The Battle of Kettle Creek, February 14, 1779, was a partisan clash of arms between Loyalists and Patriot militias; approximately sixty-five miles northwest of Augusta and eight miles west of present-day Washington, Georgia. By 1778, the southern colonies of the American Revolution had become a battleground of partisan warfare. A bloody civil war had erupted between Patriot Whigs and Loyalist Tories. Neighbor fought neighbor. Former friends attacked friends. Militias battled militias as men chose sides in what amounted to deadly eye-for-an-eye retributions. Men were ambushed on the roads. Farms and plantations suffered devastating raids. Communities were threatened and terrorized. All with little or no quarter granted. When the British invaded the far south in December, 1778, those loyal to the crown became emboldened and flocked to England’s banner. And as such, patriot passions were strengthened with the resolve to stop them. The Battle of Kettle Creek was one such clash of arms; of broken bodies and seething hatred. A branding iron that scorched the landscape. It’s vengeful scars, deep and lasting, as the captive leaders were marched to the gallows; their dangling bodies left to rot at the end of a rope.
British Strategy Shifts to the South
A stalemate in the north flustered England’s attempts to rein in her North American colonies. With France entering the war, Secretary of State for the American Department, Lord George Germain, sought a breakthrough in the southern colonies. Before her historical rival could bring its forces to bear, Germain supported a renewed British invasion of the south. He hoped a large influx of loyalist forces, mainly Scottish immigrants reported throughout the Carolinas and Georgia, would rise up and join the redcoats to reclaim the southern colonies; considered the rebellion’s economic breadbasket.
Commander-in-Chief of British forces in America, General Henry Clinton, concurred. In November, 1778, he launched a strong force to Savannah, Georgia, to test this new strategy. For this expedition, former marine commander Colonel Archibald Campbell was given the 71st Foot, Fraser’s Highlanders; both battalions, at 1,000 strong, the largest and most experienced regiment in the British army. Along with Sir James Baird’s Light Infantry, a detachment of dragoons, and a large contingency of loyalists, Campbell’s 3,100-man invasion force arrived off Savannah on December 23rd, 1778. By the 29th they had captured the city and with the aid of Swiss born General Augustine Prevost, who had marched the 60th Foot, American Regiment, and loyalist Rangers up from Florida, England laid claim to all of Georgia.
Both Sides Recruit Local Partisans
Brigadier Prevost assumed command of British forces and in January, 1779, sent Colonel Campbell and his 71st Highlanders and Baird’s Light Infantry up the Savannah River to Augusta, Georgia. After the town was secured, Campbell was to appropriate the interior and gather loyalist recruits. News of the British invasion of Georgia and Campbell’s arrival at Augusta traveled throughout the Carolinas and Georgia. Loyalist militias, emboldened with a show of British strength, gathered in large numbers and set out to join forces with Campbell.
Even before Clinton launched his invasion of the south in November, 1778, Washington had obtained intelligence of such a move. He assigned General Benjamin Lincoln to take command of the Southern Army, which, since the war began, had seen a hodgepodge of patriot forces commanded by regional leaders. Lincoln’s first line of business was to consolidate state Continental troops, organize present militia forces, and recruit heavily of the local Whig militias, mainly Scotch-Irish who had settled in the Carolinas. He set up his headquarters at Purrysburg, South Carolina, across the Savannah River from Ebenezer, Georgia, where British commander Prevost had established his headquarters, some 20 miles upriver from Savannah.
As the invasion of British forces encouraged Loyalist recruits, General Lincoln’s arrival heartened patriot militiamen to show up at the American camp in greater numbers. So too, backcountry militia leaders organized larger number of rebel recruits. Cognizant of the threat posed by large numbers of loyalists flocking to Augusta to join up with the British, regional patriot forces were more determined than ever to use whatever force they could to prevent it from occurring.
