Smith, David/Turner, Graham (Illustr.) Kings Mountain 1780

The Tide Turns in the South

Until 1780, the British strategy of subjugating the South by mobilising Loyalist troops seemed to be working, following the capture of Charleston and the defeat of General Gates' Grand Army at Camden. Major Patrick Ferguson was tasked with raising troops and soon assembled a small army of more than 4,000 men, with which he subjugated the hinterland of South Carolina. It seemed as if Britain had South Carolina and Georgia firmly in its grasp, leading to a push into North Carolina. Ferguson, commanding only a fraction of his Loyalists, was tasked with securing the advance of Cornwallis's main British army, but his actions in the backcountry attracted the attention of the fiercely independent Overmountain Men. Called to action by a handful of charismatic leaders, the Overmountain Men joined forces with the patriotic militia and set out in pursuit of the Loyalists. After a gruelling march of more than 300 miles, they caught up with them at Kings Mountain and destroyed Ferguson's command. With detailed maps, diagrams and illustrations, this book by author David Smith delves deep into Britain's plans for the area, the events that prompted the Overmountain Men to band together, and the final battle in which the Loyalists were defeated.