Hi List
The following story is written in the The Family Moser Book by Carole Louise
Odendahl Moser a descendant of Randolph Casey.
The volunteer army that fought a King's Moutain October 7 , 1780, puts us in
mind of the three hundred Spartans under Leonidas who defended the pass of
Thermopylae 2261 years earlier, or of the six hundred who rode into "the
valley of death" at Balaklava in the Crimean War. American history afford no
other instance of a thousand frontiersmen coming together of their own free
will to make themselves into a volunteer army. The only ezuipment of the
soldier in that expedition was his trusty Dechard rifle with its
accessories., his sure footed moutain horse, and his pocketful of parched
corn. These men knew little of professiional warfare, but hey did know ho to
keep Tories and Indians from the settlements.
When Patrick Ferguson , England's sharpshooter colonel , sent them word
that unless they came on to join him and the king he would march over the
moutains and hang everyone of them, they at once declared that they would
have a choice in the matter. They determined to take care of him, and they
performed their task effectually.
Another aspect of this notable expedition is worthy of remark. The
returned soldiers had no time to wait for words of praise and promises of
reward. They had to hurry back by the nearest path to their wives, children
and the old men and boys who were left to protect the settlements from the
Indians. They were just in time to beat off a thousand Indians who were on
the march , having learned that the fighting men had gone to King's
Mountain.
At King's Mountain these soldiers had trapped and annihilated a British
army more numerous than themselves. Yet they came near being reprimanded by
the Continental Congress for taking the warpath without express permission.
If they had failed there mightt have been trouble, but all is well that ends
well. So In time the state governments of Virginia and North Carolina, and
the central govenment as well , gave official recognition to the leaders and
men who gained one of the most momentous victories of the Revolution.
The King's Mountain battle took place at a time when the American cause
was looking desperate. Failure after Failure had come to American arms in
the South. The engagement at Musgrove's Mill, about two months earlier, was
indeed rather a victory for the Whig's some of the King's Moutain men taking
part in it. While trying to harass the British the Americans fell into a
trap , yet they fought off their enemy and escaped with all the prisoners
they had taken. Ferguson chased them to the Blue ridge and then sent he
insolent letter which caused his ruin.
A letter from a camp near Gilbert Town, Rutherford Co , says " We have
collected at this place about 1500 good men, drawn from Washington, Surry,
Wilkes, Burk of North Carolina, and Washington County Virginia and expect to
be joined in a few days by Colonel Williams of South Carolina with about a
thousand more.
The leaders picked out the best men with the best horses and rifles, and
then took Ferguson's trail 910 strong. The men on foot and those with poor
horses were told to follow. In their rapid advance, the mountain men could
not spare the time to deal with a large body of Tories forming to join
Ferguson. They were joined by other men along the way , including those from
South Carolina. They had little to eat but parched corn. At Cowpens, a
persistent rain made them wrap their guns and ammunition in sacks, blankets,
and even their hunting shirts. It was necessary to keep their powder dry ,
even though their bodies were drenched by the cold downpour. when they at
length caught up with Ferguson , they went into the fight with neither rest
nor refreshment.
The battle lasted one hour . The haughty Ferguson was slain and his army
wiped out of existence, though stationed on the flat summit of a low
ridge..
This is what she wrote in her book I do not know if it is exactly written
like this in the Kings Mountain men but to the rest of us it gives us an
insight of our Casey lines some of the Casey name mean Vigilent , motto
Through many difficulties ( this was written in the Walter E. Casey
manuscript.)
I will give another version of this from one of the other manuscripts I have
you may have info on this .
I since getting into my Casey lines and yours has made me very proud to be a
Casey descendant our lines were people of adventure they did not turn their
head they addressed the problems of their time being it war , family etc.
They migrated years before others came to SC, NC , Ky , AL and kept going
westward settling new lands IL , AR, OK , MO and kept going. They fought
Indians , Tories , British and I guess whoever didnt agree with them . I am
sure there are stories to be told in all our lines I just hope our Children
want to know what their forefathers did for them so they could have the
freedom we have today. I have a 15 year old and he could care less I guess I
didnt either when I was 15.
Tim Casey
Union Co IL