Some of the rebels were familiar with the site as a popular place for hunting and family outings, and described the topography of the mountaintop in some detail. Knowing that King’s Mountain was less than six miles away, the Virginia colonels proposed that they rest and feed their horses, but Over Mountain leaders insisted that they move forward immediately and at top speed. Now commanding almost nine hundred eager riders, they pushed their troops forward without rest, concerned that Ferguson might actually be planning to join Cornwallis as quickly as possible. They did not have a wagon, cart, or any beasts of burden carrying equipage, but each man had with him what he required. At noon, the rain ceased and visibility improved. When they were about three miles from King’s Mountain, the colonels were surprised to see that it was just a low hill, not more than sixty feet high, surrounded with a thick growth of trees but with a bald area on its top. They could see its general shape, and some local men were able to describe its exact configuration on the opposite side, which was not in view.

Not needing to devise a complicated strategy, each of the colonels was assigned a portion of the mountain, and all the troops were instructed to proceed to their place, at a distance from their target, and then move to the base of the mountain, making every effort to avoid Tory pickets. They were to remain absolutely silent until within gunshot range of the enemy troops, and hold their fire until Colonel Campbell and his men initiated the attack. Then everyone would fight like Indians, remaining concealed behind trees but advancing steadily up the steep incline. As had become standard practice for experienced riflemen, their primary targets were to be Ferguson and Tory officers.

On that Saturday afternoon a final offer was made for any cowards to leave, all guns were freshly primed after the rainy weather, and the patriots were told to put a piece of cartridge paper in their hats to distinguish themselves from the Tories, who were known to wear tufts of pine straw in theirs. General Williams and the Georgia men were assigned to the north side of the mountain, and Ethan’s only additional order to his men was that they move up the steep slope as nearly abreast as possible, try to remain concealed, and commence firing only after they heard gunshots coming from the south side of the mountain.