the top Ferguson was entrenched with some eleven hundred men. About twelve o'clock, October 7, 1780, the nine hundred and ten men under command of Colonel Campbell reached the foot of the mountain unobserved by the enemy. They picketed their horses in the woods, and placed a small guard over them, which somewhat reduced the force that entered the battle. Dividing into two columns, which moved on foot in diverse directions, they encircled the mountain. When the heads of the two columns met, Ferguson was surrounded. Wheeling into line, the American force began to climb the sides of the mountain. The maneuver had been nearly completed before their presence was discovered. The annexed diagram shows the plan of attack and the position of the troops. Ferguson sent Capt. Abram De Peyster, his second in command, to charge with the bayonet upon Campbell and Shelby, who were approaching along the spur. He drove them down the mountain. About the same time the American troops on the opposite side of the mountain made a fierce assault, which compelled Ferguson to recall De Peyster from his charge. As De Peyster retreated up the hill the practiced riflemen of Shelby and Campbell followed the retiring footsteps of his men, and picked them off at leisure. Similar tactics were employed throughout the fight. The American forces, hidden by the trees and rocks, used their unerring rifles with terrible effect upon the enemy exposed on the bald plain above, surrounding Ferguson's camp like a rubber band, yielding to pressure at any point of attack, and closing with elastic force when the pressure was removed.

The remarkable spectacle was presented of an inferior force surrounding a superior force, and pressing it to destruction. No battle scene was ever more striking. The stalwart mountaineers, in their hunting shirts and picturesque costumes, moving actively and gracefully along the mountain sides, receding or advancing as occasion required, using their faithful rifles as coolly as at target practice, gradually contracted the encompassing circle until the well trained British regulars were crushed by the pressure.

After an hour of fighting Ferguson fell, and his second in command, De Peyster, surrendered. The loss of the British was fearfultwo hundred and twenty-five killed, and one hundred and eighty wounded. The proportion of the killed to the wounded testifies to the deadly accuracy of the mountain rifles. Seven hundred prisoners were taken, fifteen hundred stands of arms, and large stores of supplies. The loss of the Americans was thirty killed, and about sixty wounded.

The Americans retreated with their prisoners and captured stores, and successfully eluded pursuit. Having accomplished their purpose of destroying Ferguson, Shelby and Sevier returned home, and disbanded their men.

131. The Effect of King's Mountain.-This battle is ranked by historians as one of the decisive battles of the Revolution. It defeated the plans of Cornwallis, and forced his return to the Atlantic coast, General Washington proclaimed the result of the battle of King's Mountain in general orders to the army, as "an important object gained and a proof of the spirit and resources of the country." Congress expressed in its resolves "a high sense of the spirited and military conduct of Colonel Campbell, and the officers and privates of the militia under his command." Thomas Jefferson said: "That memorable victory was the annunciation of that turn of the tide of success which terminated the Revolutionary War with the seal of independence."

132. Honors to the Heroes of King's Mountain.-Sevier, Shelby, and their officers and soldiers were greeted with the highest honors upon their return home, and became the idols of their countrymen. The North Carolina Legislature voted thanks to the officers and men, and presented swords to Sevier and Shelby. Similar honors were awarded to Campbell and his men by Virginia. These honors were merited by the bravery and skill which they displayed. By no other tactics could Ferguson's forces have been captured, and such tactics could have succeeded at no place but King's Mountain,1

CHAPTER XIV.

THE STATE OF FRANKLIN.

