The Secret Shot; Or, The Rivals Of Misty Mount — page 37: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

MEETING OF THE RIVALS. shouted Cleaveland, as the bristling surge of bayonets rushed toward him. In a few seconds came the shock. The regulars and Tories, led on by the gallant Ferguson, sword in hand, burst like a de- vastating torrent upon the heroic riflemen, who defended themselves the best way they could, giving club-blows for bayonet thrusts —falling, dying, but standing firm, while Campbell’s and Shelby’s men came on from the opposite side, with triumphant shouts. In a few moments an indescribable melee ensued ; a confused mass of yelling, striking, thrusting men, with the shrill tones of com- mand occasionally springing up an octave higher than the general roar. Cleayeland was bravely battling in the midst of the foe, when a fierce, terrible, joyous shout greeted him, and he turned to perceive the figure of Heartstead Gleason making at him through the press, . “Thank God! it has come at last!” ejac- wated Cleaveland, fervently; and, answer- ing the challenge of his foeman with a war-cry as fierce and as deadly, he sprung toward him. For one wild instant they hung together, their meeting blades ringing as they clashed, but a sudden eddy in the fierce tide in which they were ingulfed swept them apart before a blow could be struck. In vain did Cleayeland struggle to reach his enemy, but the smoke now hid him, and the baffled avenger bit his lip in anger, and sought other foes. The regulars, wearied by the repeated charges they had made, were gradually losing ground, when Fergu- son, frantic at the prospect of defeat, sprung at Cleaveland, pistol in one hand, sword in the other. “ Surrender! you dastard rebel!” he shouted. “ Not this time,’ was the cool reply. Crack went Ferguson’s pistol. The American felt the hot ball sear his cheek, but sprung forward with waving sword. Their weapons met, and Ferguson thrust fiercely. Cleaveland received the blade of his opponent in his coat-sleeve, and, by a sudden twist of his arm, broke the weapon in two; before the Britisher could recover, the blade of the American pierced his breast, and he fell to the ground, expiring almost instantly. With Ferguson’s fall the despair of the enemy was complete. They broke and fled in all directions. The main body, however, reached the inclosure in the center, where . 85 their tents were situated. The victorious riflemen again formed into their separate columns, and advanced to complete their work, with deafening cheers. But they were met by a messenger requesting a par- ley, which was granted by Colonel Camp- ~ bell, who had assumed command of the combined forces of the Americans. In a few moments the enemy capitulated, and were immediately surrounded and disarmed by the exulting backwoodsmen and moun- taincers. : So closed the battle of King’s Mountain, with victory to the American arms. The British loss was three hundred killed and wounded, besides one hundred regulars’ and seven hundred loyalists or Tories taken prisoners, with two cannon and one thou- sand five hundred stand of arms. The American loss was comparatively trifling in numbers, but the gallant Colonel Williams was included among the slain. “Thus,” says the historian, “was Corn- wallis encountered, at the very commence- ment of his invading campaign, with a stinging defeat, which comprised the destruc- tion of more than a fourth part of his army, the cutting off of all his expected supplies from the Tories of the upper country, and the advance of a large body of victorious mountaineers upon the van of his march. Under these circumstances, he felt himself compelled to retire again to Camden, with the intention of refreshing and retnforcing his army for a new attempt. He afterward moved to Winnsborough, and there awaited retnforcements, which did not reach -him’ until the last part of October.” Cleaveland closely scrutinized the prison- ers. To his great disappointment and cha- grin, he found that Gleason must have been one of the few who had escaped. Confi- dent that this man was the villain from whom the captive maiden had the most to fear, his gloomy forebodings returned to For, now that the — him in their full force. villain had escaped the fatality of war, would he not return immediately to his vie- tim? The thought was maddening in the extreme; but there was no present remedy, as it would be impossible for him to leave his command at this moment, when victory was to be improved, for a flying visit to Misty Mount. The fight had lasted many hours; and, as night fell, the weary troops built their camp-fires on the field, while detachments were detailed to assist the surgeons in the CO Ghook -— (CO) in