The Battle of Kettle Creek: A Turning Point in the Revolutionary War

The Battle of Kettle Creek, a significant engagement in the American Revolutionary War, took place on February 14, 1779, in Wilkes County, Georgia. It was fought between a force of approximately 340 Patriot militiamen led by Elijah Clarke, John Dooly of Georgia, and Andrew Pickens of South Carolina, and a force of approximately 600 American supporters of the British cause, led by James Boyd.

Key Facts

  1. Date and Location:
    • The Battle of Kettle Creek took place on February 14, 1779.
    • It occurred in Wilkes County, Georgia, approximately eleven miles from present-day Washington, Georgia.
  2. Opposing Forces:
    • The battle involved around 340 militiamen led by Elijah Clarke, John Dooly of Georgia, and Andrew Pickens of South Carolina.
    • They attacked a force of approximately 600 American supporters of the British cause, led by James Boyd.
  3. Outcome:
    • The battle ended in a Patriot victory.
    • The Loyalist militia suffered significant casualties, including the death of their commander, John Boyd.
    • The Patriot victory at Kettle Creek convinced the British commander of Augusta, Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell, to abandon the city.
  4. Significance:
    • The Battle of Kettle Creek was the first major victory for the Patriots in the backcountry of Georgia during the Revolutionary War.
    • It demonstrated the inability of British forces to hold the interior of the state and protect Loyalist recruits outside their immediate area.
    • The British regained some prestige a few weeks later in the Battle of Brier Creek, but Georgia’s backcountry did not come fully under British control until after the Siege of Charleston in 1780.

Prelude to the Battle

In December 1778, the British began their Southern Strategy by capturing the port of Savannah, Georgia. The British then sent a force under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell to take control of Augusta and raise Loyalist forces. Campbell arrived near Augusta in late January 1779 and quickly recruited over 1,000 men. However, many of these recruits were insincere in their loyalty to the British and quickly let the Patriots know their true feelings.

In response to the British threat, the Continental Army commander in the South, Major General Benjamin Lincoln, ordered Brigadier General Andrew Pickens to lead a force of South Carolina militia to join General John Ashe’s North Carolina militia on the South Carolina side of the Savannah River near Augusta. Pickens and Dooly joined forces and conducted offensive operations into Georgia, with Pickens taking overall command.

The Battle

On February 14, 1779, Pickens’ force caught up with Boyd’s Loyalist militia near Kettle Creek, only a few miles from Colonel McGirth’s Loyalist camp. Boyd was unaware that he was being followed so closely, and his camp was not particularly alert. Pickens advanced, leading the center, with his right flank under Colonel Dooly and his left under Georgia Lieutenant Colonel Elijah Clarke. Gunfire between Patriot scouts and the camp guards alerted Boyd to the situation. Boyd formed a defensive line near the camp’s rear and advanced with a force of 100 men to oppose Pickens at a crude breastwork made of fencing and fallen trees. Pickens, whose advance gave him the advantage of high ground, was able to flank this position, even though his own wings were slowed by the swampy conditions near the creek. In heavy fighting, Boyd went down with a mortal wound, and the small company retreated to the main Loyalist line.

The Patriot flanks then began to emerge from the swamps. The Loyalists, led by Boyd’s second in command, Major William Spurgen, engaged the Patriots in battle for 90 minutes. Some of the Loyalists crossed the creek, abandoning horses and equipment. Clarke alertly noticed some high ground across the Kettle Creek that they seemed to be heading for and led some of his men there, having his horse shot from under him in the process. The Loyalist line was eventually broken, and its men were killed, captured, or dispersed.

Aftermath

The Battle of Kettle Creek was a significant victory for the Patriots. They took 75 prisoners, including most of the wounded, and between 40 and 70 Loyalists were killed. The Patriots suffered 7 to 9 killed and 14–23 wounded or missing in the battle. The victory demonstrated the inability of British forces to hold the interior of Georgia and protect even sizable numbers of Loyalist recruits outside their immediate area. The British, who had already decided to abandon Augusta, recovered some prestige a few weeks later, surprising a Patriot force in the Battle of Brier Creek. Georgia’s backcountry would not come fully under British control until after the 1780 Siege of Charleston broke Patriot forces in the South.

Legacy

The Battle of Kettle Creek is remembered as the first major victory for the Patriots in the backcountry of Georgia during the American Revolutionary War. It is also seen as a turning point in the war in the South, as it showed that the British could not rely on Loyalist support to control the region. The battlefield is now a National Historic Landmark and is open to the public.

Sources

  1. https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/history-archaeology/battle-of-kettle-creek/
  2. https://www.battlefields.org/learn/revolutionary-war/battles/kettle-creek
  3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kettle_Creek

FAQs

When and where did the Battle of Kettle Creek take place?

The Battle of Kettle Creek took place on February 14, 1779, in Wilkes County, Georgia, approximately eleven miles from present-day Washington, Georgia.

Who were the opposing forces in the Battle of Kettle Creek?

The battle involved around 340 militiamen led by Elijah Clarke, John Dooly of Georgia, and Andrew Pickens of South Carolina, who attacked a force of approximately 600 American supporters of the British cause, led by James Boyd.

What was the outcome of the Battle of Kettle Creek?

The battle ended in a Patriot victory. The Loyalist militia suffered significant casualties, including the death of their commander, John Boyd. The Patriot victory at Kettle Creek convinced the British commander of Augusta, Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell, to abandon the city.

What was the significance of the Battle of Kettle Creek?

The Battle of Kettle Creek was the first major victory for the Patriots in the backcountry of Georgia during the Revolutionary War. It demonstrated the inability of British forces to hold the interior of the state and protect Loyalist recruits outside their immediate area. The British regained some prestige a few weeks later in the Battle of Brier Creek, but Georgia’s backcountry did not come fully under British control until after the Siege of Charleston in 1780.

How many casualties were there in the Battle of Kettle Creek?

The Patriot forces suffered 7 to 9 killed and 14–23 wounded or missing in the battle. The Loyalist militia suffered significantly more casualties, with between 40 and 70 killed and 75 taken prisoner.

Who were some of the key figures in the Battle of Kettle Creek?

Some of the key figures in the Battle of Kettle Creek include:
– Andrew Pickens: A South Carolina militia general who led the Patriot forces to victory.
– Elijah Clarke: A Georgia militia colonel who played a key role in the battle.
– John Dooly: A Georgia militia colonel who also played a key role in the battle.
– James Boyd: The commander of the Loyalist militia who was killed in the battle.

What is the legacy of the Battle of Kettle Creek?

The Battle of Kettle Creek is remembered as a turning point in the Revolutionary War in the South. It showed that the British could not rely on Loyalist support to control the region and helped to boost the morale of the Patriot forces. The battlefield is now a National Historic Landmark and is open to the public.

How did the Battle of Kettle Creek affect the course of the Revolutionary War?

The Battle of Kettle Creek was a significant victory for the Patriots and helped to turn the tide of the war in the South. It demonstrated that the British could not hold the interior of Georgia and showed that the Patriot forces were capable of defeating the British in battle. The victory also boosted the morale of the Patriot forces and helped to encourage more people to join the cause of independence.