Loyalist Militia Leaders
Two influential Scottish Highlander immigrants to North Carolina were paramount to the England attempts at attracting loyalist militiamen to the crown: Lt. Colonel John Hamilton, wealthy businessman and veteran of Culloden. And Colonel John Boyd, who was mortally wounded leading the loyalist force at Kettle Creek. Added to this was loyalist John Moore of North Carolina who British Lt. Colonel Campbell assigned to lead two companies of loyalists; one foot and the other of horse.
Lt. Colonel John Hamilton of North Carolina immigrated from Scotland. He established a trading center in Halifax, NC, extending credit to many settlers in the Piedmont region. So too he had extensive trade and credit with the British empire firming up his loyalty to the crown. In 1778 he traveled to New York City where he obtained a commission to recruit troops in the Carolinas. He accompanied Campbell to Savannah and later to Augusta where he recruited in the backcountry to form the Royal North Carolina Regiment. Hamilton crossed paths with Colonel John Dooly of the Wilkes County Militia and chased him out of Georgia. Dooly sought the aid of Colonel Andrew Pickens of the Upper Ninety-Six Regiment. Pickens added his 200 men to Dooly’s 100 and they chased Hamilton to Carr’s Fort, northeast Georgia in Wilkes County on February 10, 1779. Pickens and Dooly’s withdrew their men when word of Colonel John Boyd’s large force of loyalist North Carolinians reached them. The North Carolina militia was approaching Augusta to join with the British.
Colonel John Boyd of North Carolina. Little is known of Boyd’s life except he was probably a landowner in South Carolina. A Scottish immigrant, he remained loyal to the crown and after the outbreak of war, made his way to New York City and, like John Hamilton, received a commission as Colonel to recruit Carolina loyalists. He accompanied Campbell in his successful expedition against Savannah. When Campbell moved to Augusta in January, 1779, like Hamilton, Boyd, traveled to the backcountry, raising a considerable number of loyalists in North Carolina. In early February, 1779, he and his men were enroute to join up with Campbell at Augusta when he was attacked by patriot militia at Kettle Creek.
Lt. Colonel John Moore of Tyron County, North Carolina, whose parents immigrated to America, proclaimed his loyalty to England and in 1774 and had his lands confiscated. It wasn’t until Campbell’s capture of Savannah that he became emboldened and recruited fellow loyalists to join the British in Georgia. He was at the head of two companies of foot and horse when he joined Boyd’s Corp prior to the Battle of Kettle Creek.
Patriot Militia Leaders
Three militia colonels would team to attack Colonel John Boyd’s militia at Kettle Creek. In the three-prong attack, Colonel Andrew Pickens of South Carolina would lead the center while Lt. Colonel Elijah Clarke of Georgia and Colonel John Dooly of Georgia would attack from both flanks.
Andrew Pickens was a dour Presbyterian elder who had grown up in an “atmosphere of rifle and religion.” Born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, his family relocated along the Great Wagon Road to the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia and later, along with other Scotch-Irish, to the Waxhaw community of upper South Carolina. As an adult, he bought a plantation near the Georgia border. He became a successful merchant, building a warehouse across the Savannah River from Augusta. He had fought in the Anglo-Cherokee Wars in the 1760’s and during the build-up to the American Revolution, was made a captain in his local patriot militia. By 1779, he was a colonel of militia of the Upper Ninety-Six Regiment. He would command the three militias that attacked the larger loyalist militia at Kettle Creek.
Lt. Colonel Elijah Clarke was an impoverished, illiterate frontiersman at the start of the war. He had settled on ceded land in northwest Georgia. He had been wounded in 1776 fighting the Cherokees. He was wounded again at the Battle of Alligator Bridge, East Florida, Clarke led a state militia against both loyalists and Creek Native Americans who had aligned with the British. By 1779, he commanded a troop of 100 State Dragoons and would join Pickens just prior to the Battle of Kettle Creek.
