Gilbert Town

The British Incite the Overmountain Men

Location


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Coordinates: 35.4040, -81.9419.

Type: Sight
Tour: Overmountain
County: Rutherford

Access LogoFull

Park on the shoulder along the outside curve of Rock Road at the coordinates, across the street from the modern-looking house. You can see everything from your vehicle or explore the lot there, which has Overmountain Victory Trail (OVT) markers. Please respect the privacy of the residents across the street.

Context

British Maj. Patrick Ferguson and his Loyalist corps have been campaigning throughout the foothills of the Carolinas to suppress Patriot militia activity, in preparation for an invasion of North Carolina by the army of Lt. Gen. Lord Charles Cornwallis.

Dates

Thursday, September 7, 1780-Wednesday, March 28, 1781.

Timeline

Imagine the Scene

Ferguson Camps

Walk to the flat area just off the road, behind a screen of bushes. Face away from the road.

You are standing in or near the home of William Gilbert. Gilbert was an Irish-born merchant who bought up enough acreage to become the largest landowner in what then was Tryon County. He paid for Irish workers to immigrate here, and eventually a small village grew up around his house. Aside the house are a barn, blacksmith’s shop, and se