King's Mountain and Its Heros: History of the Battle of King's Mountain, October 7th, 1780, and the Events Which Led to It, Lyman C. Draper, LL. D., Page 232-233 When within two or three miles of King's Mountain, Sevier's advance managed to capture two or three more Tories, who were out spying, from whom corroborative information was derived of the position of Ferguson's camp, and of the locality of his packet guard. Soon after, a youth named JOHN PONDER,* some fourteen years of age, was met riding in great haste, while another account says he was captured in an old field-probably taking a circuitous course for Charlotte. Colonel Hambright knowing that this lad had a brother and other relatives in Ferguson's camp, caused his prompt arrest. On searching him, a fresh dispatch from Ferguson to Cornwallis was found, manifesting great anxiety as to his situation, and earnestly renewing his request for immediate assistance. The substance of the dispatch was made known to the men, without, however, mentioning Ferguson's strength, which he seems to have given, lest his numbers should tend to discourage them. INTERROGATING YOUNG PONDER AS TO THE KIND OF DRESS FERGUSON WORE, HE REPLIED THAT WHILE THAT OFFICER WAS THE BEST UNIFORMED MAN ON THE MOUNTAIN, THEY COULD NOT SEE HIS MILITARY SUIT, AS HE WORE A CHECKED SHIRT, OR DUSTER, OVER IT. COLONEL HAMBRIGHT AT ONCE CALLED THE ATTENTION OF HIS MEN TO THIS PECULIARITY OF FERGUSON'S DRESS: " WELL, POYS," SAID HE, IN HIS BROKEN PENNSYLVANIA GERMAN ACCENT, "WHEN YOU SEE DOT MAN MIT A PIG SHIRT ON OVER HIS CLOTHES, YOU MAY KNOW WHO HIM IS, AND MARK HIM MIT YOUR RIFLES." _____________ * General Joseph Graham, in his King's Mountain narrative, gives the name as Fonderin, which Dr. Hunter in his Sketches repeats. But Colonel J. R. Logan, who has lived all his life of some seventy years in the King's Mountain region, and whose grandfather, William Logan, was in the battle, states that all the aged persons of that section of country unite in declaring that the youth's name was John Ponder. A MR. DOVER, says Colonel Logan, was likewise met on the march, and imparted some information to the Whig leaders of Ferguson's movements and whereabouts; and the families of the Ponders and Dovers still reside in York County, South Carolina, and Cleveland County, North Carolina, while Ponder's branch of King's creek is a well-known stream in that quarter.