
Liberty Mountain documents the events leading up to the Battle of Kings Mountain on the 7th of October 1780.
By the Fall of 1780, the British were winning the War for American Independence in the southern colonies. They had captured Charleston and Charlotte, set up outposts throughout upstate South Carolina, and were preparing to march through North Carolina and Virginia to deal a death blow to George Washington’s Continental Army.
And then came Kings Mountain. On the afternoon of October 7, 1780 nearly a thousand American Patriots from both Carolinas, Tennessee, Georgia and Virginia surrounded the low ridge known as Kings Mountain, near the line dividing the two Carolinas, and surprised a force of Loyalists led by British major Patrick Ferguson. Within an hour they had killed Ferguson and destroyed his force.
“Liberty Mountain” is the story of the hardy Scots-Irish who fled poverty and persecution in Europe, settling the Carolinas and staking their claim to a new life where they could raise their families, prosper, and worship as they pleased. They were the backbone of the Patriot cause in the southern colonies, battling sometimes overwhelming odds to stake their claim to an independent America.
When faced with a direct threat to their lives and liberty, they marched for days across mountains, through harsh weather, to join forces and mount their assault. They were volunteers, fierce veterans of Indian wars, facing a larger, well-trained Loyalist force. Yet they prevailed, and their victory turned the tide of the Revolution. The British retreated from Charlotte, and a year later surrendered at Yorktown, Virginia.
“Liberty Mountain” brings to the stage the lives of these American pioneers – men, women and children – who meant to be free and would not be denied.
Overmountain Men
Although there was no official roster nor paper work, it is estimated that the 900 or so Overmountain Men
comprised The Patriot Army and was from a combination of local Militias throughout the Appalachian region.
- 270 North Carolinians 30%
- 240 Tennessee 26%
- 200 Viginians 22%
- 130 South Carolinians 14%
- 30 Georgians 2%
Loyalist Army
Although there is no surviving paper work due to the destruction from battle, it was well known that Major Patrick Ferguson’s army comprised entirely of native militia from several states.
- 708 South Carolinians 73%
- 118 Provincials (NY/NJ) 13%
- 100 North Carolinians 11%
- 32 Unknown 3%
- 1 British (Maj. Ferguson) 0.001%
Fatalities During the Battle
Patriots Lost 28 Loyalists Lost 225

DAYS after the Battle of Kings Mountain, General Cornwallis would surrender his British Army to General Washington at Yorktown, Virginia. 12 months and 12 days after the battle, the American Revolution would be over.
%
PERCENT of colonist who were Loyalist. Many families were divided, with some brothers or fathers fighting for either the Loyalists and some for the Patriots.

The Patriots wore white paper in their hats, the Loyalists used a pine sprig in their hats. As the battle of Kings Mountain went on many Loyalists tore out their pine sprig to switch sides.