Revolutionary Roundup

On July 4, 1776, a new nation was born. In honor of this historic day, we explore the forts, battlefields, museums, trails, and more that trace the Patriots’ journey to freedom in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

By Angela Minor

Happy 250th Birthday, America! 

This year marks the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, and celebrations of this feat can be found in countless corners of the United States—including the Southern Appalachians.

Through these commemorations, we remember: the unwavering dedication of famous leaders and the bravery of unlikely heroes; the solemnity of museums and the quiet words etched on markers and headstones; the forts, homes, and towns where Patriots lived and struggled during the Revolutionary War; the troop movements on battlefields; and the recorded impressions of those who stood in the face of danger for their belief in a free nation.

Here, we explore opportunities to honor and reflect upon the sacrifices and contributions of individuals and communities across seven states in the Blue Ridge.

WEST VIRGINIA

On the edge of the western frontier, a chain of forts was constructed to protect a growing population of European settlers. Many locations saw a variety of conflicts during the Revolutionary War, particularly with Native Americans who “increasingly sided with the British” (wvlandtrust.org/rec-access/arbuckles-fort). Three forts located in Greenbrier County tell of this history.

Take a self-guided walking tour of the historic district in Lewisburg and learn about Fort Savannah, a large militia structure. Ask in the Greenbrier Valley Visitors Center about “Mad Anne” Bailey, who taught herself to shoot, scout, and deliver messages between forts for 11 years in the wilderness.

Arbuckle’s Fort Preserve is a 25-acre area with walking trails and interpretive signage whose history was revealed via archaeological endeavors. It is open to the public for daytime visits. And Fort Donnally, site of one of the largest Revolutionary battles in the state, is now on private land with a single monument in disrepair. However, the story of how an enslaved hero by the name of Dick Pointer saved the fort’s occupants endures.

Several historical markers from the period can also be found about Lewisburg, and a 1781 cenotaph in the Old Stone Church cemetery located beside the “oldest church building in continuous use west of the Allegheny Mountains” (syntrinity.org) honors Revolutionary War soldier Matthew Arbuckle.

VIRGINIA

The rugged terrain of the state’s western edge aided the war for independence by serving as a natural defensive barrier and a site for many locations to hide and launch attacks. Adding to the tensions of the time was a simmering resentment among settlers after the British declared the Proclamation Line of 1763, which forbade expansion beyond the Appalachian Mountains. As a result, contributions to the Patriot fight for freedom existed in multiple counties.

In Bedford County, Jefferson & Adams, a stage play based on letters between Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, along with Abigail Adams, “fuses compelling political thoughts with passionate personal belief” (va250.org). Also in the county is Poplar Forest—Jefferson’s retreat—which was rescued, renovated, and opened to the public with a museum, tours, and walking trails on the grounds.

Stop by the Wythe County Visitor Center to learn how crucial the lead mines were for supplying ammunition to Patriot forces. The Abingdon Muster Grounds in Washington County and its Interpretive Center tell the stories of backcountry efforts made by the Overmountain Men to secure victory.

Check the schedule for a unique experience in the “hands-on, interactive, and immersive” traveling VA250 Mobile Museum as it brings a rich, complete history of the Revolution to towns and communities across the state (va250.org/mobile-museum).

ABOVE: LEFT, Daniel Boone, reportedly a friend of Revolutionary War privateer Capt. John Floyd, discovered a salt spring in Floyd County, Kentucky. RIGHT, Fort Defiance near Lenoir, North Carolina, welcomes visitors for guided tours and picnics.

KENTUCKY

Ten historical markers celebrate Floyd County, named in 1799 after surveyor, explorer, and Revolutionary War privateer Capt. John Floyd (marker No. 817). Solomon Stratton, another soldier in the American War of Independence and founder of Stratton Settlement, is memorialized at Historical Marker No. 690 near Prestonsburg. He, like other Revolutionary War soldiers, received land grants for his service, which led many to this region of the state after the war.

Additional markers throughout the county celebrate historic homes, unique tracts of land, a toll bridge, and even a salt spring (Historical Marker No. 151). The latter was discovered during a hunting expedition by Daniel Boone, who was reportedly a friend of John Floyd. Salt was a valuable commodity in colonial America for the preservation of food and required intensive labor to extract and render.

Floyd County was once the entirety of the Big Sandy Valley, with immigrants and travelers arriving by horseback, on foot, and later by steamboat on the river of the same name. Today, the county seat of Prestonsburg, the oldest settlement in the area, is known as a “Trail Town” with state and city parks as well as nearby mountains offering a host of outdoor activities for all ability levels.

