2023 March: September 25-October 7, 2023.
2023 March Schedule
Every person participating on the March must sign the OVTA Lability Wavier and Code of Conduct Form and attend a safety briefing.
Anyone firing a firelock at any OVTA event must have the OVTA Blackpowder training.
Anyone firing a firelock at Cowpens and Kings Mountain NP must also have taken the NPS Blackpowder training.
Meals on your own unless otherwise indicated.
Following is a day-by-day schedule of the reenactment including a short description of each day’s walk, logistics and planned activities. Last minute changes to the schedule will likely occur so please be patient when that happens.
The OVTA is being called on to participate in many more community celebrations and school programming venues than in the past. As a result, much of the traditional road walking activities have been adjusted to meet those demands. With another year of covid, the march will be crazy with many changes. There will be a lot of short clip video recording along the trail each. So please be patient.
Trail walking information is a separate document and can be found on the OVTA website. The trail information is a work in progress and needs a lot of updating. Information for the updates is being collected.
This year’s March Officers are:
Grand Marshall David Doan 423-366-8091 daviddoan@hotmail.com
Trail Marshall Tom Vaughn 423-366-8639 tpvaughan@aol.com
Director of Interpretations Steve Ricker 423-278-0439 primitivetrails@gmail.com
Safety Officer Jane Doan 423-366-8092
Safety Officer Dalton Wade 423-620-8297
Ordinance Mel McKay 423-930-5552
Wilkes/Surry Marshall R G Absher 336-902-1760
Marion Marshall John Garrou
Morganton Marshall Bryant Lindsey
PRE-MARCH EVENTS
Col Campbell leaves Muster Grounds
Col Shelby & Col Sevier’s men head toward Fort Watauga
Sunday, September 24
Col William Campbell and his men leave the Muster Grounds. Col Shelby & Col Sevier’s men head toward Fort Watauga
9:00am-4:00pm Call to Arms Public Education Day Abingdon Muster Grounds10:00am-4:00pm Washington Co Muster Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park
Encamp
:Sycamore Shoals Actual: Ft WomackMonday, September 25
Col’s Campbell, Shelby, and Sevier and their men arrive at Fort Watauga
2:00pm Watauga River crossing Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park
Encamp: Sycamore Shoals Actual: Sycamore Shoals (Fort Watauga)
The March Begins
Tuesday, September 26
The Overmountain Men leave Fort Watauga heading toward Shelter Rock/Resting Place looking for Major Patrick Fergusson
am Rev Doak Sycamore Shoals Elizabethton, TN
9:00am Walk Yellow Mountain Meet at Roan Mountain Community Park
3:00pm Yellow Mountain van pick up
Encamp: Roan Mountain Community Park Actual: Shelving Rock/Resting Grounds
Wednesday, September 27
The Overmountain Men cross Roan Mountain at Yellow Mountain Gap, drill and roll call, find two men are missing
Col Cleveland and his men leave Wilkes Surry
Encamp: Actual: Roaring Creek
The Men continue along trail
Encamp: Actual: Grassy Creek
Friday, September 29
The Overmountain Men divide into two groups to follow the two trails (North Cove & Turkey Cove) off the mountain
Encamp: Actual: North Cove & Turkey Cove
Saturday, September. 30
The two groups join back together and camp at Quaker Meadows, Wilkes Surry Militia under Col Ben Cleveland join the Overmountain Men at Quaker Meadows
Encamp: Actual: Quaker Meadows
Sunday, October 1
The combined Militia head toward Gilbertown crossing the Catawba River, heavy rain begins, camp at Bedford Hills
Catawba River at Greenlee Ford/Catawba River crossing
Encamp: Actual: Bedford Hills
Monday, October 2
Heavy rain continues, Overmountain Men remain in camp, officers elect Col Campbell as overall commander
Encamp: Actual: Bedford Hills
Tuesday, October 3
Militia head toward Gilbertown
Encamp: Actual: Marlins KnobWednesday, October 4
Arrive at Gilbertown, Ferguson is gone
Encamp: Actual: Gilbertown
Thursday, October 5
The Militia head southwest and camp at Alexander’s Ford on the Green River. They learn from scouts that Ferguson is marching toward Charlotte Town and the protection of Cornwallis’s army.
Encamp: Actual: Alexanders Ford
Friday, October 6
The Militia head toward Cowpens and join with militia from South Carolina, Georgia and Lincoln Co., NC.
At 9 pm militia of best 900 men leave in pouring rain and head toward Kings Mountain
8:15am-1:30pm Cherokee Co School Day Jolly Park Gaffney, SC
5:00pm The Night before Kings Mountain program Cowpens National Battlefield
Encamp: Cowpens Actual: Cowpens
Saturday, October 7
Before 3 pm militia arrive at Kings Mountain and battle begins at 3 pm
11:00am Wreath Laying Ceremony at Kings Mountain National Military Park.
2:15pm Meet at the Visitor’s Center to prepare for March finale
3:00pm Walk into the amphitheater at Kings Mountain NMP for traditional ceremony.
6:00pm Kings Mountain lantern tours
Encamp: Home/Kings Mountain Actual: Kings Mountain
OVTA Liability Waiver 2022 Form.pdf