Published: October 21, 2009 09:03 am      

RANDOM THOUGHTS: Once upon a time in U.S. history

Most fairy tales begin with "Once upon a time" but that phrase is just as accurate if used to begin stories from forgotten history. Today’s column relives one of those moments in our country’s history where this section of land played an important role in the birth of a new nation.

In 1780 there was no Tennessee. Of the 13 colonies only three were in the south, North and South Carolina and Virginia. Most of the Continental Army led by Gen. George Washington was filled with volunteers from the northern colonies. Their battles with the well trained and experienced British forces ended in loss after loss.

As the British victories mounted their leaders moved more troops south expecting to extend their control of these rebellious colonists fighting for independence. When the backwoods farmers on the Appalachian frontier learned the British were on the move along the border of North and South Carolina they acted quickly. Soon a volunteer army of 900 responded to the call for action. Many in this group would eventually become Tennesseans, including John Sevier who later became governor of the Volunteer State.

It was late September when this rag-tag, ill-equipped group began the more than 200 mile march to King’s Mountain. In about an hour after their arrival on October 7, these hardy colonists defeated the 1000 man British army. They realized the importance of their victory but how could they get the news to Philadelphia where the Continental Congress was in session.

The task was given to Joseph Greer. A big man, historians believe he stood at least 6-foot-7, he had only a compass to help guide him on the 600-mile journey. Traveling by foot most of the way he often had to pass through hostile territory. It took him a month but when he arrived at the closed doors of the room where the Continental Congress was meeting on November 7, 1780, Greer had to force his way into the room to tell the story of the victory at King’s Mountain. That battle revived hope and was considered a turning point in the fight for American independence. Joseph Greer was given the title King’s Mountain Messenger.

For 35 years the Overmountain Victory Trail Association (OVTA) has remembered the long march that led to victory on October 7, 1780. In September they meet in Abingdon, Virginia and follow the route of those early patriots, camping at the same sites and following their time table. Their long march of 258 miles on foot ends at King’s Mountain on October 7.

Today in Lincoln County at Petersburg, Tennessee a historic marker commemorates the King’s Mountain Messenger, Joseph Greer. As a Revolutionary War veteran he was given land as payment and he settled in what became East Tennessee but later he bought 10,000 acres of land near Petersburg. He lived there until he died at the age of 77 in 1831.

Once independence was won and veterans claimed their pay in land grants many found their way to land in Tennessee. The earliest land grant office was in Washington County. They were empowered to assign grants at 40 shillings per 100 acres. The head of the family received 640 acres, his wife 100 and each child 100.

For the bicentennial the Crab Orchard Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution prepared a series of articles on the Revolutionary War veterans who settled in Cumberland County. Those names were added to the monument in downtown Crossville listing all those from later wars. Those twelve are John Ford, John Flynn, John Garrison, David Haley, James Loden, William Loden, John Narramore, John Parham, Chatten Pollard, Adam Sherrill, John Tollett and Greenberry Wilson.

Once upon a time 12 Revolutionary Army veterans were among the first settlers in Cumberland County. In today’s 2009 phone book each of those last names appear in large numbers. History lives on.