In 1778 an unknown Hessian officer recorded his observations on the war. "Call this war by whatever name you may, only call it not an American Rebellion: it is nothing more or less than a Scotch-Irish Presbyterian Rebellion."

Ronnie Hanna, Land of the Free (Lurgan, Co. Armagh, N. Ireland: Ulster Society Publications Limited, 1992) 1.

"The seeds of resistance to British authority were sown in the Presbyterian Churches that made captains and colonels out of deacons and elders."
Chalmers Davidson, "The Colonial Scotch-Irish of the Carolina Piedmont," typewritten, unpublished manuscript, date unknown.

Because of their strong feelings against the Crown, strengthened by what has been called the "Presbyterian Ethic," the Scots-Irish settlements and their meetinghouses, as well as the homes of their ministers and leaders became rallying points for those of like sentiments, while at the same time gathering the wrath of the British and their Tory allies. As a result, many of the Scots-Irish settlements became targets of Tory raids and destruction during the course of the war. Patrick Ferguson had made it known that upon leaving Kings Mountain, he intended to "spend one night in Bethel Church, leave it in ashes by day-light . . . and be on the east side of the Catawba before nightfall."

Patriots buried at Bethel Cemetery