BRIER CREEK PATRIOT Brier Creek Chapter Screven County, Georgia Vol. 4 Copies - 60 Issue 3 Editor Dess D. Smith III, 214 N Racetrack Street, Swainsboro, GA 30401 Compatriots, Our third Brier Creek Chapter meeting for 2019 will be held on Thursday night, March 7, 2019 at R & D s Restaurant, located on hi-way 301, just north of Sylvania at 6:30. The program for the evening will be presented by Compatriot Steve Burke, who will present his program as a British Officer giving us information on the Sulzberger s and Huguenots. Compatriot Steve is a dual member of the Brier Creek Chapter and is the Vice-President of the Wiregrass Chapter in Swainsboro. Steve is a survivalist and has a vision of what the American Revolutionary War Patriots made to survive during the 1700 s. Steve lives in Garfield, GA and works for Planters Electric in Millen, GA. Steve is also the Commander of the Militia in the southern part of Georgia for the GASSAR and received his award for GASSAR s Militiaman of the year in 2016-17. He has fabricated all his militia uniforms out of road kill animals and 3 years ago built his very own 6-pounder Naval Cannon. One good thing about Steve is that he never uses the word no. EAST FALL LINE REGION GASSAR TO HOLD ITS 2 ND & 3 RD WORKSHOP S IN SWAINSBORO The East Fall Line Region Vice President Sonny Pittman asked the Wiregrass Chapter Sons of the American Revolution to host a first ever Registrar Workshop in order to adequately train the registrars to prepare applications that can be approved without additional effort. The workshop was also opened to any members that would like to learn more about how to prepare applications and gather source material for applications. This first ever Registrar Workshop was so successful, Vice-President Sonny Pittman decided to have another first ever Workshop. This time the Wiregrass Chapter will host a 2 nd Workshop on Saturday, March 16 th at the New China Restaurant in Swainsboro. This time it will be a BOM Quarterly Report, Stark Report & Chapter Reports Workshop. Col William few Chapter Registrar & Secretary Bill Tankersley will lead the workshop.
Topics to be discussed include: The GASSAR Website, Source Book and how to prepare chapter reports and forms. WiFi will be available, so bring your laptops. A third Workshop has also been planned at the same location and time. The date will be announced at a later date. This will be an Americanism Report Workshop conducted by former Georgia Society President and current Americanism Report Chairman Roger Coursey. Also, Wifi will be available so bring your laptops. KETTLE CREEK BATTLEFIELD EVENT, WASHINGTON, GA & WILKES COUNTY Members of the Brier Creek Chapter and the Wiregrass Chapter of the GASSAR traveled to Washington, GA and Wilkes County to attend the 240 th Anniversary Celebration of the Battle at Kettle Creek. This American Revolutionary War battle was fought on February 14, 1779. We arrived in downtown Washington, GA at 8:30 am just in time. At 9:00 am, about 20 SAR members in Continental and Militia uniforms lined up for the Musket Salute at the raising of the 1776 Colors on the Courthouse Flag Pole at Present Arms. We then fired a 3-round volley with our Pennsylvania 50 Cal. Long Rifles (flintlocks). At 10:00 we again lined up for the 3-round Musket Salute to the Heroes of the Hornets Nest on the City Square. At 10:45, SAR members from GA, SC and FL, plus the local high school band marched in a Revolutionary War Parade around city square twice. Then at 11:00, SAR members in Continental and Militia uniforms participated in the Annual Dramatic Black Powder Skirmish Portrayal of the Battle of Kettle Creek in Fort Washington Park. Compatriot Steve Burke lined his 6-pounder Naval Cannon on