We have never seen the following document in print, which we now publish from the original manuscript, in the 
possession of a gentleman of this town. It gives an account of a brilliant affair in our Revolution drawn up 
at the time by the chief actors in it, and expressed in the plain strong style that belonged to the period. 
This, with very many other battles in the South, have never attracted the applause, or attained the historical 
notoriety, which have attended the Revolutionary incidents of similar magnitude in other quarters-and, indeed, 
so much more has been written concerning the Revolutionary incidents of the North, and so much more has been 
done by the people and the States in that section to commemorate and signalize them, that the present generation 
in the neighborhood of Cowpens and King's Mountain know more about Bunker's Hill and Lexington, and more of Starke 
and Putnam than Pickens or Campbell.

No monument, inscription-stone, 
Their race, their deeds, their names almost unknown!

We have always thought that those battle-fields in our State which were illustrated by the gallantry and devotion 
of our ancestors should be marked by permanent mementos, at the cost of the State-everyone from Fort Moultrie to 
King's Mountain.-And he who would carry such a measure through the Legislature, would himself deserve a monument.

A State of the proceedings of the Western Army, from the 25th day of September, 1780, to the reduction of Major 
{Patrick} Ferguson and the Army under his Command:

On receiving Intelligent that Maj. Ferguson had advanced up as high as Gilbert Town in Rutherford County, and 
threatened to cross the mountains to the Western Waters.

Col. William Campbell, with four hundred men from Washington County of Virginia; Col. Isaac Shelby, with two 
hundred and forty men from Sullivan County of North Carolina; Lieutenant Col. John Sevier with two hundred and 
forty men from Washington County of North Carolina, assembled at Wattauga on the 25th day of September where they 
were joined by Col. Charles McDowell, with one hundred and sixty men from the Counties of Burk and Rutherford, who 
had fled before the enemy to the Western Waters. We began our march on the 26th and on the 30th we were joined by 
three hundred and fifty men from the Counties of Wilkes and Surry. No one officer having properly a right to the 
command in chief, on the first of October we dispatched an express to Major General Gates, informing him of our 
situation, and requested him to send General Odieer to take the Command of the whole. In the meantime Col. Campbell 
was chosen to act as commandant, till such General officer should arrive. We marched to the Cowpens on Broad River 
in South Carolina where we were joined by Col. James Williams with four hundred men, on the evening of the 6th October, 
who informed us that the enemy lay encamped somewhere near the Cherokee ford of Broad River, about thirty miles distant 
from us; by a council of the principle officers, it was then thought advisable to pursue the enemy that night, with nine 
hundred of the best horsemen, and leave them weak horse and foot men to follow us as fast as possible. We began our march 
with 900 of the best men about 8 o'clock P.M. of the 7th, who lay encamped on the top of Kings Mountain twelve miles north 
of the Cherokee ford, in the confidence that they could not be forced from so advantageous a post. Previous to the attack, 
on our march, the following disposition was made; Col. Shelby's ridgment formed a column in the center on the left; Col. 
Campbell's ridgment an other on the right; part of Col. Clebeland's ridgment headed in front of Major Winston, and Col. 
Sevier's ridgement, formed a large column on the right wing; the other part of Col. Cleveland's ridgment headed by Col. 
Cleveland himself, and Col. Williams' ridgment, composed the left wing; in this order we advanced and got within a quarter 
of a mile of the enemy before we were discovered. Col. Shelby's and Col. Campbell's ridgments began the attack, and kept up 
a fire on the enemy, while the right and left wings were advancing forward to surround them, which was done in about five 
minutes, and the fire became general all around; the engagement lasted an hour and five minutes, the greatest part of which 
time an heavy and incessant fire was kept up on both sides; our men in some parts where the regulars fought, were obliged to 
give way a small distance, two or three times, but rallied and returned with additional ardour to the attack. The troops upon 
the right having gained the summit of the Eminence obliged the enemy to retreat along the top of the ridge to where Col. 
Cleveland commanded, and were there stopt by his brave men; a flag was immediately hoisted by Captain Depoisture then commanding 
officer (Major Ferguson having been killed a little before) for a surrender; our fire immediately ceased, and the enemy laid 
down their arms, the greatest part of them charged, and surrendered themselves prisoners to us at discretion.

It appears from their own provision returns for that day, found in their camp, that their whole force consisted of eleven hundred 
and twenty-five men-out of which they sustained the following loss. Of the regulars, one Major, one Captain, two Sergents and 
fifteen privates killed, thirty-five privates wounded left on the ground not able to march, two captains, four lieutenants, 
three ensigns, one surgeon, five sergents, three corporals, one drummer and 49 privates taken prisoners; loss of the tories, 
two colonels, three captains, and 201 privates killed; one major and 127 privates wounded and left on the ground not able to
march; One colonel, twelve captains, eleven lieutenants, two ensigns; one quarter master, one adjutant, two commissarys, eighteen 
sergents, and 600 privates taken prisoners. Total loss of the enemy 1105 men at King's Mountain. 

Given under our hands at Camp Wm. Campbell; Isaac Shelby and Benj. Cleveland.    From the Columbia Telescope

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