Sweet Lips
This photo of Robert Young's Long Rifle, "Sweet Lips", was contributed by Patrick Gilliland. This rifle fired the shot that killed loyalist Colonel Patrick Ferguson, commander of the loyalist militia at the Battle of King's Mountain. Could be either a Pennsylvania or Kentucky longrifle, but I'm certainly no expert.
So how does one John Gilliland figure in to this historic battle and rifle?"
In reference to "Sweet Lips", Lyman Draper, in his history of the King's Mountain heroes, says, "One of Col. Sevier's men, named Gililland, who had received several wounds, and was well nigh exhausted, seeing the advance of Ferguson and his part, attempted to arrest the career of the great leader, but his gun snapped, when he called out to Robert Young, of the same regiment: 'There's Ferguson! Shoot him.' 'I will try and see what Sweet Lips can do,' muttered Young, as he drew a sharp sight, discharging his rife, when Ferguson fell from his horse, and his associates were either killed or driven back. Several bullets had taken effect on Ferguson apparently at the same time, and a number claimed the honor of shooting Ferguson."
For more on "Sweet Lips" and the Battle of King's Mountain, visit the discussion of this topic on the Gilliland Trails forum.