Colonel John Dooly: Though steeped in Georgia folklore, he was raised and had landholdings in South Carolina, purchasing land in Georgia just prior to the war. He fought against the Cherokee and by 1777, was captain of Georgia Continental Cavalry. By 1778, he was Colonel of the Wilkes County Militia, Georgia, north of Augusta. Dooly asked Colonel Pickens to help chase down loyalist Colonel John Hamilton’s militia. They had cornered Hamilton at Carr’s Fort, northeast Georgia, but withdraw to stop Loyalist James Boyd’s North Carolina militia from joining the British at Augusta.
Patriot and Loyalist Pursuits
Colonel John Dooly’s militia had been chased out of Georgia by loyalist John Hamilton. He sent word to Colonel Pickens seeking assistance. About 30 miles above Augusta. Colonel Pickens, with 250 rebels, joined Colonel Dooly and together crossed the Savannah into Georgia at Cowen’s Ferry on February 10th, about 3 miles above Hamilton’s encampment. They were about to attack Hamilton on the next morning, but discovered he had already left towards Fort Carr. The rebels followed closely on Hamilton’s heels. After the loyalists entered the fort, Pickens’ force came up and a brisk fire began. Pickens was determined to take the fort, however on the 12th, a letter arrived from his brother, Captain Joseph Pickens, informing him that loyalist leader James Boyd, along with 800 loyalists, was passing through the Ninety-Six District on their way to join up with Campbell at Augusta. The letter indicated that that Boyd was “…spreading destruction of property and lives by fire and sword.”
Boyd had left Savannah sometime after January 20, 1779, and by the 24th, was in the Georgia backcountry at Wrightsborough recruiting men for his loyalist corps. Within a week, he established a camp in the South Carolina frontier near present day Spartanburg. With 350 new loyalist recruits, he left for Augusta on February 5, 1779, some 120 miles south. Boyd and his followers were met by 250 North Carolinians under the command of Colonel John Moore. As they marched south, additional Tories joined the growing band of loyalists who captured patriot outposts at Fort Independence and Broad Mouth.
With the news of Boyd’s approach, Pickens and Dooly immediately recrossed the Savannah into South Carolina near Fort Charlotte, forty-five miles above Augusta. They advanced along the river towards Long-Cane where he expected reinforcements. Period historical accounts speak of the devastation and thievery Boyd’s loyalist inflicted upon South Carolina’s patriot settlements as they approached Georgia. This stirred up an intense hatred and strong desire for revenge, not only among Pickens’ troops, but throughout the region. Meanwhile, with Pickens departure and the siege raised, Hamilton left Fort Carr and soon joined Lt. Colonel Campbell at Augusta.
While Pickens marched to catch Boyd in South Carolina, at the mouth of Broad River he sent word to militiamen Captain Robert Anderson, his brother Joseph, William Baskin and John Miller. These militia captains, with 80 men and a small force under Captain James Little, followed the river north through Georgia in an effort to prevent Boyd’s loyalists from crossing into Georgia. Boyd, cognizant of militia forces in pursuit, veered north to Cherokee Ford. The ford was defended by the McGowan Blockhouse, Lt. Thomas Shanklin commanding the small garrison of eight men. Shanklin refused to relinquish the small fort. When Captain James Little arrived with forty men, Boyd decided not to attack and instead, marched five miles further north where he crossed Vann’s Creek on February 11th. A sharp skirmish occurred at Vann’s Creek crossing when Captain Little and the garrison of the McGowan blockhouse, along with the rest of Captain Anderson’s men, confronted Boyd’s crossing. Accounts of casualties vary, exaggerated to over a hundred loyalists, but it is considered to have been a few killed and wounded with some desertion by loyalists with some patriot prisoners taken.
