Kettle Creek (Georgia)

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[edit] Kettle Creek, Battle of

A Revolutionary War battle site, and the only battle in Georgia which was clearly a Patriot (Whig) victory against British Loyalists (Tories).

Kettle Creek is located in the southwest corner of modern Wilkes County, Georgia. Kettle Creek is situated in northeast Georgia as a small tributary of the Little River (which is a tributary of the Savannah River). 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.

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. Several of the Tories captured at the battle were later hanged.

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).

[edit] References

   * Buchanan, John. The Road to Guilford Courthouse: The American Revolution in the Carolinas. John Wiley and Sons, 1997.
   * Battle of Kettle Creek [1]
   * Sullivan, Buddy. Georgia: A State History. Arcadia Publishing, 2003.