The Haunted South: Where Ghosts Still Roam

THE KING'S MESSENGERS

70 rrfie 1(ings Messengers On rainy nights the eerie pair still roam, galloping alongforever carryinga message never to be delivered MajorFerguson leanedbackagainst thewhite oak tree and reflected upon his situation. His proclamation for the mountain men to surrender may have been flamboyant, but he never really expected it to create this kind of reaction. Hundreds of men were appearing as if by magic from over the mountains, traveling under the command of Campbell, Shelby,Sevierand others from that almost mythical land beyond Quaker Meadows, even beyond the edge of his map. They were coming to do battle with him. They were coming down to the lowlands to fight for their independence and there was an understanding among them that they would not go home until either they or Ferguson had been defeated. For several days now he had been sending out his messengers in pairs, two by two, to alert Lord Cornwallis at his headquarters in Charlottesburg as to the situation. Not that his position on King's Mountain was that precarious, but he wouldn't have minded a regiment of the king's dragoons close enough to support him. Ordinarily Major Ferguson was not the kind of man to worry, but somehow messengers were not getting through to Lord Cornwallis and in the cold chill of the October wind, he sensed the hostility of these backwoods people who refused to bow to the British flag or-what was more important-pay taxes. The day before he had sent some of his best riders off but still there was no return message from Lord 71 Cornwallis. No need to waste any more of his good men on futile errands. Tonight he would send a couple of the Tory militia. He would select natives of the area, roughly dressed. They certainly would not get lostand ifthey ran into any mountain men, they'd be instant turncoats for as long as it took to get off down the road. James and Douglas Duncan were farm born and bred. Unlettered but fairly shrewd fellows, their greatest loyalty was to their possessions and the protection the British flag might give their land. Ferguson summoned the two brothers and gave them this most vital message instructing them to deliver it in person to Lord Rawdon or Lord Cornwallis at Charlottesburg. He warned them about the hazards of their mission, told them of the messengers who had not gotten through, cautioned them to talk to no one and then dispatched the nondescript pair on horseback. For some time they rode along on this cold, rainy October night, meeting neither friend nor foe. After they had galloped for a number of miles without incident, they reached theSouth Forkof the Catawba River. They plunged the animals into the streamand with a great splashing and whinnying they forded the river. The men were relieved to find a tavern there at which to refresh themselves. The tavern mistress had just lost her husband at the battle of Camden and the two sympathized with her volubly. So much so that she generously made their drinks extra hearty and as their tongues loosened , their braggadoccio remarks began to arouse the woman's suspicions that here were two Tories bent on mischief of some kind. Seeing they were almost ready to leave sheslipped out of the room and 72 up to the attic of the tavern where she stood by the window waiting. Their horses were tethered just below her and she knew the direction they would ride in. She had just taken out a brace ofpistols when the two drunken couriers appeared below her, mounted their horses and rode off. Taking aim she fired the first shot at the one on the right. Nothing happened. The other pistol fired a second laterat the rider on the left. But neither man fell and the two riders galloped on, disappearing down the muddy road and into the night. It was nearing four o'clock in the morning when innkeeper Amos Bissell nearSalisbury heard a rough pounding at the door and, awakening, looked down to see what guests could be arriving at this hour on such a cold and rainy night. It was pitch black and, unable to see anyone, all he could hear was what appeared to be the loud voices of two men raised in anger. "We should have taken a path toward the east hours ago. You don't...