The Overmountain Victory Trail Association, which annually retraces the 330-mile march that patriot militia took to Kings Mountain in 1780, will present a special drama on Monday, Oct. 6, at Cowpens National Battlefield about the events that took place at the Cow Pens that night before the Revolutionary War battle of Kings Mountain.

The free 45-minute performance will explain why the Over Mountain Men were coming from Tennessee and Virginia to meet the loyalists at Kings Mountain, how the patriots chose those who would continue on the march to Kings Mountain and what other events occurred that night before the great patriot militia victory over the loyalist militia the following day.

In addition to the drama that starts at 6:30 p.m., other programs are planned. From 4-5:30 p.m., visitors can interact with the reenactors around their campfire as they talk about the night before Kings Mountain and learn how to roll musket cartridges and make musket balls. Cavalry demonstrations can be seen from 5:30-6 p.m.

Visitors should bring lawn chairs and blankets and enjoy an entertaining evening on the lawn behind the Visitor Center.

On Oct. 6, 1780, patriot militiamen from across the mountains in Virginia and Tennessee met at the Cow Pens, a well-known South Carolina backcountry pasturing area, to plan their attack on British Major Patrick Ferguson's loyalist militia at nearby Kings Mountain.

BLACKSBURG - The Backcountry Militia will recreate the activities of an 18th century military encampment as part of the activities commemorating the 228th anniversary of the Battle of Kings Mountain at Kings Mountain National Military Park. Visitors will be able to experience the activities of military camp life Saturday, Oct. 4, and Sunday, Oct 5.

The encampment will feature military drills along with musket and rifle firing. The group will perform other camp activities, such as cooking, bullet and button molding, and basket weaving. Special activities for young visitors Ferguson infuriated the Over Mountain Men by threatening to "march over the mountains, hang their leaders and lay waste their country with fire and sword" if they did not stop their opposition to the king.

Though 1,800 men gathered at the Cow Pens, only 900 continued to Kings Mountain on horseback. Three months later, Daniel Morgan and his will also be conducted throughout the day.

As with today's National Guard and other military reserve units, civilian males were mustered several times a year to be trained as a military unit. These musters were necessary because the militia lacked discipline and needed a standard drill before joining the Continental forces as they did in such battles as Cowpens and Guilford Courthouse. However, in most cases, these rugged individuals were at their best when skirmishing on their own, as was the case at the Battle of Kings Mountain, where a group of patriot militia defeated a better American army would defeat Lt. Colonel "Bloody" Banastre Tarleton's British army at the same Cow Pens where the Kings Mountain attack had been planned. These two battles helped turn the tide of America's fight for independence.

For more information about the programs, call (864) 461-2828 or visit the park's web page at www.nps. gov/cowp. trained loyalist force under Major Patrick Ferguson.

In addition to the encampment, Kings Mountain will celebrate the 228th anniversary of the battle beginning at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 7, with a wreath-laying ceremony, the arrival of the Over Mountain Marchers, and a speech by Michael Scoggins, historian with the Culture and Heritage Museum in York County and research director for the Southern Revolutionary War Institute.

For more information about the celebration, call Kings Mountain National Military Park at (864) 936- 7921 or visit the park's web page at www.nps.gov/kimo.