Battle Description

The Battle of King’s Mountain was a decisive Patriot victory fought entirely between American forces—Patriot militia versus Loyalist militia. On October 7, 1780, a force of over 900 Patriot frontiersmen, known as the Overmountain Men, surrounded and attacked a Loyalist force of about 1,100 men commanded by British Major Patrick Ferguson, who had fortified a ridge on King’s Mountain.

The Patriots advanced uphill in coordinated waves, using cover and sharpshooting tactics. Ferguson’s Loyalists were pinned down and unable to maneuver. After about an hour of intense fighting, Ferguson was killed while attempting to break out, and the remaining Loyalists surrendered.

Outcome

• Outcome: Patriot victory; Loyalist force destroyed.
• Casualties:
  • Patriot: ~28 killed, ~60 wounded
  • Loyalist: ~290 killed, ~163 wounded, ~668 captured

Significance on the Revolution

King’s Mountain was a turning point in the Southern campaign. It shattered British hopes of rallying Loyalist support in the Carolinas and marked the beginning of a shift in momentum toward the Patriot cause. The victory boosted morale after the defeat at Camden and led to the withdrawal of British forces from the interior. It also demonstrated the effectiveness of decentralized militia warfare and the resolve of frontier communities to resist British occupation.