If you are a descendant of the first Scots-Irish settlers in the southeastern Ozarks, it is likely that your ancestors fought in The Revolutionary War somewhere out east before they made their trek west to start new lives in hills we call home. On this Independence Day let us pause to contemplate the sacrifices made by our past kin in establishing a free nation. A place we need to remember is Kings Mountain, South Carolina where on October 7, 1790, the pioneer patriots of Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky won a decisive battle against the British. Thomas Jefferson called it, The turn of the tide if success. The Overmountain Men fought with tomahawks, knives, axes, and long rifles. Many of the Scots-Irish patriots who fought that day were from Carter County, Tennessee and viciously fought against tyranny in hand to hand combat with The Redcoats. Two women patriots fought beside the men on that mountain. Most of the gunpowder used by the patriots that day was made by another woman, Mary Patton, of Tennessee. There is little doubt that without our Scots-Irish ancestors The Revolutionary War could not have been won. A famous quote from George Washington is worth remembering if you have Scots-Iris blood in your veins. When he thought the war might not be won, he said, If all else fails, I will retreat up the valley of Virginia, plant my flag on the Blue Ridge, rally around the Scotch-Irish of that region and make my last stand for liberty amongst a people who will never submit to British tyranny whilst there is a man left to draw a trigger. On this Independence Day, pause from what you are doing long enough to honor those brave men and women who took Kings Mountain that day and helped create The United States Of America.
Posted on: Fri, 04 Jul 2014 22:49:12 +0000
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