Greenlee Ford and the Catawba River

Greenlee Ford and the Catawba River

Burke County, North Carolina, rivers

Greenlee Ford was the shallow crossing of the Catawba River used by travelers. The party of some 1400 backcountry militiamen crossed the river on the morning October 1, 1780 and marched up the valley of Silver Creek as they proceeded south toward Gilbert Town in pursuit of British Major Patrick Ferguson and his army of American loyalists.

After the battle, as the patriots marched away with their loyalist prisoners, they marched hard for 32 miles during a heavy rain on October 15 to cross the Catawba River before it would become impassible. Unless they got across, they feared they would be trapped against it by Colonel Banastre Tarleton and his Green Dragoons, whom they believed were in pursuit. The patriots and their prisoners forded the rising Catawba River at the Island Ford before resting again at Quaker Meadows.

Today, the Catawba River Greenway extends along the east side of the river from Greenlee Ford to the north end of Catawba Meadows Park.

Randell Jones, A Guide to the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, 2011.