Hundreds of history-minded individuals converged on the small town of Point Pleasant at Tu-Endie-Wei State Park Thursday to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Point Pleasant.

Many were dressed in period garb, representing British soldiers, American militia members and frontiersmen, all who played a part in the battle that some say was the first of the American Revolution.

The Battle of Point Pleasant took place on Oct. 10, 1774, when Virginia settlers faced off against those of the Shawnee and Mingo tribes–both looking to control the land west of the Appalachian Mountains. The battle, which lasted only hours, was deemed a victory for the Virginians and led the Native Americans to retreat further west.

Point Pleasant sits at the confluence of the Ohio and Kanawha rivers and served as the battle site where Shawnee Chief Cornstalk attacked Virginia militia under Colonel Andrew Lewis. Lewis’s soldiers fought furiously, forcing Cornstalk to retreat. The Virginians then, led by Lord Dunmore, the Royal Governor of Virginia, marched in and compelled Cornstalk to agree to a treaty which ended the conflict.

Differing opinions arise as to whether Dunmore had colluded with the Native American tribes to incite a battle with the Virginians. Those who believe he did are those who advocate for the recognition of the battle as the first of the Revolutionary War.

Those gathered at Point Pleasant this week, for the most part, believe the battle to be the start of the war for America’s freedom, rather than the battle at Lexington and Concord that occurred about six months later. Because Dunmore was the Royal Governor, advocates of Point Pleasant’s place in history say that his recruitment of the Native Americans was an effort to thwart the colonists’ push for not only land, but freedom to inhabit that land–something they said the British withheld from them.

Whichever side one falls on, the fact was that a battle occurred at Point Pleasant that led Virginians to move further west into land that had previously been unavailable to them. Celebrating the 250th anniversary of that battle saw dignitaries from around the state and representatives from various chapters of the Daughters and Sons of the American Revolution (DAR/SAR) from not only West Virginia but states throughout the East and even Midwest of the country.

The celebration opened with the presentation of the Colors by the Combined Color Guard of the SAR under the command of Patrick Wesololsky.

Randall Reid-Smith, cabinet secretary for the Department of Art, Culture and History and chairman of the state’s Semiquincentennial Commission celebrating the nation’s 250th birthday, sang the National Anthem. Other dignitaries included those representing Gov. Jim Justice who was not able to attend and U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin III, who also was not able to attend. U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito was on hand and gave brief remarks.

“As we prepare to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of America, it is important that we retrace the roots of the revolution to understand the struggle in the fight for freedom. Those roots brought us here to Point Pleasant when General Lewis fought to create a safe haven for settlers in what was then western Virginia,” Capito said.

Dozens of wreaths were laid at the ceremony and each entity presenting a wreath was recognized and provided with a special Challenge Coin designed for the occasion. Ted Cox, president of the West Virginia Society SAR, shared the eulogy delivered by Colonel Lewis on Oct. 13, 1774, on the death of his brother, Colonel Charles Lewis, who was mortally wounded during the battle.

A gun salute was then issued by members of the Colonel James Woods II Chapter Virginia Society Sons of the American Revolution and cannon fire by the Point Pleasant Sons of the American Revolution.

The museum at Tu-Endie-Wei State Park at Point Pleasant remained open throughout the afternoon for visitors to learn more about the battle and the history that ensued.