Once having crossed the Savannah, Boyd marched southwestward, hoping to team up with loyalist Colonel Daniel McGirth’s militia of 500 men camped at Little River, Georgia, approximately a dozen miles beyond Kettle Creek. His two principal officers were second in command Lt. Colonel John Moore, young and inexperienced, and third in command Major William Augustus Spurgeon Jr., experienced and capable officer. On the 12th, Boyd crossed Broad River, about twenty miles north of Kettle Creek, at a place afterwards called Webb’s Ferry. On February 13th, Boyd’s tired command made camp at a farm on a hill on the north bank of Kettle Creek, eight miles west of present-day Washington, Georgia, and sixty-five miles northwest of Augusta. The encampment was on open ground fronting the creek with cane-breaks on either flank and farmland in the rear. Kettle Creek converges with the Little River and winds its way southeast through Georgia to empty into the Savannah River just north of Augusta. The name Kettle is thought to come from a local fish trap called a kittle.
Meanwhile, when Boyd was crossing the Broad River on February 12th, Colonel Pickens’ command was crossing the Savannah River at Cedar Shoals, approximately fifteen miles distant north. Pickens advanced that day to Fish Dam Ford on the Broad River where he was reinforced by a body of 100 Georgia State Militia Horseman under Lt. Colonel Elijah Clarke. During this stage of the pursuit, Captain Joseph Neal and Captain Hugh McCall of Pickens Upper Ninety-Six Militia, had been sent ahead with a body of horsemen to keep a close eye on Boyd’s movements. They sent back messengers with a continual flow of information. The Americans carried on past Broad River and on the night of February 13th, camped at Clarke’s Creek, just four miles from Boyd’s encampment. With scouts’ intelligence detailing Boyd’s encampment and lack of defensive measures, the Americans planned their next move.
That night, Boyd had let his guard down. Since his junction with McGirth’s large force was close at hand, he may have thought he had eluded danger and was beyond Pickens and patriot militiamen’s pursuit. Boyd ordered the horses turned out to graze and the captured cattle to be slaughtered. The morning of February 14, 1779, his men were taking advantage of the lull by a leisure meal of fresh meat and parched corn. So too, American prisoners taken north of Cherokee Ford were sent onward to Lt. Colonel Campbell at Augusta, Boyd not cognizant that Campbell was abandoning Augusta that very day, marching his force to Savannah. Without having sent out scouts, Boyd was unaware that Pickens’ force had camped the night before just four miles away. And as his men filled their stomachs and savored a much-needed rest, the rebel forces were nearing positions to attack.
Battle of Kettle Creek
The Battle of Kettle Creek, February 14, 1779, began at 10 AM and lasted a little under two hours. Most sources record the patriots were outnumbered two to one. The loyalists have been numbered anywhere from 600 – 800 militiamen. It is estimated Pickens had approximately 340 men for the attack. Earlier that morning, Pickens’ force broke camp and approached the loyalists in battle order. Pickens had overall command and led the center with 200 men. They would attack the camp situated on a rocky hill directly from the north. The rest were divided between Colonel Dooly, who crossed Kettle Creek, then choked in cane breaks, and approached from the right flank, and Lt. Colonel Clarke who crossed Kettle Creek and attacked through the cane breaks from the left flank. Pickens in the center sent out a line of skirmishers 150 yards to the front.
Surprisingly, Boyd’s pickets did not sound the alarm as the rebel center neared. However, some of Pickens’ advance skirmishers disobeyed orders and fired on the Loyalist sentries, prematurely announcing the attack. This gave time for Boyd to order his main force to take a defensive position on the hill at the rear of camp while he and 100 men rushed forward and took a position behind a makeshift breastwork of a fence and some fallen timber directly across from the rebel center. From here, for the next hour, the loyalist poured a steady fire which was returned by the advancing rebels. Eventually, Pickens’ men were able to gain a position on some higher ground on their right. From there, the rebels poured a flanking fire on the small line’s left. Outnumbered two to one and receiving a devasting flanking fire, Boyd ordered his forward position to retreat to the main force.
