Col. Cleveland Given White
Horse Of Patrick Fergusonj
Historic Revolutionary Soldier Has Narrow Es
cape at Kings Mountain Battle. Made Com
mander-in-Chief. Other Service.
(Another article l<y Rev J. I>. Bail
( V published in The Gaffney Ledger
regarding Col. Benjamin Cleveland,
fur whom this county was named,
and his part in the historic battle at
Kings Mountain is given below).
An incident of the most exciting
the action which came very near cost
ing Colonel Cleveland his life. “Char
les Bowen, of Captain William Ed
mondson's company, of Campbell's
leginient, heard vaguely that his
brother, Lieutenant Reece Bowen, had
been killed, and was much distressed
and exasperated in consequence. On
the spur of the moment, and without
due consideration of the danger he in
curred, he commenced a wild and hur
ried search for his brother, hoping he
might find him in a wounded condi
tion only. He soon came across his
own fallen Captain Edmondson, shot
in the head and dying; and hurrying
from one point to another, he at length
found himself within fifteen or 20
paces of the enemy, and near to Col
onel Cleveland, when he slipped be
hind a tree,
"At this time the enemy began to
waver, and show signs of surrender
ing. Bowen promptly shot down the
first man among them who hoisted a
flag; and immediately, as the custom
was, turned his back to the tree, to re
load, when Cleveland advanced on foot,
suspecting from the wilderness of his
actions that he was a Tory, and de
manded the countersign, which Bow
en, in his half-bewildered state ot
mind, had for the time being forgot,
ten. Cleveland, now confirmed in his
conjectures, instantly levelled his rifle
at Bowen’s breast, and attempted to
shoot; but fortunately it missed fire
Bpw.cn enraged, and perhaps hardly
aware of his own act, jumped at, anq
seized Cleveland by the collar, snatch
ed his tomahawk from his belt, and
would have in another moment burn
ed it in the colonel’s brains, had not
his arm been arrested by a soldier
named Buchanan, who knew both par
ties. Bowen, now coming to himself
recollected the countersign, and gave
it ‘Buford.’ when Cleveland dropped
his gun, and clasped Bowen in Iris
arms for joy, that each had so nar
rowly and unwittingly been restrain
ed from sacrificing the other. Well has
son of the illustrious Campbell, de
scribed him—‘Cleveland, so brave, and
\ot so gentle’.”—Draper’s Kings
Mountain and Its Heroes, pages 262
2C3.
Cleveland's Losses in the Battle.
After the battle had raged about one
hour, the British commander fell from
his horse mortally wounded, which
event soon brought the action to a
close—a victory for the Patriots, al
most as complete as heart could wish
Cleveland’s losses were compara.
lively : light. Thomas Bicknell, and
Daniel Siske killed, Major Lewis, Cap
tains Lewis, Smith and Lenoir, Lieu
tenants Johnson and J. M. Smith,
Charles Gordon and John Childers
wounded—the latter badly. Draper
thinks, “Where so many officers were
disabled, there must have been sev
eral others of this gallant regimen’, j
killed and wounded."
Cleveland Gets Ferguson's Charger.
During the engagement, Ferguson
rode a superb white horse, which tamo
careering down the mountain, when!
hiy back. I he victors by general con
sent, assigned this fine charger to the
gallant Colonel Cleveland, who had
lost his horse in the action, and was
tod heavy to travel on foot. This
horse lived to an uncommon great
age. Another prize carried home with’
him was a snare-drum, to which he
pointed with pride as a Kings Moun
tain trophy, as long as he lived.
The poet Havne, thus, depicts Clev
eland in this battle as follows—
“ ‘Now, by God’s graco," cried Cleve
land, my noble Colonel he.
Resting to pick a Tory off, <]uite coo!-,
ly on his knee,—
‘Now, by God 3 grace, we have the ml
the snare is subtly set;
The game is bagged; we hold them
safe as pheasants in a net’.”
Cleveland a Bitter Hater of Tories.
His whole career during the war,
shows that he was bitter towards, and
severe in his treatment of Tories—
perhaps not unjustly so, when the ;
times and circumstances of an expos
ed frontier are considered from the
viewpoint 6f the infrequent and un
certain executions by law. There is no
question but that Cleveland was the
ring-leader and most conspicuous ac
tor in bringing on the execution of the
Tories at Bickerstaff’s, one week afte ’•
:he battle.
