My Visit To Kings Mountain 2018
A few years before I started watching Outlander, a friend took me to King’s Mountain. I had just moved to North Carolina from New York City, and my friend, who had lived in Charlotte for a few years, knew the area well and was aware of my love for historical sites. I was captivated by the museum and its Colonial-era artifacts. After exploring, we hiked the trail to the peak, the last ones heading up since the park was closing in an hour. The 30-minute hike was damp in some spots from earlier rain, and as I walked, I heard what sounded like wet footsteps on leaves in the ditch below. Thinking it might be a deer, I looked but saw nothing. A little spooked, I jogged to catch up with my friend, but the sound continued, sending chills up my neck. When we reached the monument, two loud shots suddenly rang out. I looked at my friend in shock, but he shrugged, saying it was probably deer hunters. I knew it wasn’t—we had stepped into a moment in time. He laughed at my theory, but I felt a deep respect for what we’d experienced, touching the stone monument and quietly saying, “Rest in peace” to those who had fallen. Back at the museum store, I told the older gentleman behind the counter what happened. Smiling, he said, “Ahhh, you were one of the lucky ones! Only certain people hear the shots, and only at certain times of year.” He explained about a redcoat major who refused to surrender and shot the soldier who asked him to—an event tied to Patrick Ferguson, same as the series finale! That trip up the mountain stayed with me; when I saw the finale, my mind was blown, and that memory of my visit was unlocked. My love for the show was strong before, but the finale truly brought it full circle for me.
