What happened at the Battle of Kettle Creek?
The Battle of Kettle Creek was a minor American Revolutionary War battle that took place on February 14, 1779, in Wilkes County, Georgia. The battle was fought between Patriot forces, led by Colonel Andrew Pickens and Lieutenant Colonel Elijah Clarke, and Loyalist troops, led by Colonel James Boyd.
The Patriots had learned that a group of Loyalist soldiers were stationed at Kettle Creek and they decided to launch a surprise attack. Under the cover of darkness, the Patriots launched their assault on the unsuspecting Loyalists camped at Kettle Creek.
The battle was intense and lasted for about an hour. The Patriots managed to gain the upper hand as they broke the Loyalist line and pushed them back. Many Loyalists were killed, wounded, or captured, including Colonel Boyd. On the Patriot side, about 32 men were killed or wounded.
The victory at the Battle of Kettle Creek boosted Patriot morale in Georgia and served as a setback for British efforts to recruit Loyalists in the area. It also helped inspire more Georgians to join the fight for independence. Overall, the battle was a relatively small engagement, but it had significant local and regional consequences in the American Revolutionary War.