overview of the battle is presented through a 25-minute film in the Visitor’s Center and then on placards and memorials along the 1.5 mile battlefield trail in the park. In a nutshell, the Patriots defeated the Loyalists by driving them back up the mountain and then encircling them there. As a British Commander had opted to kill all of the captured Patriots in a couple of prior battles, even as they waved a white flag, it didn’t go well for the remaining Loyalist troops on the top of the hill at the end of the battle.
After watching the film, we walked the Battlefield Trail Loop. The trail was filled with memorials to many of the men who were wounded or killed in the battle, including a surprising tribute to the leader of the opposition.
in honor of the 150th anniversary of the battle.
known to have participated in the battle
or wounded in the battle
Major Patrick Ferguson was the only Briton to fight at Kings Mountain. He was born in Scotland in 1744 and began his military career at 14. He redesigned the flintlock rifle to increase firing speed. His rifle received the Crown’s patent in 1776. He was an excellent marksman and was very successful in recruiting Loyalists to fight with him, neither of which saved him during the battle.
Peckish Travels 