Campbell, William (1745-1781) The expedition to and battle on Kings Mountain

The expedition to and battle on Kings mountain.
Soon after the defeat of the American Army under Genl. Gates the British Commander in South Carolina made arrangements to invade N. Carolina and Virginia. With this view he organized a Corps of the upland Tories mostly riflemen, and attached to them two companies of his regular troops, giving the command of the whole to Major Patrick Furguson of the 71st. Regiment an intelligent officer and well calculated for a separate command. The Corps on the first outset amounted to two thousand effective men.
Orders were also sent to the British Agent for Indian affairs to excite the indians to invade the American settlements west of the mountains, and if practicable to proceed as far as Chiswells Lead mines and destroy the works and stores at that place.
The main body commanded by Cornwallis in person was to move along the central road by way of Salisbury, and form a junction with Furguson before he entered into Virginia.
Furgusons detachment began the operation by marching towards the mountains, and on his way met with a small regiment of N. Carolina militia commanded by Charles and Joseph McDowell. They were attacked and soon dispersed; but the Col°. and Major with a part of the men, [strikeout] rather than submit [inserted: chose] to pass over the Apalachian Mountains, and take refuge among their whig brethern on the western waters. They arrived in the settlement on Wataga river without their families to the number of about 150 men. Their tale was a doleful one and tended to excite the resentment of the western militia, who of late had become in[strikeout]ured to danger by fighting the Indians, and who had an utter detestation of the tyranny of the British Government.
At this period early in September, the County Lieutenant of Washington was in Richmond. There he had an interview with the Governor of Virginia, who detailed the circumstances of Genl Gates defeat, [strikeout] the measures about to be taken to retrieve the misfortune and to expel the enemy from our Country, and [inserted: gave an opinion] that vigorous resistance every where would soon put an end to the war.
On the return of the County Lieut Col Isaac Shelby of N Carolina sent to him a trusty messenger to inform him of the progress of Furguson, and the retreat of McDowells [2] Corps,
and also to enquire whether it would be prudent to make an effort to enable the exiles to recross the mountains and return to there own homes. Mr. Adair the messenger was told the Governors sentiments on the subject of Gates defeat, and the efforts that would soon be made by order of Congress to check the progress of the enemy; [struck: and] he was also assured that if the western Counties of N Carolina would raise a force to join Col° McDowells men, that the officers of Washington County would co operate in aiding their friends to return home
A consultation was soon had with the field officers and a resolution agreed on to order half the militia of Washington County into actual service under the command of Col° William Campbell. All ranks seemed animated with the same spirit, and the quota was raised and equipt in a few days. An express was sent to Col° Cleveland of Wilkes County N Carolina to let him know what was going on and to march all the men he could raise to rendezvous at an appointed place on the east side of the mountains. Colonels Shelby & Seveir acted their part with like promptitude in the western Counties of No Carolina, and the whole met at Col° McDowells encampment on Wataga. The mountains from this place to the Cataba are of the largest size of any in the U. S. and the distance over about 40 miles.- On the 28th of September our little army took up its line of march, and the third day in the evening reached the other side without any opposition from the enemy. Two days afterwards Col° Cleveland joined his corps to the main body, and the day afterwards Col Williams with three companies of volunteers from South Carolina.
A Council of Officers [struck: was] held and it was agreed that Col° William Campbell of Virginia should take command of the whole and pursue the enemy. Major Furguson after dispersing such parties of the North Carolina militia as were embodied followed Col° McDowells men as far as the foot of the great mountains [3] and after taking some prisoners and collecting a drove of Beves, he made a hasty retreat to Kings mountain in order to be nearer the main Army, and on account of the strong encampment that might be formed on the top of it. Our new elected commander reviewed his men [struck: and] selected all who were fit for service of the mounted infantry, and [struck: he] ordered the footmen to follow as they might be able to hold out.
We have a conscise detail of what happened afterwards in a letter from Col Campbell to a friend.
Wilkes County, Camp on Briar Creek Oct 20th 1780.
Ferguson and his party are no more in circumstances to injure the Citizens of America.- We came up with him in Craven County South Carolina, posted on [struck: highth][inserted: height] called Kings mountain, about twelve miles North of the Cherokee ford of Broad River, about 2 Oclock in the evening of the 7th Instant, having marched the whole night before. Col Shelbys Regiment ten minutes, while the other troops were forming around the height upon which the enemy were posted. The firing then became general, and as heavy as you can conceive for the number of men. The advantegious situation of the enemy, being the top of a steep ridge, obliged us to expose ourselves exceedingly, and the dislodging of them was equal to driving men from strong breast works; Tho: in the end we gained the point of the ridge where my regiment fought, and drove them along the summit of it, nearly to the other end, where Col° Cleveland and his County men were. There they were driven into a huddle, and the greatest confusion. The flag for a surrender was immediately hoisted, and as soon as the troops could be notified of it the firing ceased. The survivors surrendered themselves prisoners at discretion. [4] We fought an hour and five minutes in which time 225 of the enemy were killed and 130 wounded- The rest making about 700 regulars and tories were taken prisoners. Furguson was kil'd nigh the close of the action.
The victory was compleat to a wish and I think it was obtained by about 700 men who fought bravely. I have lost several of my brave friends, whose death I much lament. Major Edmiston will give you their names, tho. I must myself mention Capt. Edmiston his two brothers and Lieut. Bower. My regiment has suffered more than any other in the action. Our loss in the field was altogether about 30 kill'd and 60 wounded.
I must proceed on with the prisoners until I can some way dispose of them, probably I may go on to Richmond in Virginia.
I am yr
Wm. Campbell.
[in pencil] Cousin of Arthur Campbell
Wm Campbell was son who married his sister Margaret
Chas. C. (a lawyer) Wm Campbell's daughter
whose wife was a sister Sarah married Genl Frances
Of John Bachman Preston of Abington
And became the mother of
Col Wm Campbell married Elizabeth Senator Wm. C. Preston
He[illegible] Sister Patrick Henry Genl Jno S. Preston
Was ColWm Christian's brother [illegible] Thos L. Preston [illegible]
in law Mrs [illegible] Hamilton [illegible]

Mrs Genl Carrington
Mrs Robt Breckinridge of Ky
Mrs Jas Mcdowell
[illegible]
John M. Preston
[docket]
The battle of
Kings Mountain
A. Campbell