History

The American Revolutionary War in Western North Carolina often pitted neighbor against neighbor. Settlers loyal to England and those seeking independence found themselves in skirmishes and conflicts. The Cherokee allied themselves with the British, so some of the encounters were between the Native Americans and those seeking independence.

In 1780, officer Patrick Ferguson sent out a decree for settlers to lay down their arms and declare allegiance to England or he would hang the leaders, burn their homes and lay waste to their land. Settlers seeking independence from the crown didn’t take kindly to this. In response, militia men from the Carolinas, Virginia and other territories gathered in Sycamore Shoals to devise a plan to confront Ferguson. After an exhausting trek for over two weeks, through horrible weather conditions, sickness and starvation, these Overmountain men met Ferguson and his Loyalists army at King’s Mountain. After just over an hour the battle ended. The Patriots claimed the victory. Ferguson was killed along with 290 Loyalists. 163 were wounded and 668 were captured. The Patriots lost 28 men and had 60 wounded. Thomas Jefferson stated that this battle was the turning point in the war for independence.

Many of the patriots who fought at King’s Mountain lived in this area which is now McDowell County. Because of his leadership at King’s Mountain the county was named after Col. Joseph McDowell.