Battle of Kings Mountain, The:: Eyewitness Accounts

by Robert M. Dunkerly

A pivotal moment in American history, as told by our forefathers
On October 7, 1780, American Patriot and Loyalist soldiers battled each other at Kings Mountain, near the border of North and South Carolina. With over one hundred eyewitness accounts, this collection of participant statements from men of both sides includes letters and statements in their original form - the soldiers' own words - unedited and unabridged. Rife with previously unpublished details of this historic turning point in the American Revolution, described as the war's "largest all-American fight," these accounts expose the dramatic happenings of the battle, including new perspectives on the debate over Patriot Colonel William Campbell's bravery during the fight. Robert M. Dunkerley's work is an invaluable resource to historians studying the flow of combat, genealogists tracing their ancestors and anyone interested in Kings Mountain and the Southern Campaign.

Genres: History, American Revolution

158 pages, Paperback

First published March 20, 2007

About the author

Bert Dunkerly is a historian, award-winning author, and speaker who is actively involved in historic preservation and research. He holds a degree in History from St. Vincent College and a Masters in Historic Preservation from Middle Tennessee State University. He has worked at nine historic sites, written nine books, including Redcoats on the Cape Fear, about the Revolution in Wilmington. His research includes archaeology, colonial life, military history, and historic commemoration. Dunkerly is currently a Park Ranger at Richmond National Battlefield Park. He has visited over 400 battlefields and over 700 historic sites worldwide. When not reading or writing, he enjoys hiking, camping, and photography.

Reviews

[Ben Denison · Rating 3 out of 5]

So my sister had me read this short book on the King’s Mountain Battle between revolutionaries and loyalists in 1780. Apparently, her research has tied our mother’s family to both sides of the battle with Lloyd and Henry ancestors involved. A very close location to King’s Mountain, Henry’s Knob, actually belonged to my mother’s family and still named that today.

The format of the book was first hand accounts from many of the combatants, they wrote up their individual stories as part of applying for their army pensions. At first, I found this interesting, but a lot of the accounts seemed repetitive and included names and events in the battle that weren’t followed up or never explored further.

This was a different type book for me. Interesting to me because of family ties, but i’d prefer other formats in the future.

[Susan Ferguson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Accounts were taken from pension application statements, with some taken from letters. The accounts were what those who fought at Kings Mountain remembered about the battle. Some of the memories were a little confused from time as most statements were taken in the early 1800s. Some had very vivid memories, others remembered mostly the confusion of the battle, and some merely stated they had been there in such and such a militia. But they were all interesting. It also helps to clarify the accusation by Col. Shelby that Col. Campbell was delinquent in his duty as a commander. From most of the statements he was not. And several statements were from people who were near Campbell on the battlefield on the front lines at the time Shelby said he was lingering in the rear. Shelby and his brother said the Campbell was on a bald-faced black horse - others said Campbell was riding a bay who was not bald-faced and his servant was on a black horse. Why the accusation occurred - and long after the battle after Campbell was dead, I have no idea......Need to find out, I suppose.

[Dr. Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very quick and interesting read. The first-hand accounts were mainly taken from pension applications. I have an ancestor who fought in this battle, so I was particularly interested and hoping to hear his name. Many accounts were repetitive — almost word-for-word the same. They were especially interesting considering some were written forty years after the battle but contained vivid and exact details, like the color and markings of horses. These accounts brought the battle to life and made me even more aware of the miracle in anyone surviving and that we have a country.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Participants

It is interesting to read the Loyalist accounts all presenting to their superiors vastly overwhelming numbers of the Patriots - more than double the number that attacked the steep slopes of Kings Mountain.

[Steven Hancock · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fine collection of firsthand accounts of the Battle of Kings Mountain, with additional background on the participants.

[Ben Kilgore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the historical detail

[Jaxon Hale · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has so many interesting accounts of this epic battle.

[Carey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good account of the battle and use of primary sources.

[Joshua Horn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is what it says it is - a collection of all (at least to my knowledge) of the first hand accounts of the Battle of King's Mountain. As such, it is quite helpful for serious study of the battle, and it contains essential and interesting sources. Notwithstanding, this book is not well done. The sources aren't arrayed in much of a logical order, it was alphabetical by side if my memory serves me correctly. Each is accompanied by a short description, but it does not provide any sort of analysis or background information, it's just a simple summary that anyone could easy write in about 30 seconds.

[Joe Owen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book about the Battle of Kings Mountain by eyewitness accounts of the soldiers who were in the battle.