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thousand men； into the mountainous country lying westward； chiefly to secure Loyalist recruits。 If attacked in force Ferguson was to retreat and rejoin his leader。 The Battle of King's Mountain is hardly famous in the annals of the world； and yet； in some ways； it was a decisive event。 Suddenly Ferguson found himself beset by hostile bands； coming from the north； the south； the east； and the west。 When； in obedience to his orders； he tried to retreat he found the way blocked； and his messages were intercepted； so that Cornwallis was not aware of the peril。 Ferguson； harassed； outnumbered； at last took refuge on King's Mountain； a stony ridge on the western border between the two Carolinas。 The north side of the mountain was a sheer impassable cliff and； since the ridge was only half a mile long； Ferguson thought that his force could hold it securely。 He was； however； fighting an enemy deadly with the rifle and accustomed to fire from cover。 The sides and top of King's Mountain were wooded and strewn with boulders。 The motley assailants crept up to the crest while pouring a deadly fire on any of the defenders who exposed themselves。 Ferguson was killed and in the end his force surrendered； on October 7； 1780； with four hundred casualties and the loss of more than seven hundred prisoners。 The American casualties were eighty…eight。 In reprisal for earlier acts on the other side； the victors insulted the dead body of Ferguson and hanged nine of their prisoners on the limb of a great tulip tree。 Then the improvised army scattered。*
* See Chapter IX； 〃Pioneers of the Old Southwest〃； by Constance Lindsay Skinner in 〃The Chronicles of America。〃
While the conflict for supremacy in the South was still uncertain； in the Northwest the Americans made a stroke destined to have astounding results。 Virginia had long coveted lands in the valleys of the Ohio and the Mississippi。 It was in this region that Washington had first seen active service； helping to wrest that land from France。 The country was wild。 There was almost no settlement； but over a few forts on the upper Mississippi and in the regions lying eastward to the Detroit River there was that flicker of a red flag which meant that the Northwest was under British rule。 George Rogers Clark； like Washington a Virginian land surveyor； was a strong； reckless； brave frontiersman。 Early in 1778 Virginia gave him a small sum of money； made him a lieutenant colonel； and authorized him to raise troops for a western adventure。 He had less than two hundred men when he appeared a little later at Kaskaskia near the Mississippi in what is now Illinois and captured the small British garrison； with the friendly consent of the French settlers about the fort。 He did the same thing at Cahokia； farther up the river。 The French scattered through the western country naturally sided with the Americans； fighting now in alliance with France。 The British sent out a force from Detroit to try to check the efforts of Clark； but in February； 1779； the indomitable frontiersman surprised and captured this force at Vincennes on the Wabash。 Thus did Clark's two hundred famished and ragged men take possession of the Northwest； and； when peace was made； this vast domain； an empire in extent； fell to the United States。 Clark's exploit is one of the pregnant romances of history。*
* See Chapters III and IV in 〃The Old Northwest〃 by Frederic Austin Ogg in 〃The Chronicles of America〃。
Perhaps the most sorrowful phase of the Revolution was the internal conflict waged between its friends and its enemies in America； where neighbor fought against neighbor。 During this pitiless struggle the strength of the Loyalists tended steadily to decline； and they came at last to be regarded everywhere by triumphant revolution as a vile people who should bear the penalties of outcasts。 In this attitude towards them Boston had given a lead which the rest of the country eagerly followed。 To coerce Loyalists local committees sprang up everywhere。 It must be said that the Loyalists gave abundant provocation。 They sneered at rebel officers of humble origin as convicts and shoeblacks。 There should be some fine hanging； they promised； on the return of the King's men to Boston。 Early in the Revolution British colonial governors； like Lord Dunmore of Virginia； adopted the policy of reducing the rebels by harrying their coasts。 Sailors would land at night from ships and commit their ravages in the light of burning houses。 Soldiers would dart out beyond the British lines； burn a village； carry off some Whig farmers； and escape before opposing forces could rally。 Governor Tryon of New York was specially active in these enterprises and to this day a special odium attaches to his name。
For these ravages； and often with justice； the Loyalists were held responsible。 The result was a bitterness which fired even the calm spirit of Benjamin Franklin and led him when the day came for peace to declare that the plundering and murdering adherents of King George were the ones who should pay for damage and not the States which had confiscated Loyalist property。 Lists of Loyalist names were sometimes posted and then the persons concerned were likely to be the victims of any one disposed to mischief。 Sometimes a suspected Loyalist would find an effigy hung on a tree before his own door with a hint that next time the figure might be himself。 A musket ball might come whizzing through his window。 Many a Loyalist was stripped； plunged in a barrel of tar； and then rolled in feathers； taken sometimes from his own bed。
Punishment for loyalism was not； however； left merely to chance。 Even before the Declaration of Independence； Congress； sitting itself in a city where loyalism was strong； urged the States to act sternly in repressing Loyalist opinion。 They did not obey every urging of Congress as eagerly as they responded to this one。 In practically every State Test Acts were passed and no one was safe who did not carry a certificate that he was free of any suspicion of loyalty to King George。 Magistrates were paid a fee for these certificates and thus had a golden reason for insisting that Loyalists should possess them。 To secure a certificate the holder must forswear allegiance to the King and promise support to the State at war with him。 An unguarded word even about the value in gold of the continental dollar might lead to the adding of the speaker's name to the list of the proscribed。 Legislatures passed bills denouncing Loyalists。 The names in Massachusetts read like a list of the leading families of New England。 The 〃Black List〃 of Pennsylvania contained four hundred and ninety names of Loyalists charged with treason； and Philadelphia had the grim experience of seeing two Loyalists led to the scaffold with ropes around their necks and hanged。 Most of the persecuted Loyalists lost all their property and remained exiles from their former homes。 The self…appointed committees took in hand the task of disciplining those who did not fly； and the rabble often pushed matters to brutal extremes。 When we remember that Washington himself regarded Tories as the vilest of mankind and unfit to live； we can imagine the spirit of mobs； which had sometimes the further