Cleveland Made Cotnmander-in-Chief.
While at Bethabara, Colonel Shel
by was deputed to visit General Gates
it Hillsboro, to tender the services I
){ a corps of mountaineers, under Ma
jor McDowell, to serve under Gen
eral Morgan. Colonel Campbell also
had occasion to repair to headquar
ters to make arrangements for the
disposition of the prisoners.
On the, 20th of October, Colonel
Campbell issued a general order, ap
pointing Colonel Cleveland to the com
mand of the troops and prisoners, un
til he returned; providing that “full
rations be issued to the prisoners,'
and asking that no unmerited insult
or violence be offered them; for, it ap
pears that such had been frequently
lavished upon them since leaving
Kings Mountain.
But Campbell and Shelby had scar
cely departed, when the old troubles
revived, or new ones arose. Lieut. An
thony Allaire, of Ferguson’s corps, in
his diary for Monday, October HOth,
says: “A number of the inhabitants
assembled at Bethabara to see a poor
Tory prisoner executed for a crime of
the following nature, viz: A Rebel sol
dier was passing the guard where the
prisoners were confined, and tike a
brute addressed himself to those poor,
unhappy people in this style: ‘Ah
d—n you, you'll all be hanged.’ This
man with the spirit of a British sub
ject answered, ‘Never mind that, it
will be your turn next’.’’ or this trif
ling offense the poor fellow was tried
before Colonel Cleveland, and con
demned to be hung. “But,” says A1
laire, “Colonel Cleveand’s goodness
extended so far as to reprieve him/'
Hangs Two Tories.
Some time in November, James Coy
le, or Cowles, and John Brown—or
Jones, as Wheeler has it—two notori
ous Tory plunders, passing through
Lincoln county, robbed the house of
Major George Wilfong, taking away
everything that they could carry, in
cluding a couple of his horses. Majoi
Wilfong, with a party, followed the
desperadoes, and overtook them nea?
Wilkesboro, where the horses were re
covered, but the thieves made good
their escape. They had taken Wib
fong’s clothes-line for halters, which
was also recovered. Shortly after
wards, as the culprits were going to
wards Ninety Six, they were appre
hended by some of Colonel Cleveland’s
scouts, and brought to Wilkesboro,
where Cleveland ordered them hung
with Wilfong’s ropes. Although the
execution was summary, it was admit
ted to be just.
Cleveland’s Most Narrow Escape.
The reader of this narrative has al
ready observed that the career of Col
onel Cleveland was replete with deeds
of daring, perilous adventures and hair
breadth escapes, several of which have
been recorded, but the one now to be
told, was by far the most romantic,
thrilling, perilous and near-tragical ol
all. The story having been so wonder
fully depicted by a great writer we
give it to our readers verbatim: ‘Some
thirty-five miles from his (Cleve
land’s) home at tho Round-About on
;he Yadkin, and some twenty north
west of Wilkcsboro, and in the south
eastern portion of the present county
of Ashe, was a well-known locality,
mostly on the northern hank of the
South Fork of New iivqr, called the
Old Fields—which at some previous
period, was probably the quiet home
of a wandering hand of Chcrokees.
These Old Fields bclongod to Colonel!
Cleveland, and served, in peaceful
times, as a grazing region for hi.
stock.
"Having occasion to vi.-.it ids New
river plantation, Colonel Cleveland
rode the re, a.c.c.omp'anied only by a
negro servant, arrivinp a'Me e Dun
can's bis tenant, at tho lower end of]
the Old Field:, on Saturday, the 14th |
of April, 1781. Unfortunately for the
Colonel, Captain William Riddle, a I
noted Tory leader, son of the Loyalist1
Colonel James Riddle, of Surry eoun
ty, was. approaching from the Virgin
ia border with Captain Ross, a Whip
captive, whom he had taken, together
with his servant, and now en route for
Ninety Six, where a British reward
appears to have been paid for prison
ers. Riddle, with his party of six or
eight men. reaching Benjamin Cut-]
birth's, s ome four'miles above the Old
Fields, a fine old Whig, and an old
associate of Daniel Boone, who had
only partially recovered from a se
vere spell of fever. The Tory captain,
Vrobabl'y from Cu.tbirih'. reticence re.
warding solicited information, shame
fully abused him, and placed him un
der giaird.
