Abingdon in Washington County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

The Chase Begins

Abingdon Mustering Ground

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 23, 2022

1. The Chase Begins Marker

Inscription. Determined men on horseback filled this muster ground on September 24, 1780. Their goal: hunt down British Major Patrick Ferguson and his 1,000 loyalist soldiers. Called to action by American Colonel William Campbell, 400 men from the surrounding area joined the patriots and began their march south from here.

The patriots prevailed when they battled Ferguson's loyalist troops atop Kings Mountain in South Carolina. The patriots' victory at Kings Mountain prompted British General Sir Henry Clinton to declare it “the first link in a chain of evils that … ended in the total loss of America.”

“On hearing of a large body of British and Tories [loyalists] assembled in North Carolina, under the command of … Ferguson, and threatening to visit Holston river … on the 22nd of September, 1780 … the militia of Washington County, Virginia, were ordered out under the command of Col. William Campbell.” — From an account by an unknown member of Campbell's force

Caption (top) William Campbell used this knife in the Battle at Kings Mountain, loaned to him by a local Presbyterian minister.

Erected by National Park Service.

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This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Revolutionary. A significant historical date for this entry is September 24, 1780.

Location. 36° 42.255′ N, 81° 59.666′ W. Marker is in Abingdon, Virginia, in Washington County. It is at the intersection of Muster Place and Colonial Road SW on Muster Place. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1780 Muster Pl, Abingdon VA 24210, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Tri-Cities Area,

in Southwest Virginia,

and in the Blue Ridge Highlands.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Inciting Deadly Resistance (here, next to this marker); Brigadier General William Edmondson “Grumble” Jones, CSA Rock

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 23, 2022

2. The Chase Begins Marker

(here, next to this marker); The Muster Grounds (here, next to this marker); Battle of Kings Mountain (a few steps from this marker); Revolutionary War Muster Ground (within shouting distance of this marker); King's Mountain Men (approx. 0.4 miles away); Henry Creswell (approx. ¾ mile away); Confederate General John Hunt Morgan (approx. ¾ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Abingdon.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 11, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 310 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 11, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.