ed by a few of his unyielding patriots. While
there in consultation with Colonels Sevier and Shelby as to the best
means for raising troops and repelling the invaders, the two paroled
men arrived and delivered the message from Ferguson. It produced no
terrific effects on the minds of these well-tried officers, but on the
contrary tended to stimulate and quicken their patriotic exertions. It
was soon decided that each one should use his best efforts to raise
all the men that could be enlisted, and that these forces should
assemble at the Sycamore Shoals of the Watauga river, on the 25th of
September. The plans for raising a sufficient number of men to
accomplish their purpose were speedily devised and carried into
execution. To Col. Sevier was assigned the duty of communicating with
Col. McDowell and other officers in voluntary exile beyond the
mountains. To Col. Shelby was assigned a similar duty of writing to
Col. Campbell of the adjoining county of Washington, in Virginia.
Among the refugees beyond the mountains was Col. Clarke, of Georgia,
with about one hundred of his overpowered but not subdued men. Their
story of the sufferings endured by the Whig inhabitants of upper South
Carolina and Georgia served to arouse and intensify the state of
patriotic feeling among the hardy sons of Western North Carolina.

The enlisted troops assembled at the Sycamore Shoals, marched from
that place on the 26th of September. They were all mounted, and
unencumbered with baggage expecting to support themselves partly by
their trusty rifles from the game of the forest, as they progressed
and partly by compelling the Tories to minister to their wants. The
assembled forces placed under marching orders, were as follows: From
Washington county, Va., under Col. William Campbell, four hundred men.
From Sullivan county, N.C. (now in Tennessee) under Col. Isaac Shelby,
two hundred and forty men. From Washington county, N.C. (now in
Tennessee) under Col John Sevier, two hundred and forty men. From
Burke and Rutherford counties, N.C., under Col. Charles McDowell, one
hundred and sixty men. On the second day's march, two of their men
deserted, and went ahead to the enemy. It is probable their report of
the Whig strength accelerated Ferguson's retreating movements. On the
30th of September, they crossed the mountains and were joined at the
head of the Catawba river by Col. Benjamin Cleaveland and Major Joseph
Winston, with three hundred and fifty m