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More WataugaLakeMagazine articles:The Butler MuseumLearn how and why Watauga Lake was formed and how the citizens of "Old Butler" Tennessee were changed forever. . . . |
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A Kayaker's ViewSee Watauga Lake up-close from a Kayak |
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Watauga Lake TriathlonSwim over 1,000 yards in a deep lake, race in your bike over 21 miles through the mountains, THEN... run 5 miles ... |
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Overmountain Victory Trail Celebration September 22-23, 2007
All photos and illustrations by Pat Johns ©2007
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When many of us studied the Revolutionary War, we learned that almost all of the major battles and events occurred in the New England and mid-Atlantic regions. But the war was fought in the South, too, and many believe that the pivotal point in the was the Battle of King's Mountain in South Carolina. In the summer of 1780 the city of Charleston South Carolina surrendered to the British. Later in the summer the patriots (soon to become Americans) lost battles at Waxhaw and Camden, South Carolina. The British commander Lord Cornwallis ordered Major Patrick Ferguson to recruit loyalists and defeat the remaining local militias. |
Ferguson then issued a warning to the the increasingly independent settlements in the mountains of the South to "lay down their arms and pledge allegiance to the King". If they would not do this Ferguson pledged to "lay waste the country with fire and sword" In response to this, Isaac Shelby, John Sevier and others put out the word among the threatened settlements to muster near present day Sycamore Shoals Tennessee and march south to find Ferguson and his troops.
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The Overmountain Victory Trail celebration commemorates their march to find Ferguson and their ultimate victory over Ferguson at Kings Mountain. The men who mustered at Sycamore Shoals were later called the Overmountain men and their defeat of Ferguson and his troops in 65 minutes was a turning point of the war. 
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The Overmountain Victory Trail celebration included a re-enactment of a battle and a chance to talk with the re-enactors. There were soldier's campsites and many relics of the era on display at the re-built Fort Watauga at Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park in Elizabethton Tennessee. There are also events celebrating the Overmountain Men's victory at King's Mountain from Virginia down to King's Mountain itself. For more information call Sycamore Shoals at 423-543-5808 or see the links below. 
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