Overmountain Men | Kings Mountain

Overmountain men were American frontiersmen from west of the Appalachian Mountains (now Tennessee) who fought in the Revolutionary War.  

When Major Patrick Ferguson led his amy into South Carolina, he sent the overmountain men a bold warning. With an army of 120 well-trained British Provincial soldiers, formed from Northern volunteer units, along with about 800 loyalist militiamen recruited from the Carolinas, Ferguson was confident of a victory. 

Unfortunately, Ferguson had isolated himself from the main British army by establishing an elevated position at Kings Mountain.

On October 7, 1780, under the leadership of Colonel Isaac Shelby and Captain John Sevier, a thousand Overmountain men (Patriots) surrounded Ferguson and his army. A hail of patriot bullets hit Ferguson at the same time, and he died of multiple gunshot wounds.

The Battle at Kings Mountain was a great victory and placed in motion for the tides to turn in favor for the Patriots.

Standards

• 4.2.CX Contextualize South Carolina’s role in the development of the new nation.
• 8.2.CO Compare the motives and demographics of loyalists and patriots within South Carolina and the colonies.
• This indicator was developed to encourage inquiry into the economic, political, and social motivations of the patriots and the loyalists in the era of the American Revolution.
• 8.2.CE Explain the economic, political, and social factors surrounding the American Revolution.
• This indicator was developed to encourage inquiry into how the colonies began to unify to create a distinctive American identity over the course of events of the American Revolution.
• 8.2.CX Contextualize the roles of various groups of South Carolinians as the colonies moved toward becoming an independent nation.
• This indicator was developed to encourage inquiry into the motivations of colonists during the American Revolution and the progression of conflict and failed compromise that ultimately led to revolution.

Resources