The Severest Check

Ok, here is the Kettle Creek Battlefield, just north of Crawfordville. During the Revolution, Georgia had an estimated 25,000 residents, located mostly along the Savannah River from Savannah to Augusta. Most of them were Tories, loyal to the British Crown. Earli in 1779, Col Boyd, the British Commander, left Augusta with 800 men to unite with Col McGrith's 500 men near present day Washington, GA. A group of American Patriots led by Andrew Pickens with 250 South Carolina militia. He was joined by John Dooley and Elijah Clarke with around 100 Georgia militia. On Sunday, Feb 14, 1779, the British troops were camped on a hill near Kettle Creek, GA. The American forces, outnumbered more than two to one, attacked the surprised British. Their right was commanded by Dooly, the center by Pickens, and the left by Clarke. As the surprise wore off, the fighting became intense as the attacking Patriots had trouble advancing through the dense canebrakes and high water of the creek. The British appeared to be winning when Clarke slipped with 50 men around the
British rear, and when Col Boyd fell, the Loyalists were finally routed. The final tally was 40 Loyalists killed, and 70 captured, 9 Patriots killed and 23 wounded. Five of the Loyalists were hung for treason.

Unfortunetly, the Patriot success was undone by a British victory at Brier Creek just two weeks later.

These are from a monument on the battlefield listing all the Patriots who fought at Kettle Creek.

Cemetery where some of those who fell are buried.