Further  Gathering  of  the  King's  Mountain  Men. —  Williams'  North
Carolina  Recruits. — Movements  of  Sumter's  Force  under  Hill  and
Lacey .—  Troubles  with  Williams. — March  to  Flint  Hill. —  The
Mountaineers  at  their  South  Mountain  Camp. — Patriotic  Appeals
of  the  Officers  to  their  Men. — Resume  of  Ferguson's  Operations  in
the  Upper  Catawba  Valley. — Alarming  Intelligettce  of  the  Ap-
proach of  the  Back  Water  Men. —  Why  Ferguson  Tarried  so  long
on  the  Frontiers. — British  Scheme  of  Suppressing  the  Rebelliofi  by
the  Gallows. — Ferguson  Flees  from  Gilbert  Town. — Sends  Messen-
gers for  aid  to  Cornwallis  and  Cruger. — Frenzied  Appeal  to  the
Tories.  —  Ferguson's  Breakfast  Stolen  by  Saucy  Whigs.  —  His
Flight  to  Tate's  Ferry. — Dispatch  to  Lord  Cornwallis. —  Takes
Post  on  King' s  Mountain,  and  Description  of  it. — Motives  for
Lingering  there.
It  will  be  remembered,  that  Governor  Nash  had  granted
to  Colonel  Williams,  a  South  Carolinian,  the  privilege  of
organizing  a  corps  of  mounted  men  within  the  North  Prov-
ince. Under  this  authority,  he  enlisted  about  seventy,  chiefly
while  encamped  at  Higgin's  plantation,  in  Rowan  County.
