Dozens gather for historical discussions, tours here

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Nov Dec 2014 ******************************************************************************************** Dozens gather for historical discussions, tours here By DR.

1 ******************************************************************************************** Newsletter of the Kettle Creek Battlefield Association, Inc. Editor: N. Walker Chewning Vol. 3 No. 7 Nov Dec 2014 ******************************************************************************************** Dozens gather for historical discussions, tours here By DR. JOE HARRIS Kettle Creek Battlefield Assoc. Dr Charles Baxley opens the Southern Roundtable meeting Organized by Charles Baxley, editor and publisher of Southern Campaigns of the American Revolution, an all-day Saturday roundtable was held recently at the Woman s Club. More than 40 participants from Connecticut to Alabama were in attendance with nearly a dozen presentations. Historians, research archeologists, and history buffs with a wide range in Colonial history interests constituted the greater fraction of Washington-Wilkes visitors. Baxley, a lawyer from South Carolina, was not a new visitor to Washington, having spoken at a banquet during Revolutionary Days last February. Robert S. Davis of Huntsville, Alabama, locally known for his work on Kettle Creek history since the 1970s, is a rather frequent visitor to Washington. Also, Dan Elliott of Savannah, as the author of the 2008, 200- page The Kettle Creek Battlefield Survey, supported by the City of Washington and the American Battlefield Protection Plan, knows Wilkes County very well. Elliott s wife, Rita, author of Revolutionary Mathematics, Arts, Language and Social Studies, attended. She said of her 100-page workbook, It is for students and teachers with an interest in the Revolutionary War. It is owned by the Department of the Interior and is not for sale, but I can give it away. She left a copy with Joe Harris of the Kettle Creek Battlefield Association (KCBA). Dan Battle of Beaufort, S.C., also a Inside this issue: Southern Roundtable 1 2 School Principles Efforts 2 Moore Foundation 3 Dinner Banquet 4 Wreath Presentation 5 Battle of Kettle Creek Membership Renewal 8 Page 1

2 professional archeologist, contributed to many discussions. He worked with Elliott on the Kettle Creek site in 2008 and is the author of the recent study, The Battle at Brier Creek, a March, 1779 battle lost by the surprised Patriot militias from North Carolina and Georgia. Dr Charles Baxley near the newly discovered site of Carr s Fort The Saturday session of reports was crammed with topics ranging from maps of the Kettle Creek area (Biddy Hammett, Columbus ) to the role of smallpox in the Revolution by a couple of British historians. At the conclusion of the Saturday forum, $300 in cash was presented to the KCBA in support of the association s work on the Kettle Creek site s preservation and development. Archeologist Dan Elliot discussing the Kettle Creek Battlefield On Sunday morning, Elliott led a tour following the Patriot s trail to Carr s Fort. Elliott s report, The Search for and Discovery of Captain Robert Carr s Fort in Wilkes County, has recently been released. In about thirty cars, the group left Callaway Plantation on Maxwell Mill Road and stopped for discussion near Carr s Fort, returning by Skull Shoals Road to Washington. The Sunday afternoon session took visitors first to the Kettle Creek Battlefield site where Elliott initially described archeologically-valuable items near the War Hill entrance gate and on the route of Col. Elijah Clark. A number of items more recent than the Revolution were found near this parking area, he said, and described machine-cut nails and a single lead ball. Most likely, there was an animal pen here in the mid- 1800s. Steve Rauch, a Ft. Gordon historian, described the Kettle Creek battle and asked Harris to lead the group on the War Hill Loop Trail where a number of stops for additional battle descriptions were offered by Robert Davis, usually speaking on personalities involved in the battle. A second afternoon trip took visitors to historic Wrightsboro, now a ghost town, through which the Loyalist remnant passed following its defeat at War Hill, with the tour concluding at the Rock House, also in McDuffie County. Tom Owen worked with Baxley as a local arrangements contact, making decisions on local accommodations for meeting rooms, equipment, restaurant schedules, and housing in what turned out to be a very informal but significant visit of tourists to Washington Kettle Creek group thanks schools for efforts Kettle Creek Battlefield Association Chairman Dr. Joe Harris (right) pre- Page 2

Presentation of Boyd print to local school principles sented framed copies of artist Wilbur Kurtz s rendition of the death of British General Boyd after the battle to school administrators (from

3 Presentation of Boyd print to local school principles sented framed copies of artist Wilbur Kurtz s rendition of the death of British General Boyd after the battle to school administrators (from left) principals Florence Sandifer and Mark Ward, Superintendent Dr. Rosemary Caddell, and principals Angela McGill and Deleki Lee for their part in including the Revolutionary War battlefield in the curriculum in local schools. Last summer, Dr. Harris made a presentation before the Georgia Council for Social Studies Teachers on the importance of Kettle Creek to the Revolution and the availability of the site to help teach students about Georgia s role in the fight for independence. Sara Giles Moore Foundation donates $5,000 to Kettle Creek Battlefield Assn. Frank McGaughey, representing the Sara Giles Moore Foundation, recently presented a $5,000 check to the board of directors of the Kettle Creek Battlefield Association. At the regular monthly meeting of the board, McGaughey described the interests of the foundation which largely focuses on Atlanta projects. Although the two major foundation grant categories are the arts and education, support also goes to projects for bettering lives, helping toward self-sufficiency, beautification, and preservation, he said. McGaughey introduced his wife, Carolyn, who briefly described her outdoor interests including her small plane, and continued, Our interest in Washington dates back to a friendship with Robert Leavell and visits here. Carolyn spends a good bit of her time at our home in Wilkes County and I ll be spending more time here after retirement. Carolyn pointed out that Frank was a history major before law school. Presentation of Moore Foundation donation The story of Austin Dabney s involvement in the battle of Kettle Creek is well known to McGaughey since Dabney was buried in Pike County near their home in Griffin. We have found Wilkes County a great place with a rich cultural history, McGaughey said. When he noticed recent news articles on KCBA activity, he saw another opportunity to offer local support. We have helped other organizations in Washington, but the Kettle Creek Battlefield has been a great overlooked resource, he said. The McGaugheys look forward to spending more time at their home in Wilkes County and supporting historic community values. Page 3

