Places Filter: Mountain Passes
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Description: Gillespie Gap, also referred to as Etchoe Pass, is a mountain pass nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, with an elevation of 2,805 feet (855 meters) above sea level. This pass holds historical significance due to two notable events that unfolded there. The first event occurred in 1761 when a group of thirty men, led by Francis Marion, was dispatched to confront a Cherokee warrior encampment situated at the pass. This mission turned into a harrowing ambush, resulting in the loss of twenty-one men under Marion's command. The second significant event took place in 1780 when the Overmountain Men traversed Gillespie Gap as part of their journey to Kings Mountain. This historic crossing played a pivotal role in the broader context of the American Revolutionary War. Gillespie Gap, with its rich history and picturesque mountainous surroundings, remains a site of interest for those fascinated by the region's past and natural beauty.