Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail (2026)

22/10/2026

Up the Trail!
Sunday, October 22, 1780
D+15
24 miles today.
187 miles since the Battle of Kings Mountain.
377 miles since leaving Sycamore Shoals.

As the Patriot army and their Loyalist prisoners neared their destination of the Moravian towns and were far away from any possible British rescue, the Loyalist officers were allowed some freedoms to ride ahead with an es**rt of Patriot officers.

Leaving the main army behind, our two journal-keepers rode with their es**rt to the Moravian town of Salem, North Carolina where they were allowed to dine and stay at a tavern.

From the journal of Loyalist prisoner Dr. Uzal Johnson:
“October 22, 1780 Sunday. Moved at ten in the Morning. We got permission to go forward with Col Shelby to Salem. We marched ten Miles, forded Yadkin River at Shallow Ford, continued on eighteen Miles further to Salem. In the Evening we went to the Moravian Meeting, were highly entertained with their Musick & the civility of the People, the most of them are Friends to the Gt. Lord Morrey. Salem contains about twenty Houses and a Church. They are all Mechanicks that live in this Town. There are two Moravian Towns above this where the Farmers dwell.”

21/10/2026

Up the Trail!
Saturday, October 21, 1780
D+14
14.5 miles today.
163 miles since the Battle of Kings Mountain.
353 miles since leaving Sycamore Shoals.

Despite the recent Patriot victories at Kings Mountain and Shallowford on the Yadkin River, Loyalists still remained in North Carolina. The Patriot army encountered some loyal locals on this day’s march when some women brought food to the Loyalist prisoners. Camp that night was at the plantation of Mr. Headpeth, described as “a great Tory.” Camping at the farms of the opposition was a common tactic to not only provide for your army without having to pay for anything but prevented those supplies from possibly being used against you. Unfortunately, these predatory tactics usually forced their victims deeper into supporting the other side.

From the journal of Loyalist prisoner Lieutenant Anthony Allaire:
“Saturday, 21st [October]. Several Tory women brought us butter, milk, honey, and many other necessaries of life. Moved at ten o’clock in the morning, and marched fourteen miles to Mr. Headpeth’s plantation, a great Tory, who is at present with Lord Cornwallis. We lodged at Mr. Edward Clinton’s, who is likewise with Lord Cornwallis.”

20/10/2026

Up the Trail!
Friday, October 20, 1780
D+13
6 miles today.
148.5 miles since the Battle of Kings Mountain.
338.5 miles since leaving Sycamore Shoals.

As the Patriot army moved further into North Carolina, a trickle of local reinforcements allowed the remaining exhausted Overmountain Men to return home. William Campbell dismissed more of his Virginia horsemen who had accompanied the army for almost a full month by this point. Who could have imagined that volunteering in Washington County, Virginia in late September would have led them here?

A slow march of several miles today ended at camp at a “Mr. Sale’s” plantation. It was near this place that Loyalist prisoner Alexander Chesney saw his opportunity to escape from the Patriot army. Chesney had been threatened by Colonel Benjamin Cleveland with ex*****on if he did not assist the Patriot army, and after witnessing the ex*****on on October 18th, he was willing to risk the dangers of an escape rather than wait to see if the leader of “Cleveland’s Bulldogs” followed through on his word.

From the recollections of Loyalist prisoner Alexander Chesney:
“I had the good fortune to make my escape one evening when close to that place; in the hurry to get off I took the wrong road and did not discover my error until I found I was close to the Moravian town; I then retraced my steps until close to the pickets I had left and taking a fresh departure I crossed the Yadkin river before morning, proceeded through the woods toward home. John Weedyman one of my company had supplied me with a pair of shoes, which were of great use on this occasion, but as he remained prisoner I never had an opportunity of making him a return. The first night I slept in the woods.”

