Morganton in Burke County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

The Crossing

1 October 1780

Photographed by Mark Parker, October 3, 2025

1. The Crossing Marker

Inscription. During the America n Revolution, at this ford of the Catawba River, around 1390 men from Western North Carolina and Southwestern Virginia crossed here on their way to the Battle Of Kings Mountain. The men who crossed the river here were all volunteers who answered the call to oppose the advancement of British and Torie forces who had invaded the area and threatened the lives and property of the citizens of the backcountry.

Listed below are the names of those American Patriots who crossed the Catawba River here at the Greenlee Ford on the morning of 1 October 1780 and were either killed in action or mortally wounded in the ensuing Battle Of Kings Mountain on 7 October 1780.

Future generations of Americans owe an unending debt of gratitude to these men who gave their lives to secure the blessings of liberty and the freedoms we enjoy today.

Burke County, NC
Ezekiel Berry • William Berry

Rowan County, NC
Jacob Barnett

Wilkes County, NC
William Lewis Benge • Thomas Bicknell • David Duff • William Ridor • Daniel Sisk • Richard Vernon

Surry County, NC
William Hannah

Rutherford County, NC
Preston Goforth

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• John Smart • Davis Whiteside

Washington County, NC
John Brown • Michael Mahoney • Robert Sevier • William Steele

Washington County, VA
John Beattie • William Blackburn • Rees Bowen • James Curry • Nathaniel Dryden • Andrew Edmondson • Robert Edmondson • William Edmondson • William Fowler • Richard Gist • Henry Henigar • James Laird • Humberson Lyon, Jr. • Thomas McCulloch • James Phillips • William Watson

Erected 2023 by Colonel Alexander Erwin Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution.

Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, US Revolutionary. A significant historical date for this entry is October 1, 1780.

Location. 35° 44.43′ N, 81° 43.093′ W. Memorial is in Morganton, North Carolina, in Burke County. It is on Greenlee Ford Road 0.3 miles north of Carbon City Road (U.S. 70), on the right when traveling north. The marker is located at the Catawba River Greenway trailhead where Greenlee Ford Road dead ends. Touch for map. Memorial is in this post office area: Morganton NC 28655, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in North Carolina’s Mountains. It is also in the American

The Crossing Marker attached to the boulder image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, October 3, 2025

2. The Crossing Marker attached to the boulder

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 walking distance of this marker: Revolutionary War Patriots (here, next to this marker); Greenlee Ford (here, next to this marker); Quaker Meadows Cemetery Revolutionary War Memorial (approx. 0.8 miles away); Waightstill Avery (approx. 0.9 miles away); André Michaux (approx. 0.9 miles away); Fort San Juan (approx. 0.9 miles away); Council Oak (approx. 0.9 miles away); Quaker Meadows (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Morganton.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.

Catawba River Greenway Trailhead where The Crossing Marker and a second marker are located image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, October 3, 2025

3. Catawba River Greenway Trailhead where The Crossing Marker and a second marker are located

Greenlee Ford crossing on the Catawba River image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, October 3, 2025

4. Greenlee Ford crossing on the Catawba River

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

Photographed by Mark Parker, October 3, 2025

5. Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail sign near the marker

Credits. This page was last revised on October 10, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 9, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 96 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on October 9, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.