re South, animated them with
fresh hopes, and nerved them on to future deeds of "noble daring."

Gen. Rutherford, not leaving his encampment at Col. Dickson's before
daylight of the morning of the 20th of June, failed to reach Ramsour's
Mill until two hours after the battle. Col. Johnston there joined his
command, and participated in the closing duties of this victorious
engagement in the cause of American freedom.

At the battle of King's Mountain Col. Johnston commanded the reserves,
about ninety in number, which were soon called into service after the
battle commenced. The decisive and brilliant victory of that memorable
day has been so frequently adverted to in history that it is deemed
here unnecessary to enter into particulars. Suffice it to say, it
completely broke down the Tory influence in Western North Carolina,
and its more rampant manifestations in upper South Carolina. It is
known that Cornwallis, then in Charlotte, in a few days after hearing
of the defeat and death of Ferguson, one of his bravest officers,
marched from that rebellious town in the night and hastily retreated
to safer quarters in Winnsboro, S.C.

During the progress of the war Col. Johnston was frequently engaged in
other minor expeditions, requiring promptitude of action and
unflinching bravery, in assisting to disperse bodies of Tories
wherever they might assemble, and arrest obnoxious individuals when
the peace and welfare of society demanded such service.

At the Provincial Congress which met at Halifax on the 4th of April,
1776, Colonel James Johnston and Colonel Charles McLean were the
delegates from Tryon county. Colonel McLean was an early and devoted
friend of liberty. He resided on the headwaters of Crowder's creek, in
the present county of Gaston, and commanded the first regiment which
marched from Lincoln county against the Tories of upper South
Carolina. This Provincial Congress was one of the most important ever
held in the State. The spirit of liberty was then in the ascendant,
animating every patriotic bosom from the sea coast to the mountains.
At this assembly the military organization of the State was completed,
and the following patriotic resolution unanimously adopted:

"_Resolved_, That the Delegates from this Colony in the
Continental Congress be empowered to concur with the
Delegates from the other colonies in declaring independence
and forming foreign alliances, reserving to this colony the