The Battle of Cowan’s Ford was fought on February 1, 1781, in present-day Mecklenburg County.
American General William Lee Davidson was killed in combat as British forces under the leadership of Lord Cornwallis claimed victory. Davidson’s men snuck back across enemy lines to claim the body of Davidson.
The old battlefield now rests under Lake Norman, but that hasn’t stopped the legend of the ghostly horseman from making appearances along Beatties Ford Road.
Through the years, several people have encountered the apparition on horseback as they make their way down this road.
It seems even in death, General Davidson is still going to war, riding towards the battlefield in the afterlife.
Written By John G. Clark Jr.
