Ward, Christopher, 1952, The War of the Revolution, MacMillan Company, W5644 CHAPTER 67 King's Mountain On October 7 the forerunners came to the mountain on which Ferguson had established himself, with the announcement that "he defied God Almighty and all the rebels out of Hell to overcome him." King's Mountain afforded a position of extraordinary natural strength. Its level summit was about 500 yards long and 70 to 80 yards wide, but broadened to 120 yards at its northeast end, where Ferguson had fixed his camp. Its steep, rocky, heavily wooded sides rose about 60 feet from the plain below. He had about 100 Rangers, picked men from the King's American Rangers, the New Jersey Volunteers, and the Queen's Rangers, also 1,000 Tory militia. The Rangers were men of a good class. The second in command was Captain Abraham de Peyster of New York. Another captain was Samuel Ryerson of New Jersey. The adjutant was Anthony Allaire of New York, and the surgeon was Dr. Uzal Johnson of New Jersey. These men were as well trained and experienced as regular soldiers. They were equipped with bayonets and well drilled in their use. The local Tory auxiliaries were provided with long blades to be fitted into the muzzles of their rifles or muskets and used as bayonets. It is a remarkable fact that Ferguson was the only British soldier in the ensuing battle, one of the most important of the war. On both sides, all the rest were Americans. The patriots reached the mountain about noon of October 7, 1780, dismounted, fastened their blankets and coats to their saddles, tied their horses, and took positions in a line around its broader end and along the sides of its narrower part nearly to its southwestern extremity, Campbell's troops at the southwest end of the line on one side, Shelby's on the other. These two forces were to begin the attack, swarming up their respective sides and meeting so as to enclose Ferguson's at the broad end. A war whoop signaled the attack. The drums in the camp called their men to arms. Shelby met the first fire. He restrained his men from replying until they had got nearer the top. Campbell could be heard shouting, as his men climbed the mountain: "Here they are, boys! Shout like hell and fight like devils!" Shelby's men were driven back by a bayonet charge part way down the height. Having no bayonets, they could only take trees and fire up at their enemy; and they did this with deadly effect. Meanwhile, the rest of the rebels around the broad end of the mountain were climbing, taking cover, and firing. Cleveland's men gained the top, and Ferguson sent his bayonets at them, driving them back as he had driven Shelby's; but they, too, kept up their fire. Campbell and Shelby had again come on, and again Ferguson's bayonets repelled them. But Sevier's corps was now on the summit, and he had to turn to them. The bayonet was only a temporary resource. It might drive the attackers before it; it could not stop the bullets from the Deckhard Riflemen rifles, aimed by dead-shot frontiersmen. All the rebel contingents came into the fight with unrestrained fury. Everywhere the Tories were surrounded by men, not in solid bodies to be attacked with the bayonet and driven back, but fighting each man on his own behind the trees fringing the open plateau. From every side came a hail of bullets. The position of the Tories was hopeless, but Ferguson would not give up. He was everywhere on the held animating his men. Twice, when white flags were raised, he cut them down with his sword. To an officer who begged that the carnage might cease, he replied that he "would never surrender to such banditti." But at last he had to admit that the battle was lost. With a few others he tried to cut a way through the ring of his enemies. A rifle bullet stopped him. He fell from his horse and died with one foot caught in his stirrup. End of Part 5