Historedia
Person

James Johnston

Events
1
Episodes
8
Years
1780–1781

Every event in Historedia whose sources name James Johnston, with the role they cite and all of that event’s episodes. This is not a biography, and mentions are grouped by name, so two people with the same name can share this page.

Events and episodes

  1. Battle of Kings Mountain

    1780–1781

    Role: Patriot militia leader of the Overmountain Men

    1. September 1780 · North Carolina recruiting region during the southern campaignFerguson Recruits Loyalists and Issues His Challenge

      Ferguson entered North Carolina in September 1780 to raise Loyalist troops and protect Cornwallis's flank, daring Patriot militias to submit.

    2. September 2 – October 6, 1780 · Pursuit route through the Carolinas, terminating at Cowpens, South CarolinaPursuit: Gilbert Town to Cowpens

      The Patriots, grown to 1,400, chased Ferguson, finding Gilbert Town empty on October 4 and reaching Cowpens on October 6.

    3. September 25, 1780 · Sycamore Shoals muster siteOvermountain Men Muster at Sycamore Shoals

      Roughly 1,100 frontier volunteers mustered at Sycamore Shoals on September 25, 1780, to march against Ferguson.

    4. Late 1780 to early 1781 · Southern theater of the Revolutionary WarStrategic Consequences

      The victory lifted Patriot morale after Charleston, Camden, and Waxhaws, and Cornwallis canceled his planned invasion of North Carolina.

    5. October 6–7, 1780 · Kings Mountain, upper Piedmont near the Carolinas borderThe Ride to Kings Mountain

      Spy reports placed Ferguson with about 1,200 men on Kings Mountain; 900 Patriots mounted horses and rode to attack.

    6. October 7, 1780 · Kings Mountain battlefield, rural Cherokee County, South CarolinaBattle of Kings Mountain

      On October 7, 1780, Patriot militia surprised and surrounded Ferguson's Loyalists on Kings Mountain, inflicting severe casualties and winning decisively.

    7. October 7, 1780 · Kings Mountain battlefieldNo Quarter and Rapid Retreat

      Some Patriots gave no quarter until officers restored control, invoking revenge for Waxhaws; the victors then quickly withdrew fearing Cornwallis.

    8. October 20, 1780 · retreat route from Kings MountainDrumhead Courts-Martial

      On October 20, 1780, the retreating Patriots held drumhead courts-martial of Loyalists on charges including treason and incitement of Indian rebellion.

Sources

  1. Battle of Kings Mountain Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-23