During this retreat, Boyd was mortally wounded, receiving two balls through the body and one in the thigh. Some accounts state that he was cut down by cannon fire, which is incorrect for there were no cannon present. While Pickens attacked the center, Dooly’s and Clarke’s men were entangled in the swampy cane breaks. At the time Boyd fell, the two flanks broke free and fell upon the main body of Boyd’s men, causing much confusion and panic among the loyalists. Though Colonel Moore was second in command, Major Spurgeon led the men after Boyd fell.
Major Spurgeon artfully directed Loyalist fire on the rebel front, now enjoined by the three attacking groups. However, many of the loyalists began to break ground; several turning in a panic and fleeing back across the creek. Despite a two-one advantage and holding the higher ground, more loyalists turned and raced towards the creek. With his enemy front pressing, Spurgeon, leaving his baggage and horses behind, led his men towards a hill on his right across the creek. Clarke, who had been attacking the enemy right flank, rallied his men to the same rise and a heated and bloody exchange continued over possession of the hill. Pickens and Dooly’s men continued to press forward with renewed vigor. This broke the back of the loyalist’s resistance. Boyd’s remaining force panicked and were driven from the field and scattered for survival.
Casualties
Accounts of Loyalist casualties varied widely, though a consensus places the number of dead between 40 and 70. Of the 75 captured, a great number had been wounded in which half would survive. Counting Loyalists who made their way home and later surrendered to local authorities, about 150 of Boyd’s men were eventually taken prisoner. British Lt. Colonel Campbell reported that 270 of Boyd’s North Carolinians eventually joined him. Therefore approximately 200 Scotsman returned to their homes in North Carolina either to quit the war or among those Pickens and or local authorities paroled.
Of the patriot’s loss, the number was substantially lower. Seven men were reported killed and fifteen to twenty-three wounded or missing. A romantic twist to the conclusion of the battle was reported involving Colonel Pickens and a mortally wounded Boyd. It first appeared in the 1926 essay by Ashmore and Olmstead in The Georgia Historical Quarterly. The story as they reported was not cited. The authors wrote that Pickens found Boyd mortally wounded and ordered that the loyalist receive all possible medical attention. Boyd then asked Pickens who won the battle and to kindly leave water and two men by his side to see to his burial. And in a typical antidote often found in glorified versions of battles, Boyd asked Pickens to write a letter to his wife informing her of his fate and handed Pickens a few items he had on his person. Later versions of this story detailed a broach and lock of his hair to give to his wife. As Ashmore and Olmstead recorded, Pickens faithfully complied.
Some Loyalist Survivors Join the British
British Lt. Colonel Campbell had evacuated Augusta the same day of the battle and spent the next three weeks marching back towards Savannah during which, on March 3rd, he attacked and defeated a patriot force at Brier’s Creek under the command of Brigadier General John Ashe. Lt. Colonel John Moore slipped away unscathed and was one of the 270 loyalist survivors Campbell reported to have joined him. Campbell would, on February 22nd, commission Moore Colonel of two companies of loyalists, one of foot and the other of horse, he labeled the Royal North Carolina Regiment. This regiment was not the more famous regiment of similar name led by Hamilton. It would remain active until later in the summer when through desertions, sickness, and Moore’s basic incompetence, dissolved it as an active force. So too, 30 Scotsmen of Boyd’s force would find their way to Colonel James Hamilton and would later help form his North Carolina Royal Volunteers, who would remain active for the duration of the war.
Loyalist Prisoners of Kettle Creek. Tried for Treason. Five would Hang
South Carolina planter General Andrew Williamson, commanding troops at Augusta after Campbell had fled, had already decided that if any of the hated Scotsmen following Colonel James Boyd were captured, they would be made an example of, so to deter future backcountry loyalist defections to the British. Pickens treated the hated prisoners more like cattle as the shackled men, many painfully wounded, were marched to Augusta. The chained men were put in the bullpen of Fort Augusta; to be shortly joined by 78 Kettle Creek Loyalists who had turned themselves in and other Loyalist prisoners, bringing the number to over 150.