the high banks above the skirmish and fired 6 rounds from the 6-pounder cannon. At 11:45 am we again formed up at the Courthouse for the Musket Salute as the 1776 colors were lowered and our present day National Colors were raised on the Courthouse Flag Pole. After a great meal, we traveled 8 miles in Wilkes County to the actual Kettle Creek Battlefield for the 240 th Anniversary Celebration and to honor those brave Patriots who fought for our Freedoms. This annual ceremony began on WAR HILL at 2:30 pm. During the ceremony members of the Brier Creek and Wiregrass Chapters participated in the Presentation of the Colors, Retrieving the Colors, the Musket and Cannon Volley and the Retirement of the Colors. Also, during the Wreath Presentation, there were about 100 presenters including: Lee Smith for the Brier Creek Chapter, Ruskin Powell for the Wiregrass Chapter, Wilder Smith, Jr. for the Four Rivers Chapter, Steve Burke for the Mill Creek Chapter, and Dess Smith III for the Fall Line Chapter. SEE BELOW PHOTO TAKEN ON TOP OF WAR HILL, KETTLE CREEK BATTLEFIELD L TO R: Steve Burke, Woody Woodard, Don Bazemore, Wilder Smith, Ruskin Powell, Lee Smith, Dess Smith Members of the famous Skunk Brigade
HEROES OF THE HORNET S NEST EVENT AT ELIJAH CLARKE STATE PARK Members of the Brier Creek Chapter, Mill Creek Chapter and Wiregrass Chapter traveled to Elijah Clarke State Park to attend the Elijah Clarke and Heroes of the Hornet s Nest Remembrance Day on Friday morning, February 8, 2019 located in Lincoln County, GA. Woody Woodard, Wilder Smith, Jr. and Dess Smith III participated in the Militia, while Emory Fennell filled in for the Georgia Society Chaplain. Also attending was Randy Jones of the SAR Mill Creek Chapter and Lynda Smith Woodard of the DAR Kettle Creek Chapter. The event started at 10:30 with Living History at the restored cabin and Elijah Clarke Museum colonial lifestyle demonstrations period music musket firing traveling trunk display book signings. At 12:00 we were treated to the ANNUAL free Chili luncheon and dessert buffet. The Heroes of the Hornet s Nest Wreath Ceremony began at 1:30 pm. The featured speaker this year was noted historian and author Robert S. Davis with recently discovered information on Kettle Creek hero and original Wilkes County resident Colonel John
Dooly. His presentation was on Intrique and Murder in Egypt: Col. Dooly s Revolutionary War Plantation in Elijah Clarke State Park. The wreath ceremony at Elijah Clarke s grave followed and there were 70 participants, including: Woody Woodard for the Brier Creek Chapter, Randy Jones for the Mill Creek Chapter, Emory Fennell for the Wiregrass Chapter, Wilder Smith, Jr. for the Four Rivers Chapter, and Dess Smith III for the Fall Line Chapter. Also, Lynda Smith Woodard presented a wreath for the DAR Kettle Creek Chapter. After the wreaths were presented, the Militia participated in the Musket Salute by firing a 3-round volley and then taps was played by the GASSAR Color Guard. SEE BELOW MEMBERS OF THE SAR FIRING THEIR PENNSYLVANIA 50 CAL. FLINTLOCKS
240 TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AT THE BRIER CREEK BATTLEFIELD, MARCH 3, 2019 The Brier Creek Chapter SAR, Wiregrass Chapter SAR and the Gov. David Emanuel/Adam Brinson Chapter DAR sponsored the 240 th Anniversary Celebration of the Battle at Brier Creek in Screven County, GA. This event, attended by over 125 people, took place on Saturday, March 2, 2019 on the main Battle site. The Master of Ceremonies for this year s event was Compatriot Tommy Christopher. This is the 4 th year in a row that Compatriot Christopher has served as the M/C. At 11:00 am, M/C Christopher asked everyone to be seated and after the Welcome he asked the GASSAR Chaplain D. Alan Smith to say the invocation. Next M/C Christopher called on Commander Bill Palmer for the Presentation of the Colors by the award winning GASSAR Color Guard. