Friday, October 7, 2011

Don't Mess With The Patriots...!


Some lessons in life are only learned the hard way!

That should have been a warning to the Tories under Major Ferguson. Guess they just had to learn it the hard way! One lesson that surely was passed down...when you play with fire, you're gonna get burned! BIG TIME!

Oct 7, 1780:
Battle of King's Mountain

During the American Revolution, Patriot irregulars under Colonel William Campbell defeat Tories under Major Patrick Ferguson at the Battle of King's Mountain in South Carolina.

Major Ferguson's Tory force, made up mostly of American Loyalists from South Carolina and elsewhere, was the western wing of General Lord Cornwallis' North Carolina invasion force. One thousand American frontiersmen under Colonel Campbell of Virginia gathered in the backcountry to resist Ferguson's advance. Pursued by the Patriots, Ferguson positioned his Tory force in defense of a rocky, treeless ridge named King's Mountain. The Patriots charged the hillside multiple times, demonstrating lethal marksmanship against the surrounded Loyalists.

Unwilling to surrender to a "band of banditti," Ferguson led a suicidal charge down the mountain and was cut down in a hail of bullets. After his death, some of his men tried to surrender, but they were slaughtered in cold blood by the frontiersmen, who were bitter over British excesses in the Carolinas. The Tories suffered 157 killed, 163 wounded, and 698 captured. Colonel Campbell's force suffered just 28 killed and 60 wounded.

There are a few things you should be taught very early as a solder, with the main lesson being that it's hard to beat a foe on their home ground! In simpler terms, it's hard to beat a Patriot at home!

We all already knew that...right? Right!

Coffee on the patio this morning. It might rain later, but we won't hold our breath!

10 comments:

Sixbears said...

The flip side of fighting on your home turf is that your women and children are at risk. Just ask the Indians.

Mechanic in Illinois said...

The Torres got what they deserved. Thanks for the story and have a great Friday.

JoJo said...

Good post.

I will gladly send rain if I could.
Its 36 degrees and expecting more rain. Coffee on your patio sounds wonderful.

Ben in Texas said...

Sir Hermit! I think you missed your life's calling by not being a History teacher. :-) OR are we your class now?

HermitJim said...

Hey Sixbears...
That's very true, my friend!

Sad that the folks with families couldn't chose the battle ground!

Thanks for the visit today!


Hey Mechanic...
I think that many times, the patriots were underestimated. At least early on!

Another important lesson learned about fighting the Patriots!

Thanks for coming over today!


Hey JoJo...
Wow! 36 degrees! That's pretty amazing to me, since the lowest we have been here is around 63 or so!

Better watch it, or the snow will sneak up on you!

Thanks, sweetie, for coming over today!

HermitJim said...

Hey Ben...
I could never have been a teacher, especially in todays society!

Too much disrespect and craziness going on!

Thanks for the kind words and for stopping by today!

Dizzy-Dick said...

Like Ben said, we are your class and you are THE Teacher. I have learned so very much from you. Keep up the good work, we appreciate you.

HoboJoe said...

Any soldier can fire upon the enemy. When you're defending your freedom though... your bullets come with heart.

Recycled Cottage & Garden said...

A couple of my ancestors fought in the battle of King's Mountain. I'm sure glad they did. Those mountain boys were tough cookies.

HermitJim said...

Hey DD...
Thanks, my friend, for the kind words!

Glad you could get something useful out of the post today!

I appreciate you coming by!


Hey HoboJoe...
Boy, ain't that the truth? Been proven time and time again!

Thanks for dropping in today!


Hey Ladyhawthorn...
That's pretty cool that you know about your ancestors being in that fight!

Family history can be very educational! You're right about the toughness of the mountain boys of that time!

Many thanks for coming over today!