Near Marion in Smyth County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Fight Like Devils!

— Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail —

Photographed by Mark Parker, October 4, 2024

1. Fight Like Devils Marker

Inscription. Just in front of you lies the grave of a daring American patriot. During the campaign which ended at Kings Mountain, William Campbell was elected by his fellow militia colonels to serve as the patriot commander. At the Battle of Kings Mountain in October 1780, Colonel Campbell rallied his militia, crying, "Shout like hell, and fight like devils!" The British never recovered.

Born in central Virginia in 1745, Campbell established his plantation, "Aspenvale," here on this land in the 1760s. On April 2, 1776, he married Elizabeth Henry, the sister of Patrick Henry. The Campbells had two children.

The state of Virginia promoted Campbell to Brigadier General in 1781. He died suddenly a few months later on August 22. He was only 36 years old.

Aspenvale Cemetery
This stone-fenced family cemetery is among the oldest in western Virginia. General Campbell's mother, Margaret, was buried here in 1777.

William Campbell's grave is a certified site of the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail. Authorized by Congress in 1980, the trail traces the patriot campaign that led to the battle of Kings Mountain. Administered by the National Park Service, in conjunction with many different partners, the route is 330 miles long through four states (VA, TN, NC & SC). Learn more: www.nps.gov/ovvi.

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Erected by National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Revolutionary. A significant historical date for this entry is October 7, 1780.

Location. 36° 48.885′ N, 81° 38.426′ W. Marker is near Marion, Virginia, in Smyth County. It can be reached from Seven Mile Ford Road (State Road 642) west of Spring Branch Road, on the right when traveling west. From Seven Mile Ford Road, take the gravel road approximately 0.2 miles north. The marker is near the entrance to Aspenvale Cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 303 7 Mile Ford Rd, Marion VA 24354, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is 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 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: Aspenvale Cemetery (here, next to this marker); Elizabeth Henry Campbell Russell (a few steps from this marker); Campbell's Home (approx. 0.2 miles away); William Campbell’s Grave (approx. 0.3 miles away); Seven Mile Ford (approx. 0.9 miles away); Chilhowie Methodist Episcopal Church (approx. 2.4 miles away); Transportation Through the Ages (approx. 2.6 miles away); Chilhowie (approx. 2.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Marion.

Also see . . . Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail. National Park Service (Submitted on October 9, 2024.)

Dagger (or Scottish dirk) carried by Colonel Campbell at Kings Mountain image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, October 4, 2024

2. Dagger (or Scottish dirk) carried by Colonel Campbell at Kings Mountain

Historical Society of Washington County Virginia

Battle of Kings Mountain painting by Don Troiani image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, October 4, 2024

3. Battle of Kings Mountain painting by Don Troiani

At Kings Mountain, South Carolina, patriot troops won a stunning victory over Major Patrick Ferguson and his 1,100 Loyalists.

Wide view of Fight Like Devils Marker to the left of Aspenvale Cemetery gate image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, October 4, 2024

4. Wide view of Fight Like Devils Marker to the left of Aspenvale Cemetery gate

Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, October 4, 2024

5. Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail marker

William Campbell gravesite, Aspenvale Cemetery, Seven Mile Ford, VA image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, October 4, 2024

6. William Campbell gravesite, Aspenvale Cemetery, Seven Mile Ford, VA

Aspenvale Cemetery sign on Seven Mile Ford Rd. looking toward Spring Branch Rd. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, October 4, 2024

7. Aspenvale Cemetery sign on Seven Mile Ford Rd. looking toward Spring Branch Rd.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 10, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 8, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 344 times since then and 47 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on October 8, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. 7. submitted on October 9, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.