Headquarters, Totoway, October 27, 1780.
The General has the pleasure to congratulate the army on an important advantage lately gained in North Carolina over a corps of fourteen hundred men, British troops and new levies, commanded by Col. Ferguson.
The militia of the neighboring Country, under Cols. Williams, Shelby and others, having assembled to the number of about three thousand men, a detachment of about sixteen hundred was sent on horseback to fall in with Ferguson's party on its march to Charlotte. They came up with the enemy at a place
called King's Mountain, advantageously posted, and gave him a total defeat, in which Col. Ferguson and a hundred and fifty of his men were killed, eight hundred made prisoners, and fifteen hundred stand of arms taken. On our part, the loss was inconsiderable. We have only to regret that the brave Col. Williams is mortally wounded.These advantages will, in all probability, have a very happy influence on operations in that quarter, and are a proof of the spirit and resources of the country.