Day Two- The Battle of Kings Mountain

In 1780, the Revolutionary War moved to the Southern states. British authorities believed that many citizens in this region remained loyal to King George III and would rally to fight alongside an invading British force against the Patriot rebels. After Charles Town fell to the British invaders on May 12, General Sir Henry Clinton, commander of the British forces in the American Colonies, ordered his second-in-command, General Lord Charles Cornwallis, to march his army inland through the Carolinas and into Virginia. 

Cornwallis’ army began moving northward across South Carolina toward the small community of Charlotte. Major Patrick Ferguson protected Cornwallis’ left flank during the advance. Ferguson was a soldier’s soldier, determined and disciplined

From Gilbert Town, an aggravated Patrick Ferguson sent a message to the elusive Overmountain Men: “If you do not desist your opposition to the British Arms, I shall march this army over the mountains, hang your leaders, and lay waste your country with fire and sword.”

Leaders called for a mustering of militia units from throughout the overmountain region and beyond. They sent express riders north and east calling upon Arthur Campbell and William Campbell to muster Virginians from the Holston Valley. They called for a muster on September 25 at Sycamore Shoals, adjacent to Fort Watauga in today’s Elizabethton, Tennessee.

Colonel William Campbell arrived with 400 Virginians, half from his cousin’s command. These Virginians came on a two-day ride from their muster along Wolf Creek in today’s Abingdon, Virginia.

Growing day by day to some one thousand strong in number, the militiamen prepared to cross the mountains, committed in their pursuit of the man who had threatened to invade their homeland: Major Patrick Ferguson.

This video will tell the rest of the story




For More Information About The Overmountian Men

http://www.historynet.com/the-overmountain-men-battle-for-the-carolinas.htm

http://www.hswcv.org/history.html

Day Two- Fast Facts

Fast Facts- Write These In Your Notes 

Settlers lived hard lives on the frontier. Most of what they needed to survive had to be brought with them as they traveled, made by hand on the frontier or traded for.

Indian attacks were prevalent and added to the struggle of the settlers

Frontier houses were simple and often dangerous leaving settlers to adapt how their homes were built.  

The Overmountain Men of Washington County, Virginia helped turn the tide at the Battle of Kings Mountain and defeat the British flank during the Revolutionary War

Review From Yesterday 

Pre-Clovis people hunted the animals attracted to the salt marshes in Saltville Valley 

Spanish explore Southwest Virginia looking for the Three Gs: Gold, God, Glory 

Dr. Thomas Walker surveys Southwest Virginia to map out the border between Virginia and North Carolina. He also surveys tracts of land to be sold to settlers east of present day Roanoke. 


Settlers move into the frontier of Southwest Virginia in search of cheap land. With them comes the spread of Methodism to the new lands.

History-recording, and analyzing of the past through primary and secondary sources
Primary Source- written at the time of the event
Secondary Source- written as a summary of primary sources 

Pre-history-Information that pre-dates the written word gleaned from archaeological study

Structure- What people are doing. How do they make a living

Infrastructure- Who has power in the community.

Superstructure- What people believe