On October 7, 1780, brother met brother, neighbor met neighbor, Patriot met Loyalist on a battlefield atop a mountain in rural South Carolina. The battle lasted an hour: the brevity belied the import. Thomas Jefferson proclaimed the Battle of King's Mountain turned "the tide of success which terminated the Revolutionary War, with the seal of our independence."

Fewer than one thousand American Heroes, through skill, luck, and the leadership of cunning strategists, defeated Patrick Ferguson, a brilliant star of the British military might. David Duff was one of those Heroes: he fought and died in that battle.

His death in the Battle of Kings Mountain was documented by Lyman Coleman Draper. "King's Mountain And Its Heroes" by Draper has long been recognized as the definitive listing of the participants. On Page 302, Draper wrote:

"Among the South Carolinians under Lacey and Hawthorn, no killed are reported, save, perhaps, David Duff and William Watson, who probably belonged to this corps, and but one wounded, Robert Miller, of Chester County, who was badly disabled in his thigh."

The Daughters of the American Revolution also documented the participation of David Duff in the American Revolution. That organization designated him "DAR Ancestor Number A034347."

David Duff married Mary Sevier and they had a son, James. James Duff married Mary Craig, daughter of Henry and Mary Erwin Craig. Henry Craig, DAR Ancestor Number A027218, was a Scottish immigrant who was wounded at the Battle of Fishing Creek.

This Hero was a valiant Patriot who fought a foe wielding an oppressive hammer, threatening the freedom of a people who refused to be threatened. He deserved to be recognized for the role he played in history. This memorial was added to serve as an expression of the gratitude and respect owed this Hero who gave his life so others could go forth and build a new country: our America.

From the Virginia, Biographical Encyclopedia:

"The British had 1,103 men under Ferguson, and the Americans 923, mostly Scotch-Irish Presbyterians. The ground of the battle is 600 yards long, 250 wide at base, 60 to 120 wide on top, and 60 feet above the country level. The English held the eminence. The Americans were in two columns, two men deep on the right of the mountain, under Campbell and Servier, and two on the left under Cleveland and Shelby. Cleveland made a ringing appeal, and the attack was begun with yells. The battle raged all around the mountain; Cleveland's horse was disabled, but he fought on foot until remounted. Several times the Americans were forced down the ascent, only to rally and gamely retrace their steps. Ferguson tried to break through but fell with eight wounds. The British finally surrendered, having lost 157 killed, 153 wounded and 706 prisoners, and over 1,200 arms. The Americans had 28 killed and 62 wounded. It was a complete victory and crushed the English cause in the South. It withdrew the Carolinas from Tory domination, and was the forerunner of Cowpens, Guilford, Eutaw, Yorktown and Independence."