patriot ambuscade when a single shot by Col.  Shelby gave the signal for attack.  The Whig riflemen, with sure and steady aim, opened a destructive fire which was kept up for an hour, during which time Col.  Innis was wounded; all the British officers except a subaltern were killed or wounded.  The Tory Captain, Hawsey, and Major Fraser, of the British regulars, with sixty-three privates were killed, and one hundred and sixty made prisoners.  The American loss was only four killed and nine wounded.  In the pursuit Captain Inman was killed fighting hand to hand with the enemy.  After this victory Col.  Williams, with the prisoners, encamped at the Cedar Spring, in Spartanburg County and from thence proceeded to Charlotte, N.C.  Colonels Williams and Clarke then returned to the western frontier and the prisoners under Maj.  Hammond marched to Hillsboro.

Excited by this brilliant victory Col.  Shelby prepared to attack the British force at Ninety-six, about thirty miles distant, when an express arrived from Gen. McDowell, with a letter from Governor Caswell, dated on the battle ground of Camden, informing him of Gates’ defeat and advising him to get out of the way.  This advice came in good time, for on the next day a strong detachment from Ferguson’s army sallied forth to overtake the victors, but through the energy and activity of Col.  Shelby the designs of the enemy were completely baffled.

The brilliancy of the affair shone more brightly by the dark gloom which now overspread the public mind in consequence of the defeat of Gen. Gates at Camden.  This caused Gen. McDowell to disband for the present his little force and retire beyond the mountains.  The whole country was now apparently subjugated, the hopes of the patriot were dimmed, and many took protection under the British standard.  But the brave spirits of the west, as firm as their native mountains, were still undismayed; and, if for a moment subdued, they were not conquered, and the fire of freedom glowed deeply in their patriotic bosoms.

At this gloomy period, Col.  Shelby, in consultation with Col.  Charles McDowell, proposed to Colonels Sevier and Campbell to raise a force as quickly as possible from their several counties, and attack the boasting Ferguson.  A concert of action, and junction of their forces were promptly agreed upon, the battle of Kings Mountain followed soon thereafter, and the result is well known.  It will be seen, the first movement for organizing forces and bringing to a speedy accomplishment this most decisive victory of the South originated in Western North Carolina.

Inspired by this victory, the forces of North Carolina assembled under General Davidson at New Providence, in Mecklenburg County, near the South Carolina line.  Gen. Smallwood, with Morgan’s light corps and the Maryland line advanced to the same point.  Gen. Gates, with the remnant of his army, and General Stevens with levies from Virginia enabled General Greene, after he assumed the chief command in December, 1780, to hold Cornwallis in check and frustrate his design, at that time, of marching to Charlotte.