NORTH CAROLINA

Named for the Patriot militia who came from “over the mountain” on its way to a pivotal victory in the Battle of Kings Mountain, South Carolina, Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail (OVNHT) is commemorated with drivable and hikeable portions. Spanning four states—including 11 counties in North Carolina—the 330-mile driving route is marked with the trail logo, and designated hiking trails are accessible throughout.

In Caldwell County, the Heritage Museum welcomes visitors with a series of exhibits and special interest collections from precolonial time to the present. Near the town of Lenoir, Fort Defiance is open for guided tours and picnics on the 5-acre property. The structure is a home built by William Lenoir, a Revolutionary War hero who later gained acclaim for his writings about the Battle of Kings Mountain.

Visit the historical society in Avery County to hear stories of local families who contributed to the war in important ways outside of taking up arms, such as joining the effort as cobblers and blacksmiths. Walk the greenways in Burke County, which are part of the OVNHT. Also listen to costumed historical performers tell the tales of this time in history in several counties.

TENNESSEE

On the banks of the Watauga River in Carter County, Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park marks the spot where more than 1,000 militia mustered in late 1780, 600 of them Patriots known as Overmountain Men.

At this site was a semi-autonomous functioning government, the Watauga Association, established by pioneers and whose guiding documents are considered to be the first democratic constitution penned by “American-born people.”

Along the river, Fort Watauga was an important stronghold during the war. Visitors today can explore a full-scale replica constructed for accuracy and based on archaeological findings. Throughout the year, narrators in period costumes tell stories of old and perform demonstrations in weaponry, cooking, and frontier skills. The interpretive museum is rich with exhibits, murals, dioramas with sound effects, and a film.

Also in the park is the restored Carter Mansion, the state’s oldest standing frame house. The county was later named for a Revolutionary War officer in this family and the town of Elizabethton for his wife. Guided tours take visitors back in time.

Every weekend in June 2026, Friends of the park will perform its 47^th season of Liberty! The Saga of Sycamore Shoals at the amphitheater “against the backdrop of Fort Watauga” (friendsofsycamoreshoals.org).

SOUTH CAROLINA

In less than one hour’s time, the British received a “devil of a whipping” (nps.gov/cowp/learn/historyculture/the-battle-of-cowpens.htm) at Cowpens National Battlefield in Cherokee County, named for a South Carolinian term for pastureland. The battlefield, measuring only 500 yards square, became the site of a pivotal victory for the Patriots and a turning point against the Southern Campaign of the British. 

Trails through the park include informative signage about innovative battle strategies and the importance of the victory. Stop by the visitor center for activities and access the Green River Road, a portion of the OVNHT and site of the final gathering for the Patriot militia on the way to the Battle of Kings Mountain.

Take a ranger-led tour to learn about unconventional military strategies, the tensions between Patriots and Loyalists in the backcountry, and how the 1781 battle in this unlikely place turned the tide of war.

Spend time in the museum to view interactive exhibits, weapons, and artifacts from this time in history. Watch an informative video and check the events calendar for colonial life and Revolutionary War activities, demonstrations, and storytime gatherings.

GEORGIA

Nestled in the mountains of north Georgia is the small town of Trenton, population 2,250. Set in this scenic location known for hang gliding, spelunking, and wilderness activities, along with one of the few remaining drive-in theaters, is our destination. Owned, operated, and recently upgraded by American Legion Post 106, Oscar Leo Ellis, Jr. War Memorial Museum’s mission is to tell the stories of local veterans.

This thoughtfully created space is filled with items from the Revolutionary War to the present. What is unique about this location “is that nearly everything in the museum has been donated, or is on loan, from local people in Dade County and the tri-state area” (dadecountysentinel.com). Among the artifacts from across time is the museum’s oldest item: a drum from the American Revolutionary War. 

All branches of the service are represented, and photos of local veterans are displayed throughout. On the grounds are military equipment and vehicles. The museum, run by volunteers, is open on Fridays and Saturdays and by appointment, and admission is free (donations welcomed). Information on the museum and its American Legion Post 106 activities can be found on Facebook.

About America250

The organization for this collaborative celebration effort, America250.org, promotes a laudable goal called “350 by 250.” Through various projects and access to nationwide information, the mission is to “engage all 350 million Americans by our nation’s 250th anniversary” of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

In addition to offering a search function for every state and U.S. territory to see what is happening across the country and a countdown clock to July 4, 2026, the site encourages everyone to participate in different initiatives. For example, Our American Story is a platform for collecting oral and visual narratives about living people whose stories should be shared.

