Although I have now been to several Civil War battlefields, Kings Mountain and Cowpens were my first American Revolutionary War Battlefields. Just 45 minutes from my house, it was a short drive, but a long trip back into history.
The Battle of Kings Mountain, although small in size is remembered today because it was the first official battle made up entirely of colonist guerrillas against American Loyalist and their lone British leader.
It was a beautiful and peaceful park
This is part of the old road. Crazy and fun to stand place where other walked hundreds of years ago!
It was a quiet and peaceful stroll winding up and around a mount (On a side note, as a Oregon girl I really cannot bring myself to call these hills "mountains.") and up the hill to where the battle took place, and where ultimately the British lost.
One of the most interesting stories about the battle was the aftermath. Sadly, when the Loyalists surrendered, rather then holding them as POW, a shoddy trial was held and three men were hanged as traitors before the leaders of the Americans could get their men under control. Major Ferguson, the leader of the American Loyalist, was a hated man and when he was shot in battle he was quickly buried by the renegades and rather then marking his grave, they threw stones on it as a last act of defiance. When, years later America wanted to repair her relationship with England, his grave was marked. However, rather then removing the stones, the stones were left where they were, because apparently, in Scotland where the Major was from, having your grave covered in stones is a mark of respect.
Next it was on to Cowpens. Strange name for a battlefield, but it was exactly that. A huge pasture for cattle to graze and fattening up before being sent down to Charleston. On January 17, 1781, the British and Americans engaged in a battle that changed the fate of the Southern Campaign.
Checking out the battlelines with my soldier friends.
There was a great demonstration of weapons by Revolutionary reenactors. There were only three guns going at a time, but I am always amazed at how loud the guns were and how much smoke is created by just a few. Now times it by hundreds and you get the idea of how loud the war was.
After the Americans won the battle, the British reassessed their goal of taking the Southern colonies first and instead decided on focusing on the North colonies. A large part of this was due to guerrilla/ mountain man tactics used during the fighting in the South, tactics which were on great display in both these battles.
After the Revolutionary War the battlefield was largely forgotten, and was instead a homestead for many years. A beautiful cabin still remains on the land.
Now I thought I grew up in a small house, but this was home to eleven children and their parents. No thank you!
On the way home I was starving and I could not resist stopping at an adorable diner, called Carolina Crossing, the restaurant is in North Carolina and their parking lot in South Carolina. :D I was too hungry to take pictures, but they served the best hush puppies I have ever had. I am learning that what they say is true, every state prepares and serves BBQ differently. I have tried Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, South Carolina and Maryland offerings but my favorite is North Carolinian!
On a random side note, did you know the Peach Capitol of the World is not in Georgia as I had always supposed, but rather in South Carolina?
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