133. Sevier Invades the Cherokees. The absence of so many of the defenders of Watauga had encouraged the Cherokees to plan an invasion of the country. The heroes of King's Mountain returned just in time. Receiving positive information that a strong Indian

1 No battle of the Revolution has received a more enduring monument than the battle of King's Mountain in the great work of Dr. Lyman C. Draper, entitled "King's Mountain and its Heroes," to which the student is referred for an exhaustive account of the engagement, and of the men who participated in it. See also Ramsey; Haywood; American Historical Magazine, Vol. I, No. 1, pp. 22-47 (January No., 1896).

force was on the road to invade the settlement, Sevier ordered the troops of Washington County to be mustered, and, without waiting for the embodiment of the entire force, he marched to intercept the enemy. He moved with the companies of Captain Russell and Captain Guess, and other volunteers, amounting in all to about one hundred men. He was joined on the march by Captain Pruett with about seventy men. At Long Creek he encountered a large force of Indians, who retreated after a short skirmish. Sevier followed in pursuit, and overtook the enemy at Boyd's Creek. Sevier attacked with his usual impetuosity and success. The Indians were routed and dispersed, with a loss of twenty-eight killed and many wounded. This timely movement and complete victory of the greatest of Indian fighters, saved the settlers from invasion and added greatly to the sentiments of admiration and gratitude with which Sevier was regarded. The battle of Boyd's Creek was added to the list of the thirty-five battles in which Sevier was thirty-five times a victor. In this battle, Major Tipton was severely wounded. Capt. Landon Carter and others are mentioned with honor.

Sevier encamped for a few days on the French Broad, where he was joined by Col. Arthur Campbell from Virginia and Major Martin from Sullivan County. He then moved south with a force of seven hundred mounted men, the Indians fleeing before him. Chilhowee, Hiwassee, and all other Indian towns between the Tennessee and Hiwassee rivers were destroyed. The combined forces then pressed on to the Indian town Tellico, where he met a deputation of Indians, proposing peace. This town was spared. Crossing the Hiwassee, they marched against the Chickamaugas, destroying villages and devastating the country.

Thence they passed into Georgia, and followed the Coosa south until they reached the cypress swamps, spreading ruin and devastation along their tracks.

This stern and cruel mode of warfare accomplished its purpose. The Indians, humbled and terrified, sued for peace. A treaty was made, and Sevier and his comrades returned home. Immediately. upon their return, January 4, 1781, the three commanders, Col. Arthur Campbell, Col. John Sevier, and Major Joseph Martin issued a joint address to the Indians, dictating the terms of a permanent treaty.

The Indians, although soliciting peace, still continued stealthy hostilities. During the summer, Sevier, with one hundred and thirty

men, again marched against the Cherokees, defeated them at Tuckasejah, burnt many of their villages, and desolated the country. In revenge, the Indians invaded some of the outlying white settlements. Sevier marched against them, and at War Ford, on the French Broad River, inflicted upon them summary punishment.

134. Further Hostilities.-Soon after the battle of War Ford, Sevier and Shelby went with the troops of Washington and Sullivan counties to South Carolina, and served with Marion until January, 1782. During their absence, the Cherokees, Chickamaugas, and Creeks resumed hostilities, and committed murders and depredations along the frontiers. Upon his return, Colonel Sevier from Washington County, and Colonel Anderson from Sullivan, marched with a force of two hundred mounted men into the territory of the hostile Indians, extending their invasion to Coosa and Oostenaula rivers in Georgia. The Indians offered no concerted defense, while their country was ravaged. After this punishment the Indians ceased their depredations, and peace was secured.

135. 1783.-As with the Cumberland settlers, so with Watauga settlers, this year was full of important events. Peace with Great Britain brought a relaxation of Indian hostilities. The new judicial district of Morgan was taken off from Salisbury District. Thus, Washington and Sullivan counties, being included in the new district, were afforded better facilities for the administration of justice. A final adjustment was made with the Transylvania Company, and land titles were made secure. A land office was opened for the sale of lands for the purpose of paying off the Revolutionary soldiers. This office proved a valuable advertisement to attract immigrants. Greene County was erected out of Washington County. The first court consisted of Joseph Hardin, John Newman, George Doherty, James Houston, Amos Bird, and Asahel Rawlings. Daniel Kennedy was elected clerk, James Wilson, sheriff, and William Cocke, attorney for the State. At the end of this year, the three East Tennessee counties were in a prosperous condition, and rapidly growing.

The thoughts of the people turned to the necessity for providing facilities for education, for which no provision had been made except