The History Museum of Burke County - Battle at Cane Creek

Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina will host a special discussion with award-winning author Randell Jones on Jan. 23 at the History Museum of Burke County, located at 201 W. Meeting St. in Morganton. Jones will speak on the Battle of Cane Creek and its significance to the American Revolution, in connection with the Conservancy’s upcoming effort to preserve the battlefield site.

Jones, author of “Before They Were Heroes at King’s Mountain,” will summarize the history of the Overmountain Men of 1780 and the backcountry Patriots of North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia who turned the tide of the American Revolution in the south.

The discussion will then focus on the Battle of Cane Creek, which was fought on Sept. 12, 1780 in a community now known as Dysartsville, located in southeast McDowell County. Jones will address the battle’s significance in connection to the Revolution, specifically its role as a preface to the victory at King’s Mountain.

The program will be open to the public and will set the stage for the Conservancy’s upcoming efforts to explore the Cane Creek site, supported by a $40,000 grant from the American Battlefield Protection Program undefined a component of the National Park Service.

Foothills Conservancy Stewardship Director Andrew Kota said the group is excited to bring this discussion to Morganton.

“We are pleased to offer the public a chance to go back in time with storyteller Randell Jones to learn about the pivotal role that our mountain Patriots played in turning the tide of the Revolutionary War at the Battle of Cane Creek,” said Kota. “We thank the History Museum of Burke County for making space available and the North Carolina Humanities Council for underwriting this event.”

The grant and subsequent exploration undefined to which the Overmountain Victory Trail Association also contributed $5,000 undefined could yield later preservation and interpretation programs involving the site. In a press release regarding the donation, OVTA President Mark Bowen said the organization is working collaboratively with Foothills Conservancy in its preservation efforts.

“The OVTA partnered with the Foothills Conservancy and the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail to seek this funding from the American Battlefield Protection Program,” Bowen said. “We are delighted with the funding for this first phase in what we hope will become the preservation of this important battle site.”

Founded in 1995, Foothills Conservancy has protected more than 47,000 acres across eight counties of the eastern Blue Ridge Mountains and foothills.

“Foothills Conservancy strives to serve and benefit the public by protecting invaluable natural resources and sites of cultural heritage,” Kota said. “We have worked with the OVTA and the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail previously on other successful preservation efforts.”

The discussion with Jones on the Battle of Cane Creek will begin at 6 p.m. on Jan. 23 and will be open to the public. There is no cost for admission, and interested community members are encouraged to participate.

For more information about the discussion with Randell Jones, call 828-437-1777. For more information on the Foothills Conservancy, visit www.foothillsconservancy.org.

Source: JESSICA ISAACS jisaacs@morganton.com