Summerfield in Guilford County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Bugler Boy
James Gillies, Light-Horse Harry Lee's teenage bugler, was killed near this spot by Tarleton's British Dragoons February 12, 1781. Gillies accompanied a small posse of Revolutionaries from a camp near present- day Summerfield to verify reports of nearby Loyalists to the west. They were spotted, chased, and Gillies was caught and killed by the sword during the retreat to warn Lee of the advancement. He is buried in the Charles Bruce family cemetery in Summerfield.
Erected 2018 by Town of Summerfield, NC.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Revolutionary. A significant historical date for this entry is February 12, 1781.
Location. 36° 12.044′ N, 79° 57.111′ W. Marker is in Summerfield, North Carolina, in Guilford County. Marker is on Oak Ridge Road (State Road 150) 0.1 miles east of Eversfield Road, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3118 Oak Ridge Rd, Summerfield NC 27358, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Bugler Boy Gillies (a few steps from this marker); St. James AME Church (approx. 2 miles away); J.L. Sawyer House (approx. 2.2 miles away); Zack L. Whitaker House (approx. 2.2 miles away); R.P. Larkins House (approx. 2.4 miles away); Oakhurst (approx. 2½ miles away); Charles H. Willson House (approx. 2½ miles away); Rock Gym (approx. 2.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Summerfield.
Also see . . . Bugler Boy Historic Site. Town of Summerfield website entry:
James Gillies — “a beardless, unarmed youth” — was the bugler for American General "Light Horse" Harry Lee. During an impromptu reconnaissance mission, Gillies was killed by the British Army near the current-day Oak Ridge/Summerfield town limits on Oak Ridge Road. (Town of Summerfield, NC) (Submitted on October 6, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
Credits. This page was last revised on October 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 5, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 72 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 5, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 3, 4. submitted on October 6, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.