The victory at kings mountain directly changed the course of the American Revolution.
The Overmountain Man was a unique card in the Colonial deck. These forces were not socially or politically associated with the established colonial revolutionary. The peoples of the Appalachian had their own way of life that was in direct contrast with the colonies. Once the Appalachians were threatened, however, the Overmountain Men were quick to join forces with colonials on a large scale. The expedition against Major Ferguson was the only major operation that combined Appalachian and Colonial forces. In every other instance involving Appalachian forces only dealt with a small number of troops.
Once Ferguson had been removed from Cornwallis' western flank it created a power gap. Cornwallis could not afford for colonial troops to advance and expose him upon his western flank. Shortly after news of Ferguson's defeat, Cornwallis retreated south towards Charleston. (1)Loyalist support was on the decline after Cornwallis' retreat and as a result he could no longer muster loyalist in convincing fashion for the rest of the war. By October of 1781 Cornwallis was forced to surrender the last major conflict of the American Revolution (2). Within one short year the battle of Kings Mountain helped to change the tide for American independence.
The legacy of these almost mythical and heroic Appalachian mountain men last to this very day. An accurate study of American revolutionary conflict cannot be accurately assessed without the vital role of the Overmountain Men. Just as they had such a quick and sweeping presence, they also disbanded so quickly that it only serves to boost their mystic allure.
The Overmountain Man was a unique card in the Colonial deck. These forces were not socially or politically associated with the established colonial revolutionary. The peoples of the Appalachian had their own way of life that was in direct contrast with the colonies. Once the Appalachians were threatened, however, the Overmountain Men were quick to join forces with colonials on a large scale. The expedition against Major Ferguson was the only major operation that combined Appalachian and Colonial forces. In every other instance involving Appalachian forces only dealt with a small number of troops.
Once Ferguson had been removed from Cornwallis' western flank it created a power gap. Cornwallis could not afford for colonial troops to advance and expose him upon his western flank. Shortly after news of Ferguson's defeat, Cornwallis retreated south towards Charleston. (1)Loyalist support was on the decline after Cornwallis' retreat and as a result he could no longer muster loyalist in convincing fashion for the rest of the war. By October of 1781 Cornwallis was forced to surrender the last major conflict of the American Revolution (2). Within one short year the battle of Kings Mountain helped to change the tide for American independence.
The legacy of these almost mythical and heroic Appalachian mountain men last to this very day. An accurate study of American revolutionary conflict cannot be accurately assessed without the vital role of the Overmountain Men. Just as they had such a quick and sweeping presence, they also disbanded so quickly that it only serves to boost their mystic allure.
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1."Kings Mountain National Military Park - Kings Mountain National Military Park." U.S. National Park
2.Russell, C. P., Supervisor of Interpretation, and Washington. "NPS Publications: Popular Study Series." U.S. National Park Service
2.Russell, C. P., Supervisor of Interpretation, and Washington. "NPS Publications: Popular Study Series." U.S. National Park Service