The setting of the story is Tennessee and North Carolina in the 1778-'79 and '80's.

The frontier was beset with the same troubles all through the Revolution—Indians and Torries.

As Pa Hawkins said, "The Tories are worse than the Indians. You don't expect a Chicamauga to be friendly, but the Tories meet you, speak nicely, and then steal your cattle and burn your house down. And you don't know who is a Tory and who ain't!"

Only when Ferguson was threatening the people of Watauga did the frontier take part in actual battles with the British troops. The Battle of Kings Mountain did away with the British threat to the backwoods, and went a long way toward deciding the outcome of the Revolution.

But Over-Mountain Boy is not only about Indian raids, spies, and plots, for into this story, the author has woven much background material on the homelife and customs of these frontier people.

From the dust jacket of Jed Smith: Trail Blazer