19/10/2026

Up the Trail!
Thursday, October 19, 1780
D+12
16 miles today.
142.5 miles since the Battle of Kings Mountain.
332.5 miles since leaving Sycamore Shoals.

An uneventful day for the Patriot army and their Loyalist prisoners as they continued their march. Their minds surely wandered as they slowly trudged along; the Loyalists contemplating what fate awaited them at their next stop, and the Patriots dreaming of finally returning home.

They covered 16 miles through the area of the “Old Mulberry Fields” and arrived at Hagood’s Plantation on Brier Creek.

From the journal of Loyalist prisoner Lieutenant Anthony Allaire:
“Thursday, 19th [October]. Moved at eight o’clock in the morning; forded Moravian creek, passed by Wilkes Court House, and marched sixteen miles to one Hagwood’s plantation, and halted.”

18/10/2026

Up the Trail!
Wednesday, October 18, 1780
D+11
18 miles today.
126.5 miles since the Battle of Kings Mountain.
316.5 miles since leaving Sycamore Shoals.

The Patriot army continued their march towards the Moravian Towns and their hoped-for relief from guarding their Loyalist prisoners.

They forded Elk Creek and Warrior Creek, camping on the west bank of Moravian Creek before crossing in the morning.

The Loyalist prisoner who was wounded and captured trying to escape was executed as an example to the remaining prisoners.

From the journal of Loyalist prisoner Dr. Uzal Johnson:
"October 18, 1780 Wednesday. The Poor Man hanged that got wounded last Night attempting to get off. We moved at eight o’Clock in the Morning and Marched eighteen Miles to Moravian Creek in Wilkes County and halted."

17/10/2026

Up the Trail!
Tuesday, October 17, 1780
D+10
15 miles today.
108.5 miles since the Battle of Kings Mountain.
298.5 miles since leaving Sycamore Shoals.

William Campbell and his reduced army neared a dangerous ratio of guards-to-prisoners, and some of the Loyalist prisoners noticed. As the army passed through what is now Happy Valley, North Carolina and camped at a “Captain Hatt’s,” three prisoners attempted to take advantage of the few distracted guards.

From the journal of Loyalist prisoner Lieutenant Anthony Allaire:
“Tuesday, 17th [October]. Moved at eight o’clock in the morning. Marched fifteen miles; halted at Capt. Hatt’s plantation. Three prisoners attempted to make their escape this night; two succeeded – the other was shot through the body.”

16/10/2026

Up the Trail!
Monday, October 16, 1780
D+9
5 miles today.
93.5 miles since the Battle of Kings Mountain.
283.5 miles since leaving Sycamore Shoals.

From safety on the north bank of the Catawba River, the Patriot army finally began to disband. The South Carolinians under Edward Lacey and William Hill led their men to rejoin Thomas Sumter, Isaac Shelby and John Sevier led their Overmountain Men back over the mountains, and the “foot company” of William Campbell’s Virginians continued their journey home.

William Campbell and his mounted men remained behind, along with the North Carolinians under Ben Cleveland, Joseph Winston, and the McDowells. Their mission was to guard the Loyalist prisoners, now reduced to only 5-600. They decided their best destination was the “Moravian Towns” of Bethabara, Bethania, and Salem in what is now Winston-Salem, North Carolina. This pacifist community was known for their industriousness and would hopefully provide a sheltered place to hold the Loyalist prisoners and resupply the starving Patriot army.

From the journal of Loyalist prisoner Dr. Uzal Johnson:
“October 16, 1780 Monday. Moved at two in the afternoon. Forded the North Branch of Catawba and Johns River. Marched five Miles and halted at a Tory Plantation.”

16/10/2026

As we wrap up the anniversary month of the Overmountain Men's journey to and from the Battle of Kings Mountain, we were able to add one more event to our calendar: a field trip!

Staff from Cowpens National Battlefield, Kings Mountain National Military Park, and Ninety Six National Historic Site were able to join Ranger Will for a road trip to meet some of our great partners and see how they share their parts of the same story.

