Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-09
The RattIe of KcttLe Greek.


From the Washington tGt.l Ohronicls.
Many Of the younger people Of Old Will
kes do not know that an important battle
of the Revolutionary war was fought only
a few miles from Washington. The bat
tie OF Kettle Creek took place on the creek
of that name in the wear 1919, and many
Wilkes county people took part in it. The
battle field is now owned by Mr.. H. L.
SiatOn, and is about 10 miles from W ash
ingtOn, and about miles from the Green
sbOrO road.
Col. Boyd was in command Of a British
force at Ninety Six in South Carolina and
was ordered to march his command to
savannah. He decided TO move across
the country until he could strike the old
Ogeechee road, near tue river Of that
name IN TallaferrO county. and follow
that road TO Savannah. His intention
probably was to march through
Washington, which was then nothing
but rude fort, and a few log houses,
but this design was frustrated at old Pet
ersburg.
Eight American soldiers dug rife pits
at the ferry, and when Boyds army of
about 900 men marched down the mill on
the Carolina side OF the Savannah river,
beldly opened fire on them. These pickets
kept up such a lively fire that the British
commander supposed there must be a
considerable body OF troops ready 20 OPP
pose his passage. and ne decided 10 select
another point for crossing. He turned
away from the river and marched up to
BOwman's ferry, only a few miles above.
At this point there was no resistance,and
his command crossed into Ebert county.
Clarke and Col. Pickens. Of South Caro-
lima, who commanded the nearest Ameri-
can troops, then operating near Augusta
had been notified that Boyd mad started
in this direction, and they took up the
line Of march to meet him, the troops UNI
der their command consisting OF the State
forces Of Georgia and South Carolina, to
the number Of about 800,
About the time BOYD reached Billiards.
ferry on Broad river, PIckens and Clarke
were on Fishing creek, and had struck
camp not far from the old Heard's mill,
now owned nv JnO. l.. Anderson.
Col Boyd sent out a number Of scouts
TO hunt for the enemy ana these scouts
came upon six men OF CiaTke's army IN
the old mill house, very busy grinding for
the command. The British at once opened
fire and killed three of the Am
orleans, while the other three escaped one
of them jumping out Of the mill window,
and holding on 30 bag Of bullets, which
were then cOnsiered almost as valuable
as gold.
The army which was in camp about
mile from the mill was alarmed by the FIR
ing, but the British scouts escaped, before
any detachment OF Clarke's army reached
them. The three Americans were buried
were near the creek, and in 1910 their skele
tons washed up by lreshet. All the cOun-
try for miles round met and re-interred
their bones with great ceremony on a hill
near by.
When Col. Boyd the British commander
learned from Lis scouts that the Ameri-
can army was lying on Fishin creek, he
left the neighDorhOOd OF Billiards. ferry
and crossing Longs creek near the M u %
OF Dry Fork, passed near where Sardis
church and Centerville now stand on TO-
wards Kettle creek where the battle took
place.
The American forces were commanded
by Clarke, and the officers under him we're
DoOly, Twigs and Pickens. Col. 81 pheu
Heard Of this county had command OF "a
part of the American troops. When
B0vd broke camp. and took up his line Of
march TO reach the Ogeecbee road, Col.
Clarks moved bis army TO strike the
enemy, and IL Is quite likely passed over
the ground upon which Washington
stands, as this route would be direct one
from mis- camy on the Danburg ROAD TO the
battle ground.
Col Boyd camped on a. hill near Kett e
creek. known a. War bill, ard WAS en-
tIrely unsuspicious OF ary Ga near, 50
much 90, that his men were n ageu IN
sports Of various kinds and many OF them
were skinning beeves for the use or the
command. None Of bis men were ready
for battle, and when Clarke's men made a
sudden and determined attack, Boyd's
army Of Indians, tories and British re-
gulars were routed at once, and the bat
Gle was a mere slaughter
The defeat was complete, and OF the
force OF 900 man, not more that 300 men
found their way, In small squads TO the
British post IN Augusta, The remaining
600 we're either killed or captured, and
but little quarter was shown BY the Am
orleans, on account OF the brutallties
VII en- had been praoticed by the Indians
and tories.