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7 October: A Great Day in American Military History
By Lt Col P
(Yes, I know today is 6 Oct, but I'll be on travel shortly and wanted to post this.)
7 October was twice a salient day in the American Revolution. Two events occurred to change the course of the war. Although they took place three years and hundreds of miles apart, their consequences came together in a single climactic battle later.
At Saratoga, New York, on 7 October 1777, the British force under Burgoyne was defeated in the battle of Bemis Heights, also known as the second battle of Saratoga. The first battle there, which we mentioned earlier, had left the British in possession of the field in a technical victory. But their operational position was worsening as the Americans’ grew stronger. The British were deep inside rebel territory at the end of a long and tenuous supply line, unable to gather supplies locally because of an earlier check at Bennington, Vermont, a predicament made worse by the onset of the northern winter. They had failed to reach Albany, the objective of the campaign. Worse still, General Howe had not marched to their rescue from New York. Burgoyne was stuck, and in this unfavorable situation was forced to give battle.
The result was that a large British regular force was decisively defeated by an American force in conventional combat. The stunning victory preserved the rebel position in New York and New England, gave heart to the patriot cause and spurred the French to enter the war.
At Kings Mountain, NORTH Carolina, on 7 October 1780, two militia forces fought it out for control of the Carolina backwoods. Following the defeat of the American army under Horatio Gates—ironically the victor Saratoga—the British moved to crush the patriot movement in the deep South. The outstanding British commander, Lord Cornwallis, ordered a Loyalist militia force under Major Patrick Ferguson to root out the rebel militia and protect his flank. (Ferguson was a very capable officer, best known for developing a breech-loading rifled musket called the Ferguson Rifle, one of which may be seen today in the National Firearms Museum at NRA Headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia.)
The patriot militia, 900 backwoods riflemen from the Carolinas, Tennessee and Virginia, found the loyalists atop a height called Kings Mountain. They attacked without delay, employing their rifles from covered and concealed positions as they advanced up the hill. Ferguson and his men answered with several bayonet charges which drove the rebels back temporarily. After hours of combat and heavy casualties on the loyalist side, Ferguson was killed and his men surrendered.
The result of this battle was to turn the course of the war in the South. With the loyalist militia defeated, the backwoods became a secure flank for the rebel forces, and a denied area for the loyalists. That fact enabled General Greene to craft a campaign plan to lure Cornwallis away to where his forces could be brought to battle, and ultimately driven from the Carolinas.
The consequences of the two events came together in the fall of 1781, at Yorktown, Virginia. Cornwallis, driven from the South by Greene’s clever campaign, was besieged by a combined Franco-American force, made possible by the victory at Saratoga.
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Comments
Good catch. I had Cowpens on the brain while typing about Kings Mtn. Change made!
Some people in the circles I travel who don't like me have pointed out that I share the same birthday (82 years later) as Himmler.
I've always countered with basically the opening post.
You forgot one more great event in American Military History: Operation Enduring Freedom kicked off on October 7th, 2001.
You forgot one more great event in American Military History: Operation Enduring Freedom kicked off on October 7th, 2001.
You forgot one more great event in American Military History: Operation Enduring Freedom kicked off on October 7th, 2001.
You forgot one more great event in American Military History: Operation Enduring Freedom kicked off on October 7th, 2001.
The words "loyalist militia, fought rebel militia" caught my eye. I have read other historical accounts that mentioned families loyal to Britain were forced to abandon their farms in Maryland and seek refuge in Canada because rebel forces won the war of independence.
http://countrystudies.us/united-states/history-33.htm
http://www.answers.com/topic/loyalist-american-revolution
US history taught when I was in high school didn't mention them, or perhaps I don't remember. Or didn't recognize that 'Tory' meant colonials loyal to Britain
It puts today's raucous public debate into a different light when you know that the US war for independence wasn't a fight between colonialists demanding independence and the British military. Rather, it was also a fight between factions, neighbor against neighbor when the British forces were brought in to put down the rebels.
Ernest, my history books (early 80s) also did not mention it. I think this is clear-cut case of the victors writing the history books: All Americans were overjoyed by our victory.
In my particular case, I even know who to blame (sort of): Our textbooks (in WI) were censored by Texas. I had a good teacher who liked to give examples of stuff that had been taken out. I don't recall this being one of the examples, though.
Thanks for the links.
ernst, mrsizer
Might be more a matter of relative size and locale of battles than censorship. Growing up in SE North Carolina, our history was was full of tales of the exploits of Francis Marion, and the atrocities of Banastre Tarleton (OK, maybe some prejudice for the victors). Another example of a critical yet relatively unknown battle between Patriots and Loyalists is Moores Creek Bridge. Also relatively unknown are the descendants of the Scottish Loyalists who were supporters of the Union (Yankees) during the Civil War. A worrisome source of unrest in the middle of the Confederacy.
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note; Kings Mt., NORTH Carolina (Right on the state line.)
Fortunately, this ended the experiment with the Ferguson rifle. If put into production this weapon could have dramatically changed the outcome of this war.