Kings Mountain and The Turn of The Tide: Story and Facts

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Kings Mountain and the Turn of the Tide is a story from Kings Mountain National Military Park, Blacksburg. The National Park Service calls Kings Mountain (October 7, 1780) the turning point of the Revolution in the South.

WhereKings Mountain National Military Park, BlacksburgUpstate
KindHistorynot a ranking
Sources3named, linked below
CheckedOct 262026

Collected 0 of 21All legends

A story with a documented core.

No. 1 of 21

Kings Mountain and The Turn of The Tide

The tale is that one battle on a ridge near the North Carolina line changed the course of the Revolutionary War in the South.

What The Record Shows

The National Park Service calls Kings Mountain (October 7, 1780) the turning point of the Revolution in the South. On a separate NPS page about the Southern Campaign parks, Thomas Jefferson is quoted calling the battle 'The turn of the tide of success.' The South Carolina Encyclopedia says British Major Patrick Ferguson made a stand on the mountain, with no breastworks built, and that patriots climbed the slope and picked off his men with rifle fire.

Sources: NPS – Kings Mountain National Military Park, Plan Your Visit; NPS – Southern Campaign of the American Revolution Parks in South Carolina; South Carolina Encyclopedia – Kings Mountain, Battle Of.

A note: NPS gives the mailing address as Blacksburg, SC but no county; county left blank. The Jefferson quote is read on the Cowpens park page as a card for Kings Mountain.

See The Place

Kings Mountain National Military Park: https://www.nps.gov/kimo/planyourvisit/index.htm.

FAQ

Is the story of Kings Mountain and the Turn of the Tide true?

The National Park Service calls Kings Mountain (October 7, 1780) the turning point of the Revolution in the South.

Is this a legend?

It is a story with a documented core. The facts are listed on this page with their sources.

Where do these facts come from?

From the named sources listed on this page: NPS – Kings Mountain National Military Park, Plan Your Visit; NPS – Southern Campaign of the American Revolution Parks in South Carolina; South Carolina Encyclopedia – Kings Mountain, Battle of.

Sources

Read on October 26, 2026. Stories are for fun; the facts come from these sources. How we check: editorial standards; spot a mistake? Tell us.

Cite this page: It's South Carolina, “Kings Mountain and The Turn of The Tide”, itssouthcarolina.com/things-to-do/south-carolina-legends/kings-mountain-turn-of-the-tide/ (updated 2026-10-26). By the It's South Carolina editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.