4 The Kettle Creek Battlefield Association and the Georgia State Society SAR Invite you to join us in celebrating the Battle of Kettle Creek at the annual KCBA banquet to be held on: Friday, February 13th, 2015 Pope Conference Center 48 Lexington Ave Washington, GA Program: Mr. Daniel Battle, SCAR Southern Campaigns of the American Revolution Georgia Militia at the Battle of Brier Creek Dinner Cost: $30.00 per individual Please make your checks payable to: KCBA Cash Bar & Reception 5:00 P.M. Dinner at 6:30 P.M. Mail to: KCBA P. O. Box 729 Washington, GA Page 4

5 Wreath Presentation Form Kettle Creek Battlefield Memorial Ceremony Saturday, February 14, :30 PM Washington Wilkes County, GA All Societies and Chapters of the C.A.R., DAR, SAR, other hereditary Societies and patriotic or historical organizations are invited to attend. Descendants and the public are especially welcome. Submit request to participate in the Wreath Presentation no later than January 19, 2015, to assure listing in the Ceremony Program Organization: Name of Presenter: Office or Title of Presenter: Will Participate in the Color Guard: Address: Phone: Mail to: W. Allen Greenly, 6440 Ivey Meadow Lane, Cumming, GA 30040; or Heroes of the Hornet s Nest Ceremony Elijah Clark State Park 2959 McCormick Hwy., Lincolnton, GA Sunday, February 15, :00 AM Name of Wreath Presenter Organization Position Presenter s address Send registration form by February 1, 2015, to Charlie Newcomer canewcomer@att.net or by regular mail to 1601 Spartan Lane, Athens, GA Page 5

6 Battle of Kettle Creek Revolutionary Days February 13, 14 and 15 th, 2015 Washington, Georgia Friday February 13 th 4: :30 PM Kettle Creek Battlefield Association Annual Meeting. Pope Center 6:30 PM Kettle Creek Battlefield Banquet. Pope Center Saturday February 14 th 8:30 AM Fighting at Kettle Creek on February 14, 1779 Presentation by Military Historian Emory Allen Burton. Location Mary Willis Library. 9:00 AM 12:00 AM Celebration of History Salute to Revolutionary War Patriots by the Wilkes County Militia on the square. Thirty Historical Colonial Characters. Visit the Mary Willis Library, 204 E. Liberty Street, the Robert Toombs House, 215 E. Robert Toombs Avenue and the Washington Historical Museum, 308 E. Robert Toombs Avenue. 10:45 AM Colonial parade will start behind the Courthouse at Fort Washington Park. 11:00 AM A dramatic portrayal of The Battle of Kettle Creek will be presented in Fort Washington Park. 11:30 AM Clarke s Militia, will retire 1776 Colors and raise the National Colors at the Courthouse on the Square. Page 6

7 12:00 PM The American Revolution: Performed by the Washington Little Theater Company at the Retro Event Center, 114 Spring St. Some Characters include Betsy Ross, King George III, John Adams, Sam Adams, and Patrick Henry. 2:30 PM Pageantry at the Kettle Creek Battlefield Continental Army, Georgia Militia, Fife and Drum music, Musket Volley and Wreath Presentations. GPS N W82886 Sunday Morning February 15 th 9:00 AM Colonial Worship Service, Phillips Mill Baptist Church, 5479 Greensboro Road, Washington, GA (706) :00 AM Heroes of the Hornet s Nest Ceremony, Elijah Clarke State Park, 2959 McCormick Highway, Lincolnton, GA. GPS N W The public is invited to all events Come and Join us for the celebration Kettle Creek Battlefield Association Annual Meeting Friday, February 13, :30 PM 5:30 PM Edward B Pope Conference Center 48 Lexington Ave Washington, GA Page 7

8 Membership Levels Patriot Membership Student: $10.00 Adult: $25.00 Family: $50.00 Life Membership Col. Andrew Pickens Member $ Col. John Dooly Member $1, Col. Elijah Clarke Member $2, President George Washington $5, Kettle Creek Battlefield Legacy Member $25, Life Members can continue to reach higher levels of membership through cumulative gifting. Additional donations can be made separately or along with the membership renewal. Name Address City State Zip Phone Please make your check payable to Kettle Creek Battlefield Association, Inc Send to : Kettle Creek Battlefield Association, Inc. P. O. Box 729 Washington, GA Thank you for your support Page 8

The Connecticut Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, Inc.

The Connecticut Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, Inc. CTSSAR Historic Sites and Celebrations Committee 2016 Annual Report Todd Gerlander, Chairman Committee Members: February 5, 2017 Lee