When We Were Greers, Part XV-E

by Glenn N. Holliman

The Battle that Saved the Revolution in the South

October 7, 1780 found the Americans in an attack position at King's Mountain, South Carolina with Capt. Benjamin Greer's company embedded in Col. Cleveland's regiment on the north side of Ferguson's powerful defensive lines.  

Much of the success of the American Revolution rested in the courage of the Mountain Men - Greer, Osborne and others - who were about to charge up that hill into musket fire and bayonet.

On the afternoon of October 7, 1780, Capt. Benjamin Greer, my 5th great grandfather, stood ready to lead his company forward through swampy ground and up the dangerous slopes of King's Mountain. Colonel Cleveland's regiment, in which Greer served, is located on the map below represented with the letter 'G'.

It seemed every man followed the advice of Col. Shelby to use rock and tree in the laborious advance up the hill and into enemy fire.  Cleveland's regiment was ten minutes late getting started due to the marshy terrain, and once moving forward ran into musket fire and the bayonet.  Gradually the Patriot forces, some 1,840 of them, over came the 1,000 or so Tories and British troops.

Major Patrick Ferguson, wearing a bright red coat, was an easy target on horseback.  Many claimed they fired the bullet that put an end of his life.  Ferguson's boot caught in his stirrup and his body, continuing to receive lead, was dragged hundreds of yards.  With his death, the battle ended in a massive Patriot victory.

When British General Cornwallis heard of the defeat, he reduced his ambitions in the Carolinas. After the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, North Carolina, a Pyrrhic victory the next year, he 'cornered' himself at Yorktown, Virginia.  Bottled up by Washington and the French fleet, he surrendered in October 1781, a year after the Battle of King's Mountain  After six years of combat, the American Revolution was won.

Who fired that shot that killed the arrogant Scotsman Ferguson (pictured above)?  Watauga County, North Carolina historian, John Preston Arthur, probably reporting local folklore, wrote in 1915 that the American Patriot was none other than Benjamin Greer!  Other historians have listed the names of other soldiers.  One suspects a dozen American marksmen may have fired at Ferguson, so plainly visible dressed in a red coat on a large horse.

One hopes this ancestor of ours finally obtained some rest that winter of 1780/81.  His summer of 1780 is, of course, literally one for the history books.  He made war on both the Cherokee, Tories and the British Empire.  In these endeavors, he was successful.  Was his work done?  Not yet.  The back country of Wilkes County still suffered from Tory infestation, some neighbors against neighbors.