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 Grounds

10:00am-4:00pm Washington Co Muster Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park

Encamp

:Sycamore Shoals Actual: Ft Womack

The Gathering

Monday, 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

Thursday, September 28

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 Knob

Wednesday, 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.