“Descending the river to the uppei
end of the. Old Fields, where Joseph
and Timothy Perkins resided—about
a mile above Duncan's both of whom
were absent in Tory service, Riddle
earned from their women, that Clev
eland was hut a short distance away,
at Duncan's with only his servant,
Duncan and one or two of the Callo
way family there. Every Tory in th<
country knew full well of Cleveland's
inveterate hatred of their race! how
prominently he hail figured at Kings
Mountain, and had given his influence
for the Ti r.v e>: cntbtn. at Bicker
staff’.. and caused the summary hang
ing of Coyle and Br"Wn at YVilkes
borp. Riddle well judged, that uch a
prisoner would he a prize to take along
to. Ninety-Fix, or it. would prove no
small honor t>> m y Loyali L to rid the
Rebel cause of so untirin,' and distin
guished a leader in the {southern
country.
“The prospect of 'making Cleveland
his prisoner was too L mpfing for Rid
dle to negelct. His force was too small
to run any great risk, and so lie con
cluded to resort to stratagem. He re
solved, therefore, to steal Cleveland’s
horses in the quiet of the night, judp- ■
ing that the colonel would follow theii
trail the next morning, supposing they
had strayed off, when he would am
buscade him at some suitable place,
and thus take ‘Old Round-About,’ as
he was called unawares, and at a dis
advantage. The horses were accord
ingly taken that night, and a laurel
thicket selected just above Perkin's
house, as a fitting place to waylay
their expected pursuers. During Sat.
urday, Richard Calloway and his
Krother-in-law, John Shirley, went
down from the neighboring residence
of Thomas Calloway to Duncan's to
see Colonel Cleveland, und appears to
have remained over night.
Discovering that the horses were
missing on Sunday morning, immedi
a to pursuit was made. Having a paii
of pistols, Colonel Cleveland retained
one of them, handing the other to Dm.
can, while Calloway and Shirley wen.
unarmed. Reaching the l’erkins’ place,
one of the Perkins women, knowing
of the ambuscade, secretly desired to
save the colonel from his impending
fate, so she detained him as long as
she could, by conversation, evidently
fearing personal consequences, should
she divulge the scheme of his enemies
to entrap him. His three associates
kept on, with Cleveland some little dls
tance behind, Mrs. Perkins still fol
lowing and retarding him by her in
quiries; and as those in advance
crossed the fence which adjoined the
thicket, the Tories fired from their
places of concealment, one aiming at
( leveland, who thought some little- dia
tance in the rear. was yet within
range of their guns. Cut they gener
ally shot wild—only one shot, that of
Zachariah Wells, who aimed at Callo
way, proving effectual, breaking his,
when he fell helpless by the fence,
and was left for dead. Duncan and
Shirley escaped. Cleveland from his
great weight—fully three hundred
pounds—knew he could not run any
great distance, and would only be too
prominent a mark for Tory bullets,
dodged into ther house with several
lories at his heels. Now, flourishing
his pistol rapidly from one to anoth
er, he pledged to spare his life and
accord him good treatment, if he
did.
"Wells by this time having reload
ed his rifle, made his appearance on
the scene, swearing that he would kill
Cleveland; and aiming his gun, the
colons; 1 instantly seized Abigal Wal
ters, who was present, and by dint ot
great strength, and under a high state
of excitement, dexterously handled
here as a puppet, keeping hoi between
him and his Would-be a sa sin. We jls
seemed wxed at this turn in the af
fair, and hurled his imprecations .on
the poor woman, threatening if she did
not get out of the way, that he would
blow her through, as well, not ap
pearing to realize that she had as lit-,
tie power as a mouse in the clutches
of a ferocious cat. Cleveland, getting
his eyes on Captain Riddle, whom ha
knew, or judged by his appearance, to
the leader, appealed to him if suchi
treatment was not contrary to the
stipulations of his surrender. Kiddie1
promptly replied that it was, and or
dered Wells to desist from his mur
derous intent, ,s»ying that they would
ake Cleveland to Ninety Six and tmiki
money out of his capture. The t.erri
fied woman who had been made an un
willing battery, was now released fron
Cleveland's grasp as from a vise; an<
[he whole parly with their prisone:
ind ids servant were speedily mount
.'d, and hurried up New river. This
dream, so near its source, was quilt
shallow, and the Tories traveled most'
!y in it:, lied to avoid being tracked ir
:ase of pursuit.