15/10/2026

Up the Trail!
Sunday, October 15, 1780
D+8
32 miles today.
88.5 miles since the Battle of Kings Mountain.
278.5 miles since leaving Sycamore Shoals.

Heavy rains threatened to swell the Catawba River to the point that the Patriot army would be trapped on the south side… the same side as a potential British rescue. The army marched especially hard this day to cross the river and put the high waters between them and any pursuing British soldiers.

After a long march in a heavy rain and crossing a rising river, camp was made at the home of Patriot Colonel Charles McDowell.

From the journal of Loyalist prisoner Anthony Allaire:
“Sunday, 15th. Moved at five o’clock in the morning. Marched all day through the rain – a very disagreeable road. We got to Catawba, and forded it at Island Ford, about ten o’clock at night. Our march was thirty-two miles. All the men were worn out with fatigue and fasting – the prisoners having no bread or meat for two days before. We officers were allowed to go to Col. McDowell’s, where we lodged comfortable. About one hundred prisoners made their escape on this march.”

From the journal of Loyalist prisoner Dr. Uzal Johnson:
“October 15, 1780 Sunday. Moved at five o’Clock in the Morning and Marched thirty two Miles. A very disagreeable wet Day. Very bad Road. We crossed Cane Creek nineteen times in going three Miles. Forded Catawba River at Island Ford, Burk County. Ten o’Clock at Night, thirty-odd of the prisoners made their escape on the March, tho very much fatigued and all most famished with hunger, having no Meat for three Days. Capt DePeyster obtained permission for himself and Officers to go to Col McDoul’s [sic] House to dry ourselves and lodge. We were well entertained and got a good Supper, which we stood in great need of, having eat nothing all Day but a Raw Turnip which I begged from the Guard.”

14/10/2026

Up the Trail!
Saturday, October 14, 1780
D+7
0 miles today.
56.5 miles since the Battle of Kings Mountain.
246.5 miles since leaving Sycamore Shoals.

William Campbell passed orders for officers to stop their men from deserting until the prisoners were lodged somewhere safely and to stop the crimes being committed by their men who were leaving:
“It is with anxiety that I hear the complaints of the inhabitants on account of the plundering parties who issue out of camp, and indiscriminately rob both Whig and Tory, leaving our friends, I believe, in a worse situation than the enemy would have done.”

The Patriot army held a trial of their prisoners who were deemed especially obnoxious to the Patriot cause. 36 were sentenced to death and 9 executed before the hearings were dismissed.

From the journal of Loyalist prisoner Dr. Uzal Johnson:
“October 14, 1780 Saturday. Ten o’Clock in the morning, their Guard paraded and formed a circle. Capt DePeyster and the rest of us Officers were ordered within the ring. They then proceeded to trying the Militiamen for treason. Thirty of them were condemned and bound under the Gallows. We were spectators of this disagreeable Day’s Work. At seven o’Clock in the Evening, they began to execute them. Col Mills, Capt Wilson, Capt Chitwood and six others were hanged for their Loyalty to their Sovereign. They died like Romans, saying they died for their King and his Laws. What Increased this melancholy scene was the seeing Mrs Mills take leave of her Husband, and two of Chitwood’s daughters take leave of their Father. The latter were comforted with being told their Father was pardoned. They went to our Fire where we had made a Shed to keep out the Rain. They had scarce set down when News was brought that their Father was dead. Here words can scarce describe the Melancholy scene, the two Young Ladies swooned away, and continued in fits all night. Mrs Mills, with a Young child in her Arms, set out All Night in the Rain with her Husband’s Co**se, and not even a Blanket to cover her from the inclemency of the Weather.”

Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail

22/10/2026

21/10/2026

20/10/2026

19/10/2026

18/10/2026

17/10/2026

16/10/2026

16/10/2026

15/10/2026

14/10/2026

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