battle kings mountain battle kings mountain decisive victory south_carolina patriot militia loyalist militia southern campaign american revolutionary war battle took place october miles south present day town kings mountain north_carolina rural south_carolina patriot militia defeated loyalist militia commanded british major foot arrived north_carolina early september recruit troops loyalist militia protect flank lord main force issued challenge rebel militias lay arms suffer consequences response patriot militias led rallied attack receiving intelligence oncoming attack decided retreat safety lord army patriots caught loyalists kings mountain near border south_carolina achieving complete surprise patriot attacked surrounded loyalists inflicting heavy casualties hour battle fatally shot trying break rebel line men surrendered patriots gave quarter rebel officers established control men said seeking revenge alleged killings men battle slogan remember quarter victorious patriots retreat quickly area fear advance later executed loyalist prisoners short trial battle pivotal moment southern campaign surprising victory american loyalist militia came string rebel defeats hands lord greatly raised patriots morale dead loyalist militia destroyed forced abandon plan invade north_carolina retreated south_carolina prelude battle major appointed inspector militia task march old area raise organize loyalist units population protect left flank lord main body charlotte north_carolina mill evening august mounted patriot partisans joint command clarke prepared raid loyalist camp mill controlled local grain supply guarded ford august occurred near ford near present day border south_carolina patriots anticipated surprising garrison equal number loyalists local farmer informed recently reinforced loyalist militia provincial regulars way join british major battle took hour period killed unknown number wounded seventy taken prisoner patriots lost dead wounded whig leaders briefly considered attacking stronghold ninety south_carolina dispersed learning large patriot army defeated days previous forces covered miles hot pursuit making escape wake defeat victory patriots served evidence south_carolina held men crossed retreated territory present day tennessee month september men combined forces col virginia men muster advance october battle kings mountain north present day south_carolina north_carolina september militia recruited marched west pursuit hill country tennessee north_carolina border september established base camp gilbert town north_carolina according issued challenge patriot leaders lay arms lay waste country fire sword north_carolina patriot militia leaders washington district present day northeast tennessee met agreed lead patriot leaders sent word virginia militia leader asking join called bring north_carolina militia rendezvous detachments campbell met north_carolina led brother joseph campbell cousin brought volunteers southwest virginia today northeast tennessee known men settled wilderness west mustered rendezvous september near modern city tennessee movement possible tensions thanks diplomacy brother law indian agent men crossed mountain day proceeded southerly direction thirteen days anticipation fighting british loyalist forces september reached north_carolina home brothers united men strong patriots marched north_carolina leading patriot force cleveland chose nominal commander agreed act council command combined army patriot militia reached informed large body militia advancing waiting days reasons unclear ordered retreat lord british main forces charlotte sending message requesting reinforcements request reach day battle october reached north_carolina issued public letter calling local militia join set men october patriot militia reached camp gilbert town thirty georgia joined anxious action october reached south_carolina site future battle received word east heading charlotte catch rebel spies reported making camp men pushing reached charlotte safety day march away camped kings mountain sent letter asking reinforcements rocky forested hills upper near border shaped like highest point heel narrow broad rounded toe loyalists camped ridge west highest point needing hurry patriot militia men horseback rode left immediately marching night 6th morning 7th rain stopped sunrise 7th miles early afternoon arrived immediately surrounded ridge attacked battle battle opened patriots including father approached steep base western ridge formed detachments men unaware patriots caught men regular british soldier command composed entirely militia red loyalist soldiers new_york thought necessary camp patriots caught loyalists surprise loyalist officer later wrote didn know patriots near shooting started screaming patriots charged hill captain turned said things ominous damned boys parties led assaulted mountains heel smallest area highest point detachments led williams cleveland attacked main loyalist position surrounding ball base heel crest mountain patriot army held command fighting started detachment fought independently previously agreed plan surround destroy loyalists patriots hill fired rocks trees rallied troops launched desperate bayonet charge campbell lacking patriots ran hill woods campbell soon rallied troops returned hill resumed firing ordered bayonet charges battle pattern battle patriots charge hill charge hill fixed driving patriots slopes woods charge spent returned positions patriots reform woods return base hill charge hill charges colonel williams killed colonel wounded firing difficult loyalists patriots constantly moved cover advantage furthermore downhill angle hill contributed loyalists marks hour combat loyalist casualties heavy rode forth hill blowing silver whistle signal charges campbell reached hill loyalist position attacked rear loyalists driven camp began surrender drew sword small white flags saw appeared know end near attempt rally men shouted brave boys day sic gathered officers tried cut patriot ring men fired volley shot dragged horse patriot line confronted opposing officer demanded surrender major shot killed man pistol shot dead multiple patriots spot patriots recovered corpse counted seven bullet wounds seeing leader fall loyalists began surrender patriots want prisoners eager avenge quarter forces killed sizable number continental soldiers tried surrender horse shot pinning ground leading men believe commanding officer killed white flag surrender patriots seemingly unaware loyalists trying surrender loyalist captain command killed sent white flag asking quarter minutes patriots rejected white flag continued firing shouting quarter play significant number surrendering loyalists killed sent second white flag rebel officers including campbell ran forward took control ordering men cease fire took loyalist prisoners aftermath battle kings mountain lasted minutes loyalists suffered killed wounded taken prisoner patriot militia suffered killed wounded patriots quickly fear advance meet loyalist prisoners walk camps miles battlefield dead buried shallow graves wounded left field die corpse later reported wrapped burial captives came near starvation march lack supplies hastily organized patriot army october retreating patriot force held loyalists charges treason patriot militias indian rebellion passing sunshine community retreat halted property family loyalist fought battle mortally wounded brother benjamin patriot held prisoner war british ship docked charleston cousin loyalist commander earlier battle mill modern troops participated sides stopped land rebels convicted loyalist prisoners testified patriots previously fought alongside later changed sides prisoners hanged brought end proceedings decision halt executions came plea mercy women accounts vary aaron wife benjamin wife patriot army dispersed loyalist prisoners escaped led single file woods days column finally reached camp salem north_carolina kings mountain pivotal moment history american revolution coming series disasters carolinas fall charleston capture american army destruction american army battle massacre surprising decisive victory kings mountain great boost patriot morale country broken military force additionally destruction command threat patriot militia mountains caused lord cancel plans invade north_carolina instead evacuated charlotte retreated south_carolina return north_carolina early chasing americans dealt british forces defeat battle winning west wrote kings mountain brilliant victory marked turning point american revolution called turn tide success president kings mountain said place inspiring memories thousand men inspired urge freedom defeated superior force strategic position small band patriots turned dangerous invasion designed separate united colonies little army little battle mighty history justice significance place lexington congress united_states created site battle park headquarters south_carolina hosts hundreds thousands people year
Battle of Kings Mountain