WANTS TO BE
PRESIDENT!
.sm- /
» !
PREKENTINtl .1 presidential can
didute of 1 '• IS— Milton K Mo*
kow, San Kranel.si o. Calif aged
,12.
His politics- Inlf|*ndi lit ,»
Ills platform- Lineolnlsm.
In I »• half of a I will campaign for
n Lineal n memorial. he lias nflilrcsm-il
Itoy Scout troop*. ramp Kirn flirts
tunl even city otlirials ami luncheon
clubs. Mo plans to I ri p right on
Speukiiiig, too—on through hi •.■li
fchool ami college, .nntl after that, in i
his practice of law preliminary to ;
tnovper into the White House for no
eightyI'ai' ti r.uiii v •■“■■<
, UltOTHKH I'Olt 1IIM
"W« ought to have an artjiv. nary
ami air torce second to none, a* y[
defensive measure." says Milton V
K "Vi s, ti.it win re's the money com
ini' front treats in his brother.
Eugene
► “Hirst. Milton wanted to he a fire
man then he wanted to lie Tom
Mix." Eugene i vplains in a whisper
Hut he got this president liun a
Iona time-ago, and sticks to il pretty
seriously M n tie he ll make it I’ll
vot* for him.” * T
And seriously is Milton preparing
He has gathered every picture of
Lincoln he can timl. c.illected. read
and saved every book or article
about Lincoln that he saw He can
more than hold his own in any dis
cussion of the Hail Splitter, ev t,
with a resident of Springfield. ill
> ‘•Long ago. I thought (he .-.nip: v
needed uno!her Lincoln." Milton .
plains. ‘And ia time. I thought. !
could, study amt become that pud
Late Happenings; ^
In Earl Section
1 (Special to The Star.)
Mrs. D. G. Webber is spending sev
eral weeks in Greenville, S. C., the
guest of her daughter, Mrs. Grady
Bettis.
Mr. and Mrs. C. I. Haas of Schen
ectady, N. Y., are visiting relatives
here.
Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Haas of Liniori
S. C., are tlie guests of Mr. and Mrs.
[ W. Surratt.
The Baptist Young People’s union
a 1 a most delightful fishing party
• Jinety-nine Island, S. C., last Sat
I unlay.
Wednesday afternoon the Woman’s
Domestic club met at the home of the
Misses Bettis. Mrs. Irma Wallace coun
ty demonstrator, demonstrated on
| angel food cake.
Mrs. P. R. Camp returned last week
from a week’s stay in Gastonia.
Mr-i. Sam Hubbard and two dilMren
have been visiting relatives at Marion,
l-S.-C.
Mr. Baxter Bettis and sisters and
Miss Pinkie ‘Jones motored to Spar
tanburg, S. C., Thursday.
Mr. Harvey Nichols who had his ton
I sib removed last week in a Charlotte
hospital has returned home' and is get
ting along fine.
Mrs. 11. F. Jones and daughter Mis3
Pinkie nont Sunday in Lattimore.
Mr d Mrs. Marion Camp of
Shelby \isited relatives in tile village
Sunday'.
BAD BACKJODAY?
Then Find the Cause and Correct It
As Other Shelby Folks H&ve.
There’s little rest or peace for the
backache sufferer.
Days are tired and weary—
Night brings no respite.
Urinary troubles, headaches, dizzF
ness and nervousness, all tend to pre
vent rest or sleep.
Why continue to be so miserable?
Why not use a stimulant diuretic to
kidneys?
Use Doan's Pills.
Your neighbors recommend Doan’s.
Read this Shelby' case:
J H Queen, grocer, S. Morgan St.,
says: "My kidneys bothered me. all the
time. There was dull ache across my
back that didn't let up day or night.
My kidneys acted too often, as many
as three or four times during the
night. I used Doan’s Pills, getting
them at the South Shelby pharmacy.
They helped me right away by
strengthening my back and relieving
the pains. My kidneys were regulated,
too.”
00c at all dealers. Foster-Milburn •»
Co., Mfgrs., Buffalo, N. Y. ah
TRY STAR WANT ADS.
erfenlHnjan
GET IN ON THE GROUND FLOOR
OF SHELBY’S REMARKABLE
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