WI: No Battle of Kings Mountain?

The Battle of Kings Mountain historically saw the defeat of loyalist militia under the illustrious Patrick Ferguson. With his defeat came the end to plan to recruit loyalists in North Carolina (as well as the whole North Carolina campaign before it begun). Many consider it the beginning of the end for the British southern campaign. But what would have happened had the battle never have taken place? What would that mean for the southern campaign? In addition, what would the living of Ferguson (one of the best marksmen then in British service) do?
 
I think the Patriots just will intimate the Loyalists with property confiscations and a few... suspicious deaths. In OTL between the British victory at New York and the loss at Saratoga, the British look like they are winning and a lot of loyalists were STILL afraid to provide overt support because of fears that the Patriots would be back.
 
I think the Patriots just will intimate the Loyalists with property confiscations and a few... suspicious deaths. In OTL between the British victory at New York and the loss at Saratoga, the British look like they are winning and a lot of loyalists were STILL afraid to provide overt support because of fears that the Patriots would be back.

I do agree with you on that point. However, I do wonder what implications will be had for the North Carolina campaign. Who would win? What would the consequences be?
 
I do agree with you on that point. However, I do wonder what implications will be had for the North Carolina campaign. Who would win? What would the consequences be?

Ferguson was retreating to link up with Cornwallis when the Patriots caught him. I suppose the easiest way to avoid a battle would be to have him succeed in escaping, which means Cornwallis gets another 1000 troops or so. Question then becomes what he does with them, I guess.
 
Ferguson was retreating to link up with Cornwallis when the Patriots caught him. I suppose the easiest way to avoid a battle would be to have him succeed in escaping, which means Cornwallis gets another 1000 troops or so. Question then becomes what he does with them, I guess.

That is the easiest way for no battle, true. How history will change without the victory for the patriots, I am unsure. In addition, Ferguson's survival could prove very interesting as well.
 
That is the easiest way for no battle, true. How history will change without the victory for the patriots, I am unsure. In addition, Ferguson's survival could prove very interesting as well.

The Loyalist cause was doomed by two things, the Patriots seizing control of the colonial government apparatus and using it to suppress dissent, a powerful effect that lasted such that Loyalists were afraid of the Patiros coming back... even in British controlled territory and the Battle of Saratoga.
 
The destruction of Fergusons group also opened Cornwallis flank/rear to raids by the rebel militia. Perhaps a sucessfull retreat by Ferguson to join the main body would have the same effect, but the result of Kings Mountain made the problem obvious.
 
The destruction of Fergusons group also opened Cornwallis flank/rear to raids by the rebel militia. Perhaps a sucessfull retreat by Ferguson to join the main body would have the same effect, but the result of Kings Mountain made the problem obvious.

I really don't think a retreat to the main body would have saved the Loyalist cause.
 
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