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 OVTA 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.
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
2023 March Schedule
Revised 9/17/2023
Saturday, September 16
10:00am-5:00pm OVTA Day: Kings Mountain: The Overmountain Men Story Rocky Mount State Historic Site
Sunday, September 17
2:00pm Campbell gravesite service
Following Campbell service Brody gravesite service
Monday, September 18
9:00am-2:00pm Abingdon Call to Arms Muster Grounds Abingdon, VA
Tuesday, September 19
9:00am-2:00pm Abingdon Call to Arms Muster Grounds Abingdon, VA
Wednesday, September 20
9:00am-2:00pm Abingdon Call to Arms Muster Grounds Abingdon, VA
Friday, September 22
8:30am-11:30am Sullivan East Middle School program
6:00pm-8:00pm The Parting Shots @ “The Tavern” (NPS) The Tavern restaurant, Abingdon, VA
Saturday, September 23
10:00am Fort Watauga Muster Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park
10am, 1pm, 4pm Guided Hikes (NPS) Muster Grounds, Abingdon, VA
6:00pm The Night Before Muster Grounds Abingdon, VA
Sunday, September 24
Col William Campbell and his men leave the Muster Grounds. Col Shelby & Col Sevier’s men head toward Fort Watauga
10:00am Fort Watauga Muster Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park
10:00am Muster Grounds Muster Muster Grounds Abingdon, VA
2:00pm Muster Grounds Ceremony Muster Grounds Abingdon, VA
2:00pm Constitution Week Bell Ringing Bogart Bowman Cabin
6:00pm Rocky Mount Public Program Rocky Mount
Encamp:Rocky Mount 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
Following river crossing “Campaign to Kings Mountain” public program Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park
Following public program Jerry Mustin memorial service 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
11:00am Rev Doak Sycamore Shoals Elizabethton, TN
9:00am Walk Yellow Mountain Meet at Roan Mountain Community Park
6:00pm Roan Mountain program & music (Virginia Boys) Roan Mountain Community Park
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
9:00am Sibelco School Day and Sevier gravesite
6:00pm Orchard at Altapass meal and program
Encamp:Apple Orchard Actual: Roaring Creek
Thursday, September 28
The Men continue along trail
9:00am Carson House Living School Day Carson House
Encamp:Carson House 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
5:00pm Guided Hike (NPS) Visitor Center, Lake James State Park
6:00pm Patty Creek evening program
Encamp: Patty Creek Visitor Center/Campground 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
10am, 1pm Guided Hike (NPS) Visitor Center, Lake James State Park
1:00pm-5:00pm Living History Day McDowell House, Morganton, NC
Encamp: Patty Creek Visitor Center/Campground Actual: Quaker Meadows
Sunday, October 1
The combine Militia head toward Gilbertown crossing the Catawba River, heavy rain begins, camp at Bedford Hills
11:00am Sunday Church service Quaker Meadows Presbyterian Church
12:00pm Guided Bike Ride (NPS) Catawba Greenway, Morganton, NC
2:00pm Monument dedication & River crossing (actual date) Greenlee Ford, Morganton, NC
Encamp: Lucky Strike Campground or Scout Camp Actual: Bedford Hills
Monday, October 2
Heavy rain continues, Overmountain Men remain in camp, officers elect Col Campbell as overall commander
Pond Mountain
Encamp: Lucky Strike Campground Actual: Bedford Hills
Tuesday, October 3
Militia head toward Gilbertown
9:00am Wilkes School Day Wilkes Heritage Museum
4:30pm Guide Hike (NPS) Purple Mountain Trail
6:00pm Rutherfordton program Kiwanis Park
Encamp: Church next to Kiwanis Park? (Scout Camp backup) Actual: Marlins Knob
Wednesday, October 4
Arrive at Gilbertown, Ferguson is gone
9:00am Elkin School Day Elkin Municipal Park
7:00-8:00am Breakfast by DAR Rutherfordton Scout Cabin
8:50am Golbert School Day Gilbert Town
4:30pm Guided Hike (NPS) Alexanders Ford
Gray’s Chapel public evening program Gray’s Chapel
Encamp: Grays Chapel 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.
7:00am Breakfast Pleasant Hill Church
9:00am Polk County School Program Gray’s Chapel/ Alexanders Ford
Encamp: Cherokee Co History & Arts Museum 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
TBA
4:00pm Cherokee Ford Trail hike (NPS event) Wolf Den Lane, Gaffney, SC
5:00pm Guided Walk (NPS) Cowpens National Battlefield
6:00pm The Night before Kings Mountain program Cowpens National Battlefield
Encamp: Cherokee Co History & Arts Museum Actual: Cowpens
Saturday, October 7
Before 3 pm militia arrive at Kings Mountain and battle begins at 3 pm
TBA Possible side trip Gaffney, SC area
8:30am (tentative) Guided Hike “The Patriot Advance” (NPS) Kings Mountain National Park
11:00am Wreath Laying Ceremony 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.
7:00pm Candle tours Kings Mountain National Military Park
Encamp: Kings Mountain Actual: Kings Mountain
OVTA Liability Waiver 2023.pdf