The Overmountain Men - Book Review
The Overmountain Men by Pat Alderman
When researching the history of colonial southwest Territories and the former State of Franklin, an essential resource for any historian or genealogist is Pat Alderman’s book The Overmountain Men. The book starts with the long hunters of the 1760s such as the famous Daniel Boone. Through stories and short excerpts, Alderman weaves together the story of the Watauga Settlements, the Cherokee Nation, and the British. Included alongside the stories are biographies of key historical figures, lists of settlers and militia soldiers as well as maps. The time period covered in The Overmountain Men ranges from the early 1760s to the turn of the 19th century.
Alderman manages to capture the complicated and dynamic relationships between the Cherokee Nation, the frontier settlers, and the British. Early in the book Alderman highlights the role of the Cherokees played in the Watauga Settlements. He states, “The Cherokee Indian is closely linked with the story and settlement of Tennessee and the white man’s expansion westward. They were the original southern mountaineers, and custodians of the wilderness.”
One of the best features of Alderman’s book is the images. He uses drawings, photographs, and paintings to bring the history of the region to life. Alderman details battles, treaties, and provides biographies of important figures who fought and led the Wataugans. The book concludes with the end of the Territorial Government era when in 1796 a new state was added to the union, Tennessee.
The one serious critique of Alderman’s work is the lack of an introduction to connect what was occurring in the Watauga Settlements to the larger historical currents happening across the American continent and in Europe. However, overall, Alderman’s book provides a unique look at a pivotal period in American history.
The Overmountain Men by Pat Alderman can be purchased on Amazon.com
Thank you for reading.
Jenny R. Findsen
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