Nisbet Balfour concurred with the assessment describing Dunlap as "active, knowing in the country and the manners of the country people, and very spirited. Whilst with me, he behaved rather well, rather too far forward in his patrols, by which he got into scrapes, but it is a fault which soon mends."[7] Balfour's words about riding "too far forward in his patrols" proved instantly prophetic since, unknown to the lieutenant colonel, Dunlap had already been wounded riding ahead of Ferguson's column near Cowan's Ford in North Carolina. Ferguson reported that "Captain Dunlap was badly wounded by some skulking shots on the flank."[8] Cornwallis found the news "particularly distressing as he was to have commanded a corps which old Mills of that County had engaged to raise for him."[9]

Needing time to rest and recover from his wound, Captain Dunlap stayed in Gilbert Town, North Carolina while Ferguson continued on his efforts to trap Elijah Clarke's refugees from Georgia before they could reach the safety of Watauga across the Blue Ridge. While in Gilbert Town, Dunlap got some information on the Overmountain Men and their efforts to raise an army against Ferguson. When all the regiments were added up, the rebel militia would be coming with a force of 2,000 men. Dunlap added, "do not make too light of all this, for advancing they certainly are, let their numbers be what they will."[10] Ferguson responded correctly but did not act in haste. "2,000 I cannot face. I shall therefore probably incline eastward if I do not succeed in my present object in two days."[11] As every fan of the American Revolution knows, Ferguson remained at his camp atop King's Mountain at least one day too long and the Overmountain Men provided him with crushing defeat yet glorious death. But what is not so well known is that, at the same time Ferguson met his end, Captain Dunlap faced his own demise at the hand of an "avenger." While researching for his epic book on the King's Mountain campaign, Lyman Draper collected information from the Hampton family.