Shelby was the first to hear the news.  He at once rode down to Sevier’s home on the Nolichucky; for they were the two county lieutenants, [Footnote:  Shelby was regularly commissioned as county lieutenant.  Sevier’s commission was not sent him until several weeks later; but he had long acted as such by the agreement of the settlers, who paid very little heed to the weak and disorganized North Carolina government.] who had control of all the militia of the district.  At Sevier’s log-house there was feasting and merry-making, for he had given a barbecue, and a great horse race was to be run, while the backwoods champions tried their skill as marksmen and wrestlers.  In the midst of the merry-making Shelby appeared, hot with hard riding, to tell of the British advance, and to urge that the time was ripe for fighting, not feasting.  Sevier at once entered heartily into his friend’s plan, and agreed to raise his rifle-rangers, and gather the broken and disorganized refugees who had fled across the mountains under McDowell.  While this was being done Shelby returned to his home to call out his own militia and to summon the Holston Virginians to his aid.  With the latter purpose he sent one of his brothers to Arthur Campbell, the county lieutenant of his neighbors across the border.  Arthur at once proceeded to urge the adoption of the plan on his cousin, William Campbell, who had just returned from a short and successful campaign against the tories round the head of the Kanawha, where he had speedily quelled an attempted uprising.

Gates had already sent William Campbell an earnest request to march down with his troops and join the main army.  This he could not do, as his militia had only been called out to put down their own internal foes, and their time of service had expired. [Footnote:  Gates MSS.  Letter of William Campbell, Sept. 6, 1780.  He evidently at the time failed to appreciate the pressing danger; but he ended by saying that “if the Indians were not harassing their frontier,” and a corps of riflemen were formed, he would do all in his power to forward them to Gates.] But the continued advance of the British at last thoroughly alarmed the Virginians of the mountain region.  They promptly set about raising a corps of riflemen, [Footnote:  Gates MSS.  Letter of William Preston, Sept. 18, 1780.  The corps was destined to join Gates, as Preston says; hence Campbell’s reluctance to go with Shelby and Sevier.  There were to be from five hundred to one thousand men.  See letter of Wm. Davidson, Sept. 18, 1780.] and as soon as this course of action was determined on Campbell was foremost in embodying all the Holston men who could be spared, intending to march westward and join any Virginia army that might be raised to oppose Cornwallis.  While thus employed he received Shelby’s request, and, for answer, at first sent word that he could not change his plans; but on receiving a second and more urgent message he agreed to come as desired. [Footnote: