Georgia Battlefields Association

in 1779 the Battle of Kettle Creek. After capturing Savannah on December 29, 1778, Lt. Col. Archibald Campbell marched up the Savannah River and occupied Augusta one month later January 29, 1779. From Augusta Campbell dispatched South Carolina Loyalist Lt. Col. John Boyd into the back country of the Carolinas on a recruiting mission. He traveled all the way to North Carolina in less than a week, and by the second week of February was returning to Augusta with a force of over 600 Loyalists.

After the fall of Augusta, commander of Wilkes County Militia Col. John Dooley and his subordinate Lt. Col. Elijah Clarke withdrew their troops across the Savannah River at Cherokee Ford and camped on the South Carolina side. They were soon joined by 250 South Carolina Patriot Militia under Col. Andrew Pickens who took overall command. Even though the Loyalist force was nearly 50% larger, the Patriots decided to pursue Boyd as he crossed back into Georgia hoping to use surprise to their advantage. Approximately 1/3 of Boyd’s newly recruited force was unarmed but it is unclear if the Patriots were aware of this.

Instead of marching directly to Augusta, Boyd swung to the northwest through Wilkes County. It’s unknown exactly why he did so but it was possibly to link up with Major John Hamilton who’d been sent to recruit Loyalists in Wilkes County. However, Hamiliton had been recalled to Augusta. Lt. Col. Campbell’s immediate superior, Brig. Gen. Augustine Prévost, had become alarmed at the number of forces Patriot General Benjamin Lincoln had begun to mass along the South Carolina side of the Savannah River and decided to consolidate around Savannah. He therefore ordered Campbell to abandon Augusta once Boyd and Hamilton’s recruiting expeditions had returned.

The Patriots caught up with Boyd at Kettle Creek approximately 8 miles southwest from present day Washington, Georgia. Pickens advanced, leading the center, with Col. Dooly leading a mounted flanking force on his right and Lt. Col Clarke on his left. 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 was able to flank this position, even though Dooley and Clarke were slowed by canebrakes near the creek. In heavy fighting, Boyd went down with a mortal wound, and the survivors 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. The Patriots took 75 prisoners, including most of the wounded, and up to 70 Loyalists were killed. They suffered 9 killed and 14–23 wounded or missing in the battle. Many of Boyd's men (including some who had escaped the battlefield and others that Pickens paroled) returned home. Campbell reported that Major Spurgen joined him in Augusta with 270 of Boyd's recruits. These men became the nucleus for the Royal North Carolina Regiment. When Pickens approached the mortally wounded Boyd after the battle, the Loyalist leader, who was known to Pickens, asked him to deliver a brooch to his wife and inform her of his fate. Pickens eventually did.

The Washington Civil War Round Table next meeting is February 23,2026 The January meeting was cancelled due to weather and road conditions. We meet at the Pope Center, 48B, Lexington Ave., Washington, Georgia every fourth Monday of the month except December. We have no agenda except to study and learn history from the 1860's. Cost is $17.00 includes wine, dinner and speaker. Social hour starts just before 6pm with dinner about 6:30pm Contact [email protected]

https://emergingcivilwar.com/2025/10/29/the-seseschers-absqautulated/

On the Road to Atlanta: The Seseschers Absqautulated - Emerging Civil War Julius C. Wright was an 18-year-old college student when he decided to enlist in Company C of the 36th Illinois Infantry while they were home on furlough in February, 1864. He accompanied his new comrades to the battle front in March. The 36th belonged to the First Brigade of John Newton’s Second ...