America’s Invitation is focused on students in grades 3-12. They are invited to submit writings or artwork answering the prompt “What does America mean to you?” Two hundred and fifty winners will be awarded field trips to historic and cultural landmarks or cash prizes.

American Gives is working to create a “record-setting year of volunteer service” where individuals and groups can add their service project hours and donations. Two hundred and fifty winners will then get to choose how a $1,000,000 donation by America250 will be awarded.

Support for events is flowing from a wide range of partners, including state, territorial, international, and federal agencies, as well as national organizations that provide resources and programming. Federal partners include the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian and other museums and galleries, NASA, the National Park Service, AmeriCorps, and a host of federal government departments. Regular updates to this nonpartisan organization’s website offer everyone a chance to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.

Discovering a Patriot Ancestor

Reaching into the limbs of my family tree, I peeled back generations of surnames—Goode, Wilhoit, and Crumley—and tracked tombstones in the mountains of northeast Tennessee.

That’s when I found John Greer, one of my direct ancestors. In the 1700s, Greer marched off to the Revolutionary War under Col. John Sevier, a Shenandoah Valley native who later became the first governor of Tennessee.

Born on February 17, 1764, Greer was just 15 years old when he served as a spy for the American side in the westernmost districts of North Carolina. This was May of 1779—prior to the formation of Tennessee—and Greer was sent to Harden’s Station on Lick Creek, according to historical records.

The following year, Greer became one of 900-some “Overmountain Men” who arrived for the Battle of Kings Mountain on October 7, 1780. The battle spanned one hour and five minutes along the North Carolina-South Carolina border, said historian Tom Vaughan, who also serves as treasurer of the Overmountain Victory Trail Association.

Like my ancestor, these marching men—many of whom were on horseback—came from the mountains of what is now southwest Virginia, northeast Tennessee, and North Carolina’s High Country. These men knew British Col. Patrick Ferguson had a plan for battle, but they relied on spies to figure out where the next battle would take place, Vaughan explained.

Relentless rain made traveling difficult for the Patriots of the American side, but all that mud meant no dust would signal a hint that the British could see enemy troops coming. “That mud muffled all the sounds. The leaves didn’t crackle,” Vaughan said. “So they snuck up and had that mountain almost surrounded.”

The resulting American victory, as Vaughan and many others will say, marked “the turning point” of the American Revolution. Just prior to this battle, the American forces had suffered a stinging string of losses. “It was an immense morale booster.”

Greer came home with a wounded right knee. Yet he would continue to serve in more scenes of the American Revolution and survive until June 12, 1844. He is buried in Sullivan County, Tennessee—not far from where Vaughan lives, and in the same Holston River valley where I settled 150 years later to the month in June 1994 in southwest Virginia.

Since that time, I have written at least a dozen articles—or made mentions in books—on the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail at Abingdon, Virginia, and sites in Tennessee and North Carolina. Yet, until a dozen years ago, I never knew the name John Greer (or “Grier,” as it was originally spelled) until I prowled around the web and discovered some of this soldier’s story. Turns out, this kind of discovery is not unusual, as Vaughan often fields inquiries from folks like me who surprisingly find an Overmountain Man perched on a limb of their family tree.
—Joe Tennis

250^th Celebrations in the Blue Ridge

• Thru December 30. Unrelenting: Cherokee People and the American Revolution. Cherokee, North Carolina. 
• May 22. Early Frontier Days & Colonial Trade Faire. Piney Flats, Tennessee.
• May 30. Freedom Flows Festival. Front Royal, Virginia.
• June 7. Jefferson & Adams: A Stage Play. Lynchburg, Virginia. 
• June 7-July 19. Museum on Main Street: Voices and Votes. Hartwell, Georgia.
• June 19-21. 250th Reenactment. Knoxville, Tennessee.
• June 25-July 5. Lake Cumberland 250: “The Biggest Small-Town Fourth of July Celebration in America.” Pulaski County, Kentucky.
• June 26. Sevier County Celebrates America 250! Sevierville, Tennessee. 
• July 18. Battle of Cedar Springs Reenactment. Spartanburg, South Carolina. 
• July 19. Revolutionary War Reenactors’ Event. Shepherdstown, West Virginia.
• July 25. Liberation Day at Fort Thicketty. Gaffney, South Carolina.
• September 24. Overmountain Victory Trail Association Day. Piney Flats, Tennessee.

The story above first appeared in our May/June 2026 issue.