Overmountain Victory Trail Association: 9-24-09 Visit to the Pemberton Oak

What is the OVTA?

The Overmountain Victory Trail Association was formed in 1975 to gain recognition for the route the Overmountain men took to the Battle of King's Mountain South Carolina.

On September 25, 1780, over 1,000 men "mustered" at the Sycamore Shoals of the Watauga River in current day Elizabethton, TN. From there, they crossed the high mountains and dropped into the Piedmont of North Carolina pursuing Major Patrick Ferguson and his Tory Army.

They finally caught them on the afternoon of October 7th atop King's Mountain, in South Carolina. When the battle ended every Tory soldier had been killed or captured. The battle became known as the turning point of the Revolutionary War.

In 1980, President Carter recognized the historical significance of the Campaign to King's Mountain by signing a law designating the historical route the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail; the first National Historic Trail in the eastern United States.

Who is the OVTA?The Overmountain Victory Trail Association wgain recognition for the route the Overmountain men took to the Battle of King's Mountain South

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

9-24-09 Visit to the Pemberton Oak

On September 24th the OVTA made a visit to the Pemberton Oak. Since 1975 the OVTA has visited the Pemberton Oak. Here, under this tree, is where Pemberton's militia mustered in to take part in the campaign to the Battle of Kings Mountain. It was under this very tree in 1780 that this event took place.

Unfortunately the Pemberton Oak fell from the weight of its age and all that is left of this stately tree is the huge stump seen below. Even after the loss of the tree, the OVTA continues to visit this picturesque site and a visit with Mrs. Vaughn. This property has been in her family since the 1780's.