How did the patriots and loyalist fight in the Battle of Kings Mountain?

Answer 1

Friday 15th Sept 1780 a small Loyalist detachment were on reconnaissance at the frontier when they encountered near Quaker Meadows a large number of the most violent rebels they had ever seen, particularly the young 'ladies'. This together with them already knowing about another force of 600 rebels in the area, that had been besieging Col. Browne's garrison for 5 days before being driven off, they prudently decided to report this back to their recruitment campaign unit. The situation was obviously potentially very dangerous, so they headed for Charlotte to join up with another British regiment. However when they came to Little Kings Mountain late on the 6th Oct, Major Ferguson, (a Scot of the Seventy-first regiment who was in Command and the only non-American in the battle) inexplicably thought he could defend it against a force of up to twice his own 800 men (115 volunteers and 685 local militia recruits) so took up position along it's crest. But he could neither have known the number or type he would face, as the entire hill being littered with large boulders and thousands of trees was the very terrain the 'over-the-mountain' outlaws (that made up the majority of those pursuing him) used so effectively in their incessant ambushing of Indians. On Saturday, 7th Oct. at about two o'clock in the afternoon twenty-five hundred Rebels, under the command of Brig.-Gen. Williams, ten Colonels and at least ten Majors attacked, their numbers enabled them to surround the hill and fire with such intensity that the Loyalist's eyes were soon full of splinters flying from the trees. With the normal advantage of holding the high ground being negated by ample cover for the Rebels to advance, it was just a matter of time before the Loyalist's ammunition was exhausted. Therefore after about an hour when they could no longer return fire, they tried to break out with a bayonet charge, but in the effort of rallying his men, Maj. Ferguson became perilously conspicuous and was hit with a multitude of bullets to the chest. This left the Loyalists in disarray and so tightly packed together at one end of the hill their position was hopeless, therefore had tried to surrender, but the killing went on unabated. When the rebels came across Maj.Ferguson's body they cut it to pieces and urinated on him and this to a man that one of his Loyalist Lieutenants wrote: - 'A man much attached to his King and country, well informed in the art of war: that was brave and humane, an agreeable companion; in short, he was universally esteemed in the army, and I have every reason to regret his unhappy fate' - Lt.A.Allaire. Both sides lost about 135 men including the Rebel commander, about 664 Loyalist prisoners (90 of which were injured) were taken. On Thursday, 2nd Nov, Lt. Allaire managed to 'take a walk' (escape) with two others, but before they could do so, he witnessed the Rebels had stuffed their Presbyterian religion with as much republicanism and Propaganda as that their camp was of horse thieves, to justify the mock trials then hangings of senior officers, their own beatings and the denial of any food or shelter from freezing conditions. The only food they in fact received was from 'Tory' women who at great risk to themselves sneaked it to them. Those loyalists that had tried to escape were nearly all caught and shot, so needless to say very few survived. His own escape was lucky and only made possible by brave local Loyalist homesteaders who relay shepherded them across to British lines.

Answer 2

A Patriot force of 900 men under colonels Isaac Shelby, John Sevier, and William Campbell won the Battle of Kings Mountain, fought against a Loyalist force of some 1,100 men, of whom 157 had been killed, 163 were wounded and 698 surrendered.

Answer 3

Yes they did win with the help of General howe

Answer 4

yes