Battle of Kings Mountain

The Battle of King's Mountain was a significant engagement during the American Revolutionary War, fought on October 7, 1780, near the border of North and South Carolina. This battle pitted Patriot militia forces against Loyalist militia under the command of British Major Patrick Ferguson. The Patriots, led by commanders such as William Campbell, John Sevier, and Isaac Shelby, launched a surprise attack on the Loyalist position atop King's Mountain.

The battle was fierce and intense, with the Patriots using guerrilla tactics to ascend the steep slopes and engage the Loyalists in close combat. The Loyalists, caught off guard and unable to hold their ground, suffered heavy casualties. Major Ferguson was killed during the fighting, and the Loyalist forces were ultimately defeated.

The victory at King's Mountain was a turning point in the Southern Campaign of the Revolutionary War. It disrupted British plans to control the Southern colonies and boosted Patriot morale. The defeat forced British General Charles Cornwallis to retreat from North Carolina into South Carolina, giving the American forces an opportunity to regroup and reorganize under General Nathanael Greene.