In February, 1777, Major Forney again volunteered as a private in Capt.  James Reid’s company for the purpose of quelling some Tories who had, or were about to embody themselves near the South Carolina line.  The detachment was commanded by Col.  Charles McLean.  The Tories were commanded by a certain John Moore, whom Col.  McLean pursued into South Carolina until he ascertained Gen. Pickens was engaged in the same pursuit, and too far ahead to be overtaken.  The detachment then returned to North Carolina, and having taken several prisoners on the way, suspected of being inimical to the American cause, Major Forney was ordered to take them to Salisbury.  After this service he was dismissed and returned home in April, 1777.

At different times subsequently Major Forney volunteered in several short expeditions as far as the South Carolina line, for the purpose of intimidating and keeping down the rising spirit of the Tories, who were numerous in this section of country, and required a strict vigilance to hold them in a state of subjection.  Early in June, 1780, when a call was made upon the militia, he volunteered in Capt.  John Baldridge’s company, marched to a temporary rendezvous at Ramsour’s, and thence to Espey’s, where they joined other troops under the command of Col.  William Graham and Lieut.  Col.  Hambright.  The united forces then proceeded to Lincoln “old Court House,” near Moses Moore’s, the father of Col.  John Moore, the Tory leader, and marched and countermarched through that section of country.  At this time, hearing that Ferguson was coming on with a strong force, it was deemed advisable to retreat and cross the Catawba at Tuckaseege Ford.  Col.  Graham then marched with his forces to that place, and there met some other troops from South Carolina, under Col.  Williams, retreating before Cornwallis, whose army had just reached Charlotte.  The two forces then united under Col.  Williams and marched up the west side of the Catawba river, and thence across the country in a circuitous direction towards South Carolina in the rear of Ferguson, and thus were enabled to fall in with the “over mountain” troops under Campbell, Shelby, Cleaveland, Sevier, and others, at the Cowpens, afterwards rendered famous by the battle fought there.  The officers having agreed upon the plan of operations, a select portion of the combined forces marched rapidly in pursuit of Ferguson, and found him encamped on King’s Mountain on the 7th of October, 1780.  The action immediately commenced, and resulted in one of the most decisive victories gained during the Revolutionary struggle, and constitutes the turning point of final triumph in the cause of American freedom.  Soon after the battle, Major Forney and Capt.  James Johnston were appointed to number the dead on the British side.  They soon found Ferguson at the foot of the hill, dead, and covered with blood.  His horse having been shot from under him, he continued to advance, sword in hand, cheering on his men by word and example, until five or six balls pierced his body and sealed his fate.  Major Forney often stated he picked up Ferguson’s sword, intending to keep it as a trophy, but some subordinate officer getting hold of it, made off with it, and thus deprived him of his prize.  An incident connected with the closing scenes of this memorable battle is here worthy of being recorded: