The Over Mountain rebels were fiercely independent pioneers, unwilling to accept any restraints on their personal freedom. They were creatures of the woods and hills, and more familiar with aiming their rifles at bear, deer, and turkey than at other men. Their first inclination had been to remain aloof from the mounting conflict between Whigs and Tories, but now, as Cornwallis began to expand control of western Carolina, they had to consider how best to respond to the eastern, or “flatlands,” conflict. They were determined that the Redcoats would not control their region, and were pleased when Elijah Clarke, who was originally from that region of the Carolinas and knew the Watauga people well, sent word to Colonel Isaac Shelby that he and his militiamen would like to join forces.

Publicly and privately, Major Ferguson often expressed disdain and contempt for his rebel adversaries in the west. Now moving to carry out his responsibilities in that region, he committed a serious mistake by sending a foolish warning to the men of Watauga Valley that “if they do not desist from their opposition to British Arms, I shall march my army over the mountains, hang their leaders, and lay waste their country with fire and sword.” The Over Mountain men heard the message, and there was no longer any doubt about their course of action. They and the Georgians would join forces near Ninety Six, harass the Redcoats, and prove to their countrymen that the war was not lost.

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Lord Cornwallis had enough control over the Carolinas to receive regular intelligence reports, and he knew that Major General Horatio Gates was approaching South Carolina with a small Continental army. The American commander had not won much loyalty from his subordinates when he declared publicly that he had inherited “an army without strength, a military chest without money, a department deficient in public spirit, and a climate that increases despondency.” Gates had won the respect of the British as the American military hero of Saratoga, and his movements were their major concern.

At the same time, Ferguson was hunting the combined force of militiamen under Elijah Clarke and Isaac Shelby, and had little doubt that the Redcoats would prevail in any possible encounter with this local rabble. Early in August there was a skirmish at a place known as Cedar Springs, where about two dozen Redcoats were killed. Shelby and Clarke followed their adopted strategy of inflicting maximum damage and embarrassment on the enemy and conserving their highly mobile force to fight again.