of his men to this distinguishing feature of Ferguson’s dress.  “Well poys, says he, in broken German, when you see that man mit a pig shirt on over his clothes you may know who him is.”  Accordingly after the battle, his body was found among the dead, wearing the checked shirt, now crimsoned with blood and pierced with numerous balls.  After a brief consultation of the chief officers upon horseback, the plan of attack was quickly arranged.  Several persons present were well acquainted with the ground upon which the enemy was encamped.  Orders were promptly given and as promptly obeyed.  The Whig forces moved forward over King’s Creek, and up a ravine, and between two rocky knobs, when soon the enemy’s camp was seen about one hundred poles in front.  Ferguson, aware that he was hotly pursued by a band of patriots of determined bravery, had chosen this mountain elevation as one from which he boastingly proclaimed he could not be driven.

It was about 3 o’clock in the afternoon when the Whig forces reached the battle ground.  The rain had ceased, the clouds had nearly passed away, the sun now shone brightly, and nature seemed to smile propitiously upon the sanguinary conflict soon to take place.  On the march, the following disposition was made of the Whig forces.

The central column was commanded by Colonels Campbell and Shelby; the right, by Colonel Sevier and Major McDowell; and the left by Colonels Cleaveland and Williams.  In this order the Whig forces advanced and came within a quarter of a mile of the enemy before they were discovered.  Colonels Campbell’s and Shelby’s regiments commenced the attack, and kept up a galling fire on the enemy, while the right and left wings were advancing forward to surround them, which was done in about five minutes.  The fire soon became general all around and maintained with the greatest bravery.

The engagement lasted a little over an hour, during which time, a heavy and incessant fire was kept up on both sides.

The Whigs, in some parts where the British regulars fought, were forced to give way two or three times for a short distance, before the bayonet charges of the enemy, but soon rallied and returned with additional ardor and animation to the attack.  The troops of the right having gained the summit of the mountain, compelled the enemy to give way and retreat along the top of the ridge, where Col.  Cleaveland commanded and were soon stopped by his brave men.  Some of the regiments suffered severely under the galling fire of the enemy, before they were in a proper position to engage in the action.  The men led by Col.  Shelby and Major McDowell were soon closely engaged and the contest throughout was very severe, and hotly contested.

As Ferguson would advance towards Campbell, Sevier, Hambright and Winston, he was quickly pursued by Shelby, Cleaveland, McDowell and Williams.  Thus Ferguson continued to struggle on, making charges with the bayonet and then retreating to make a vigorous attack at some other point; but, his men were rapidly falling before the fatal aim and persistent bravery of the Whigs.