Black American Hero of the Battle of Kings Mountain
Painting of Ishmael Titus to debut – Blacks in America to be recognized.
Staff Reports
The third painting in the famed series of locals who fought at the Battle of King’s Mountain will be showcased in a special ceremony in Grover, NC. Although the soldiers have never been seen by people on earth today, the forensic and studied research put into the faces and bone structure is paying off.
Kelly Thomas Pauley is the famed historic expert and creator of the painting series. Sketches of Ishmael Titus were created by Pauley with help from Mic Scoggins of the York County, South Carolina museums, and the Southern Revolutionary War Institute.
“Now, for the first time in history we are able to share with families what their ancestors looked like,” states Martin C. J. Mongiello of the American Revolutionary War Living History Center (ARWLHC).
“We’ve made many people very happy and we’ve stirred up quite a dust cloud with others!” Mongiello relates. For instance, few people ever knew of blacks fighting as slaves (or freemen) at the battle. Marked by President Thomas Jefferson and Sir Henry Clinton as the turning point of the entire Revolutionary War, the Battle of King’s Mountain is right in Mongiello’s backyard near his family’s Inn of the Patriots.
“Let’s be honest,” Mongiello quips, “I am a white male and unhappy with slavery and its filthy issues. But the blacks, although black-skinned, are not filthy or dirty. Many of them fought and died for our country in the war that set whites free.”
The ARWLHC wants to see what families look like and to set all records straight. The first two paintings completed were of Colonel Frederick Hambright and Benjamin Cleaveland – never before seen in any history book – a first in U.S. history. The third in the series features Ishmael Titus. Fourth in the series, behind Titus, will be Colonel Andrew Hampton.
“Michael Chrisawn of the Cleveland County Chamber of Commerce and others in the region are working with us to craft and build a special celebration. We have invited Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx and President Obama to speak at the event as well as others from our local counties of Cherokee in South Carolina and Cleveland in North Carolina,” Mongiello said.
“All costs have been donated for these projects, and no solicitation was taken up to achieve our goals.” Mongiello added, “We are excited about the coming celebration, speeches, and soul food to be served by The Presidential Culinary Museum.”
About Ishmael Titus
Coming from Cameroon and landing in America in chains, Ishmael Titus fought for another young man. He earned his freedom by doing so during the American Revolutionary War.
A new Freedom Medal will be awarded in his name.
For more information contact the American Revolutionary War Living History Center, located at The Inn of the Patriots, 301 Cleveland Avenue, Grover, NC 28073. Phone (704) 937-2940 and visit www.theinnofthepatriots.com
