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. They said that while Dunlap convalesced at Gilbert's House, two or three men came by claiming to be Loyalists. Not suspecting any problem, Mrs. Gilbert let the men upstairs where they proceeded to question the wounded captain concerning the whereabouts of one Mary McRea. Apparently, Dunlap had kidnapped the young lady in hopes of convincing her to "encourage his amorous advances." Unfortunately for Dunlap, Mary died while held captive. One of the men looking for her was her fiancé; when Dunlap confessed her death, the man "shot him through the body" before mounting up and riding off. The tradition held that "Major Dunlap" was buried just 300 yards away "south of the Gilbert House, the grave being still pointed out, marked by a granite rock at the head and foot."[12] But Captain Dunlap's story didn't end there. In reviewing the Papers of Lord Cornwallis, it quickly becomes apparent that Dunlap did not die at Gilbert's house. He recovered from his wound and returned to his duties by November of 1780. There is no mention of the incident at Gilbert House or of Dunlap having been shot a second time. Instead, Cornwallis returned to his plans for Dunlap to have a separate command.