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Scotty Scott, the Brier Creek Chapter Registrar. Then the National Anthem was led by Emory D. Fennell, the Wiregrass Chapter Chaplain. After the Recognition of Guests, Greetings were presented by Bill Dobbs, Senior Vice President Georgia Society SAR, Sonny Pittman, Vice President East Fall Line Region, O. B. McCorkle, 1 st Vice Regent, Georgia Society DAR, Stephen Hammond, President, Brier Creek Battlefield Association, Inc., Senator Jesse Stone, and Representative Jon G. Burns. Compatriot Stephen Hammond then came forward and introduced the speaker for the event, Dr. David A. Noble. Compatriot Noble s topic was: Brier Creek Battlefield Past, Present, and Future. Next M/C Christopher held the Wreath Presentations. He called each organization, one at a time, to come forward to present their wreath. There was a total of 46 wreath presentations. Next M/C Christopher asked Commander Palmer to Retrieve the Colors. The Militia Commander Bruce Maney and the Artillery Commander Steve Burke then held the alternating 3- round volley by 14 militiamen with their flintlocks and 7 artillerymen with their 2 cannon s, a 6-pounder Naval cannon and a 12-pounder Napoleon cannon. After the 3-round volley, DAR Gov. David Emanuel/Adam Brinson Chapter Regent Jane Durden played taps on her bugle. M/C Christopher then called on Commander Bill Palmer to Retire the Colors. The Benediction was given by the Brier Creek Chapter Chaplain Wayne Howard. M/C Christopher then gave the closing remarks. SEE BELOW 3 PHOTO S AT THE 240 TH ANNIVERSARY EVENT AT THE BRIER CREEK BATTLEFIELD BELOW SEE: PHOTO #1, GASSAR AWARD WINNING COLOR GUARD
BELOW SEE: PHOTO #2, 14 SAR MILITIA FIRING THEIR 50 CAL. FLINTLOCKS
BELOW SEE: 6-POUNDER NAVAL CANNON & 12-POUNDER NAPOLEON CANNON FIRING
SAM COCHRAN TREASURER S REPORT: Compatriot Sam reports that we are doing great with our bank balance. SCOTTY SCOTT S REGISTRAR S REPORT: Our first approved Brier Creek Chapter member for 2019 is Dennis Wiggins. Dennis was elected as our 2019 Secretary. Congratulations to Dennis. Also, if you have anyone that would like to become a member of our Chapter, please contact me at 352-553-3568 (please do not text me) or e-mail me at scotti3275@aol.com.
1 ST QUARTER, 2019 SAR EVENTS: March 7, 2019: 3 rd Monthly meeting at R & D s Restaurant at 6:30 p.m. March 14, 2019: 3 rd monthly meeting at the New China Rest. for the Wiregrass Chapter, 6:30 March 16, 2019: BOM and Chapter Reports Workshop at the New China Rest. in Swainsboro, 9:30 am. March 19, 2019: 3 rd monthly meeting at Fordham Restaurant for the Mill Creek Chapter in Statesboro, 6:30. March 23, 2019: Louisville, Heritage Days, Jefferson Co Historical Society, 10 til 3, exhibit & flintlock firing. March 29, 2019: Georgia On My Mind event at the Welcome Station, Hiway 301, Screven County, 9:00 am. March 30, 2019: Screven Co. Parade downtown Sylvania, Brier Creek Float and cannon exhibit & firing, 9:00 2 nd QUARTER, 2019 SAR EVENTS; April 4, 2019: 4 th Monthly meeting at R & D s Restaurant at 6:30. April 11, 2019: 4 th Monthly meeting at the New China Rest. For the Wiregrass Chapter. April 13, 2019: Frederica Patriots Day Celebration, St. Simons Island event & parade, 9:00 am. April 16, 2019: 4 th Monthly meeting at Fordham s Restaurant for the Mill Creek Chapter in Statesboro, 6:30 April 27, 2019: Georgia Society BOM, Barnesville, GA at 10:00 May 4, 2019: 74 th Pine Tree Festival Parade in Swainsboro. Wiregrass Float, cannon & flintlock firing, 10:00 In SAR Friendship & Service, Dess