Tory. There must have been of your foot and horse in all over 4000. We see what you are about—that is, to catch Lord Cornwallis napping.
Thus ended the dialogue, not more than two hours after sun-rise on Monday; and the Neutralists or Tories immediately departed. It was reported that they immediately swam a horse across the Catawba river by the side of a canoe (the Catawba was much higher than the South Fork,) and gave Lord Cornwallis the news of Ferguson’s defeat.
Before my wounds were well, I went to Charlotte, and after Cornwallis had left it, where I met a David Knox, a brother or near relation of James Knox, the grandfather of President Polk, who gave me the following information, to wit: That on Monday next after Ferguson’s defeat, he, Knox, being a prisoner in the street in Charlotte, that an officer came to the officer of the guard, and the following dialogue took place.
The first officer said to the officer of the guard, Did you hear the news?
Officer of Guard. No, what news?
First Officer. Col. Ferguson is killed, and his whole army defeated and taken prisoners.
Officer of Guard. How can that be—where did the men come from to do that?
First Officer. Some of them were from South Carolina and Georgia Refugees, some from Virginia, some from the head of the Yadkin, some from the head of Catawba, some from over the Mountains, and some from every where else: They met at Gilbert Town, about 2000 desperadoes on horseback, calling themselves blue hen’s chickens—started in pursuit of Ferguson, leaving as many footmen to follow. They overtook Col. Ferguson at a place called King’s Mountain; there they killed Col. Ferguson after surrounding his army, defeated them and took them prisoners.
Officer of Guard. Can this be true?
First Officer. As true as the gospel, and we may look out for breakers.