Colonel Isaac Shelby | Kings Mountain

Col. Isaac Shelby was from “over the mountain” in what is now Tennessee. He along with Elijah Clarke, leader of the Wilkes County, Georgia Militia and James Williams, leader of the Little River Militia formed a new strategy for attacking the British. This new strategy involved the militia men hiding behind trees and/or rocks so they could take deadly aim at British and Loyalist soldiers. This was a type of fighting with no holds barred. In the Battle of Musgrove Mill, this strategy for the patriots proved to be a ray of hope-- that the British forces were not invincible.

Even though Shelby and his fellow comrades were unable to pursue the British who fleed the Battle of Musgrove Mill, they decided that this strategy was the way to handle the British army.  In future battles, they would not attempt to take on the British by themselves, but keep in touch. If one group was threatened, they would all come to fight.

With a combined force that included Shelby along with John Sevier, William Campell and other leaders, they decided to go after Major Patrick Ferguson at Kings Mountain.

The Battle of King's Mountain would become the high point of Shelby's military service resulting in him being called "Old King's Mountain."

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IMAGE CREDIT: The portrait of Colonel Isaac Shelby was painted by Thomas Kelly Pauley.

Standards

• 4-3 The student will demonstrate an understanding of the conflict between the American colonies and England.
  • Revolutions result from resistance to conditions that are perceived as unfair by the people who are demanding change. The changes brought about by revolution can be both positive and negative. To understand the results of the conflict between the Amer...
    • 4-3.3 Summarize the importance of the key battles of the Revolutionary War and the reasons for American victories including Lexington and Concord, Bunker (Breed’s) Hill, Charleston, Saratoga, Cowpens, and Yorktown.
• 8-2 The student will demonstrate an understanding of the causes of the American Revolution and the beginnings of the new nation, with an emphasis on South Carolina’s role in the development of that nation.
  • The events surrounding the American Revolution transformed British colonists into American citizens. To understand South Carolina’s pivotal role in this process, the student will utilize the knowledge and skills set forth in the following indica...
    • 8-2.1 Explain the political and economic consequences of the French and Indian War on the relationship of the South Carolina colonists with Native Americans and England.