It was decided the Loyalist prisoners would be treated not as prisoners of war, but as criminals to put placed on trial. They were given over to Colonel John Williams’ regiment with orders to march them to the fortification at Ninety-Six, South Carolina, fifty-eight miles distant. The prisoners arrived on March 10th and placed in a brick jail to await trial. Sheriff William Moore of Ninety-Six arranged the trial which started on March 22nd and ended on April 12th. The trial resulted in the release of 75 men. Fifty were found guilty, but released on parole. Five would be found guilty and sentenced to death. This infuriated the British who insisted that all captives be treated as prisoners of war. Demands were made by several British officers, including Lt. Colonel Jacques-Marcus Prevost, brother of commanding General Augusta Prevost, who threatened American prisoners of similar consequences if the sentence was carried out. This proved to be an empty threat, as England feared an American backlash against British soldiers taken prisoner.
The five were sentenced to die on April 19th; however, a reprieve arrived that same day from Governor John Rutledge. The men were transported to Orangeburg, South Carolina, where they remained in a blockhouse. Their luck would run out as by the end of April, with increased British aggression, the men were ordered hanged. Sheriff Moore oversaw the hangings of Charles Draper, John Anderson, James Lindley, Samuel Clegg, and Aquilla Hall. It was said that these men had committed cruel, unforgivable acts against their patriot counterparts.
Aftermath of Major Participants
Colonel Andrews Pickens After the British defeated the Southern Continental Army on April 12th, 1780 in the Siege of Charleston, Pickens later surrendered a fort in the Ninety-Six District. He, along with his 300 militia men, on parole oath, agreed to sit out the war. After British destroyed most of his plantation, he returned to the war. He served with Francis Marion (swamp fox) and Thomas Sumpter. Besides numerous skirmishes, he fought at the battles of Cowpens and Eutaw Springs – the last major battle and one of the bloodiest of the war. He would later be elected to the Third Congress as a representative from South Carolina.
Lt. Colonel Elijah Clarke: After Kettle Creek, Clarke fought countless skirmishes against backcountry loyalists until war’s end. After the war, he was involved in various land grab schemes, eventually dying near bankrupt in Augusta, Georgia, Dec. 5, 1799.
Colonel John Dooly: Dooly would later assist in the failed attack to take Savannah on Oct. 9, 1779. Dooly would be forced to surrender in May, 1780 and took a loyalist oath. When he was found out for a failed attack on the King’s garrison in Augusta in Sept., 1780, he was jailed. He was later murdered under suspicious circumstances.
Lt. Colonel John Hamilton would recruit 30 loyalist survivors of Kettle Creek to help form his North Carolina Royal Volunteers. After the conclusion of the war, Hamilton lived in London. In 1790 he was made British consul to Norfolk, Virginia, one of only three Loyalists to receive consular positions in the newly created United States. Returning to England during the War of 1812 where he died in 1816.
Lt. Colonel John Moore escaped Kettle Creek unscathed. On February 22, 1779 Lt. Colonel Campbell organized the 270 Kettle Creek Loyalists into a corps of two companies, one of foot, and one of horse, titled the “Royal Volunteers of North Carolina”, and placed Moore in command. This corps would be short lived, dissolving by the summer of the same year. Moore would escape capture twice more, one at the Battle of Ramsour’s Mill where, after requesting a temporary truce in the battle to gather the wounded, ordered his men to scatter. His luck ran out when in 1781, Colonel Wade Hampton captured the hated loyalist and ordered him hanged on the spot. Though legend has it he escaped yet again, to England where he was never heard from again.
Major William Spurgeon would remain active, fighting beside the British for most of the war. His younger brother John would be captured in 1779 and, along with ten other loyalists, hanged and buried on the spot. Towards the end, he returned to his plantation in North Carolina and remined in hiding. At the end of the war, he made his way to Canada with other loyalists, dying in 1806.
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RESOURCE
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