The Battle of King's Mountain is hardly famous in the annals of the world, and yet, in some ways, it was a decisive event.

Suddenly Ferguson found himself beset by hostile bands, coming from the north, the south, the east, and the west.
When, in obedience to his orders, he tried to retreat he found the way blocked, and his messages were intercepted, so that Cornwallis was not aware of the peril.

Ferguson, harassed, outnumbered, at last took refuge on King's Mountain, a stony ridge on the western border between the two Carolinas.

The north side of the mountain was a sheer impassable cliff and, since the ridge was only half a mile long, Ferguson thought that his force could hold it securely.

He was, however, fighting an enemy deadly with the rifle and accustomed to fire from cover.