Summerfield in Guilford County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Bugler Boy Gillies

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, September 3, 2023

1. Bugler Boy Gillies Marker

Inscription.
On this spot
Bugler Boy Gillies
age 14
lost his life
at the hands of
British soldiers
February 12, 1781

Erected 1941 by Joseph Verner Charter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.

Topics and series. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution series list. A significant historical date for this entry is February 12, 1781.

Location. 36° 12.039′ N, 79° 57.117′ W. Memorial is in Summerfield, North Carolina, in Guilford County. It is on Oak Ridge Road (State Road 150) 0.1 miles east of Eversfield Road, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 3118 Oak Ridge Rd, Summerfield NC 27358, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in North Carolina’s Piedmont

and specifically in Piedmont Triad.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

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 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Bugler Boy (a few steps from this marker); Old Union Graveyard (approx. one mile away); 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. 2.3 miles away); Oakhurst (approx. 2½ miles away); Charles H. Willson House (approx. 2½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Summerfield.

Also see . . .

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Bugler Boy Historic Site. 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 20, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, September 3, 2023

2. Bugler Boy Gillies Marker

Bugler Boy Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Nathan T King, August 11, 2025

3. Bugler Boy Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on August 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 6, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 367 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 6, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 3. submitted on August 13, 2025, by Nathan T King of Oak Ridge, North Carolina.