Battle of Kettle Creek

The Battle of Kettle Creek is one of the most important battles of the American Revolutionary War to be fought in Georgia. The battle was fought on February 14, 1779, in Wilkes County about eight miles (13 km) from present day Washington, Georgia. The victory by the American Patriots virtually ended the movement to remain loyal to the Kingdom of Britain.

Leadership of the Patriot force that engaged a larger Tory force was shared by Colonels Andrew Pickens (later General), John Dooly (later murdered by British regulars), and Elijah Clarke.

Andrew Pickens lead his own force of 200 militiamen and was joined by the force led by John Dooly to launch a surprise attack on the Tory force of 700 men led by Colonel James Boyd. Pickens' force (totaling 300 to 340 men) circled and followed the Tory force without their knowledge until he launched the surprise attack on February 14, 1779. The encamped Tories were not wholly surprised, as their pickets fired upon approaching Patriot scouts. Thereafter, a fierce battle ensued and Tory leader James Boyd was killed. Following his death, his force dissolved and fled the battlefield. In April of 1779 five of the Tory prisoners captured at the Battle of Kettle Creek were hanged - see Samuel Campbell Clegg.

The success of Kettle Creek was undone by the later British victory at the Battle of Brier Creek (in modern Screven County, Tuckahoe Wildlife Management Area).

The battlefield memorial can be reached via War Hill Road, itself reached via Court Ground Road / Tyrone Road (CR-22). That latter CR-22 is approached via Stoney Ridge Road (CR-68). And that latter CR-68 is reached via GA Route 44 near the community of Tyrone.

References

*Buchanan, John. The Road to Guilford Courthouse: The American Revolution in the Carolinas. John Wiley and Sons, 1997
*Battle of Kettle Creek [http://ngeorgia.com/revolution/amrev11a.html]
*Sullivan, Buddy. Georgia: A State History. Arcadia Publishing, 2003

External links

*Georgia Department Of Transportation Wilkes County Road Map in PDF file format [http://www.mycountymaps.com/ga/wilkes.pdf]
*Battle of Kettle Creek, Georgia. By Robert Scott Davis Jr. [http://www.southernhistory.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=9482&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0]
*Kettle Creek Battlefield: Revolutionary War Historic Site [http://www.kudcom.com/www/att05.html]
*Battle of Kettle Creek: Text of Georgia State Historical Marker [http://www.kudcom.com/www/mark/mark23.html]
*Kettle Creek Battlefield in Wilkes County Georgia [http://www.rootsweb.com/~gawilkes/kettlecreek.htm]