Patrick Ferguson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Patrick Ferguson
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Anonymous miniature of Patrick Ferguson in uniform, as Captain of the light company of the 70th Foot, c. 1774–77 (private collection)
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| Born | 4 June 1744 Pitfour, Aberdeenshire, Scotland |
| Died | 7 October 1780 (aged 36) South Carolina, United States |
| Allegiance |  Great Britain |
| Service/ |
British Army |
| Years of service | 1759–1780 |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit | Royal Scots Greys (1759–1768) 70th Regiment of Foot (1768–1772) |
| Commands held | Ferguson's Rifle Corps (1776–1777) Fraser's Highlanders (1777–1780) |
| Battles/wars | Seven Years' War American Revolutionary War † |
Patrick Ferguson (1744 – 7 October 1780) was a Scottish officer in the British Army. He was known for being an early supporter of light infantry soldiers. He also designed a special gun called the Ferguson rifle.
Ferguson is best remembered for his role in the American Revolutionary War. In 1780, he worked with General Charles Cornwallis in the Carolinas. Ferguson was very good at getting American Loyalists to join the British side. These Loyalists fought against the Patriots.
His actions led Patriot militia forces to gather and stop his Loyalist group. Ferguson was killed during the Battle of Kings Mountain. This battle happened near the border of North Carolina and South Carolina. He was the only regular British army officer fighting in that battle.
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Growing Up in Scotland
Patrick Ferguson was born in Pitfour, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on June 4, 1744. His father, James Ferguson, was a judge. His mother was Anne Murray.
Through his parents, Patrick knew many important people from the Scottish Enlightenment. This was a time when new ideas about science and philosophy were popular in Scotland.
Early Military Career
Ferguson started his army career when he was a teenager. His uncle, James Murray, encouraged him. He served in the Holy Roman Empire with the Scots Greys during the Seven Years' War. He had to return home because of a leg injury.
After he got better, he continued serving in the army. In 1768, he bought a leadership position in the 70th Regiment of Foot. He served with them in the West Indies. His leg injury bothered him again, so he went home in 1772.
While recovering, he trained with light infantry soldiers. He caught the attention of General Howe. During this time, he invented the Ferguson rifle. This was a new type of gun that could be loaded quickly.
Fighting in the American Revolution
1777: First Battles
In 1777, Ferguson went to America to fight in the American War of Independence. He led a special group of soldiers who used his new rifles. They had some early success.
However, on September 11, 1777, he was shot in the elbow at the Battle of Brandywine. Before he was wounded, he had a chance to shoot a high-ranking American officer. The officer had his back to Ferguson and did not know he was there. Ferguson decided not to shoot him. He later said he did not regret his choice. Some historians think the officer might have been George Washington.
For several months, doctors thought they might have to remove his arm. He eventually recovered, but his right arm was permanently damaged.
1778: Raids and Attacks
Ferguson returned to duty in May 1778. He served under Sir Henry Clinton.
In October 1778, Ferguson led a raid in New Jersey. His goal was to stop privateers. These were private ships that attacked British ships. Ferguson attacked their base in what was called the Battle of Chestnut Neck.
A week later, Ferguson learned about a group of American troops nearby. On October 15, 1778, Ferguson's men attacked the sleeping Americans. This event is known as the Little Egg Harbor massacre. Ferguson reported that his men took only five prisoners. He said he did not destroy nearby houses because they belonged to peaceful Quakers.
1780: Leading Loyalists
In 1780, the British Army sent General Lord Cornwallis to invade the Carolinas. His goal was to defeat American forces and keep the colonies British. Cornwallis needed to recruit local Loyalists. So, Major Ferguson was made Inspector of Militia in South Carolina.
Ferguson's job was to recruit Loyalist militia groups. He also had to scare colonists who supported American independence. He became known as "Bulldog" among his soldiers.
After winning some battles, Cornwallis divided his army. Ferguson was given command of a group of Loyalists he had recruited.
Battle of Musgrove's Mill
On August 18, 1780, American Patriot soldiers planned to attack a Loyalist camp. This camp was at Musgrove's Mill, which controlled a river crossing and grain supply. The Battle of Musgrove Mill happened on August 19, 1780.
The Patriots expected to fight an equal number of Loyalists. But they learned that the Loyalists had been reinforced. There were more Loyalists than expected. The battle lasted about an hour. Sixty-three Loyalists were killed, and seventy were captured. The Patriots lost only four men.
Chasing the Patriots
After the battle, the Patriot forces, led by Isaac Shelby, quickly left. Ferguson chased them for sixty miles. But the Patriots escaped. This victory at Musgrove Mill gave hope to the Patriots. It showed that the Loyalists could not easily control the South Carolina backcountry.
Shelby and his "Overmountain Men" went back over the Appalachian Mountains. They gathered more forces. By September 25, 1780, about 1,000 Overmountain Men were ready to fight Ferguson.
On September 2, Ferguson and his militia marched west. They were chasing Shelby. By September 10, Ferguson set up a camp in North Carolina. He challenged the Patriot leaders. He told them to give up their weapons. If they did not, he threatened to destroy their homes.
Patriot leaders Isaac Shelby and John Sevier decided to lead their militia against him.
Battle of Kings Mountain
Major Ferguson reportedly threatened to invade the mountains. He said he would do this if the colonists there did not stop supporting American independence. So, the Overmountain Men gathered their militia. They planned to fight Ferguson and his Loyalists.
On October 7, 1780, the two armies fought at the Battle of Kings Mountain. The Loyalists were positioned high on a mountain ridge. The battle went badly for them. During the fighting, Ferguson was shot off his horse.
According to Patriot stories, Ferguson was still defiant. When a Patriot approached him, Ferguson pulled out his pistol and shot him. Colonel Benjamin Cleveland of North Carolina took Ferguson's white horse as a prize.
Today, Ferguson's gravesite is part of the Kings Mountain National Military Park. The National Park Service manages it.
More About Patrick Ferguson
Ferguson was known for being intelligent, funny, and charming. He also wrote several articles for a newspaper. He used different pen names like "Egg-Shell" and "John Bull."
He was survived by his mother, his brothers James and George, and his sisters Annie, Elizabeth, and Jean.
In Books and TV
Patrick Ferguson has appeared in several books and TV shows.
- In the novel Horse-Shoe Robinson (1835), fictional characters meet Ferguson before the Battle of Kings Mountain.
- In Louis L'Amour's book The Ferguson Rifle (1973), Ferguson gives his personal rifle to a boy. He asks the boy to never use it against the king.
- In Steve Ressel's novel State of One (2010), Ferguson is a main villain. He is brought back to life to fight against the U.S. Constitution.
- In Sharyn McCrumb's novel Kings Mountain: A Ballad Novel (2014), Ferguson is the main villain. The story shows the battle from different viewpoints.
- In the TV show The American Revolution (2014), Ferguson is shown choosing not to shoot George Washington.
- In the outdoor play Horn in the West, Ferguson is shown bothering Daniel Boone's friends. This leads to the Battle of Kings Mountain.
