Stirring Up a Hornet's Nest: - UGA Laboratory of Archaeology ...

1779. This letter was first published in Charleston, South Carolina on February 25 th , just 11 days after the
battle of Kettle Creek, which makes it one of the earliest written accounts of the Kettle Creek battle:
A party of men under Col Pickens, consisting of about 400, have acquired great reputation and honour, having on the 14 th
instant defeated in Georgia, between Carr’s and Phillip’s fort, a large body of the disaffected, from 6 to 800; killed Boyd and
Major Moore their leders [sic], above 20 privates, wounded many, took 22 prisoners, and retook 26 of our people, they were
carrying along with them. This fortunate event promises to put an end to toryism, and prevent any further internal
commotions (Virginia Gazette 1779:2).
While this anonymous early account includes the premature report of Major (or Lieutenant Colonel) John
Moore’s death, it is prophetic in its recognition that this battle was significant for putting, “an end to
toryism”, although the “internal commotions” would continue in Georgia and the Carolinas for several
more years. Moore was quite likely badly injured at Kettle Creek, which may account for the tales of his
death, but he rebounded soon afterwards. Davis provided a slightly different version of this February 20 th
letter, which stated,
The Upper Ninety-Six Regiment, under Col. Pickens, consisting of about 400, have acquired great reputation and honor,
having on the 14 th inst. [February 14, 1779] defeated in Georgia between Carr’s and Philip’s Fort, a large body of the
disaffected, from 6 to 800; killed Col. Boyd and Major Moore their leaders, above 20 privates, wounded many, taken 22
prisoners, and retaken 26 of our people they were carrying along with them. This fortunate event promises to put an end to
toryism, and prevent any further internal commotions (Robert Scott Davis, Jr. personal communication, January 5, 2009).
The April 6, 1779 edition of The Exeter Journal, a Connecticut Patriot newspaper, contained “Fresh
Intelligence” from Charlestown, South Carolina, dated March 3, which stated,
Col. Campbell’s Expedition from Savannah to Augusta, with the Highlanders and Col. Brown’s rangers, has proved as
unfortunate as Major Gardner’s to Port Royal; to escape a BURGOYNADE he has made a very sudden and precipitate
Retreat down the Country; leaving us in possession of all the back Countries of Georgia; and his Friends the Tories, to fall a
sacrifice, a whole Regiment whereof, which had with great art and secrecy been three years missing, have already been
defeated, and upwards of 150 of them made prisoners” (Genealogybank.com 2008; The Exeter Journal 1779:2).
The above reference to the “whole Regiment” refers to Colonel Boyd’s loyalist troops. The 150 prisoners
from Boyd’s regiment were captured at Kettle Creek, or shortly thereafter. Lieutenant Colonel Archibald
Campbell, whose army was in retreat from Augusta by February 14, learned of the battle’s outcome within
a few days. Campbell made a brief note in his journal before leaving Georgia that Boyd had been killed in
the engagement (Campbell 1981). Major General Augustin Prevost downplayed (or failed to mention) the
loss at Kettle Creek and its broader implications for a successful Loyalist uprising.
The May 7, 1779 edition of The Massachusetts Spy contained a summary of events in Georgia, which was
written by an anonymous author from Savannah on February 25. While this article emphasized the British
victory at Briar Creek, it alluded to the earlier events at Kettle Creek,
Upon intelligence being received that a body of Loyalists from N. and S. Carolina after fighting three successive actions with
the rebles, in their way to join the royal army, were on their way to Odam’s ferry, on Briar creek, Col. Campbell moved the
advance to favour their safety, and in the course of a few days picked up no less than 300 valuable subjects, whose zeal,
spirit, fortitude and loyalty do honour to the age in which they live, and will immortalize their names in the records of fame
(The Massachusetts Spy 1779; Genealogybank.com 2008).
The Executive Council of Georgia sent a letter on August 18, 1779 to the Governor and Council of South
Carolina asking for assistance, in which they pointed out the past services performed by the Georgia
militia. They noted that, “among others the Militia under command of Colo. Dooly were very instrumental
in defeating a large body of disaffected people from the back parts of your State, commanded by Colo.
Boyd, which put a stop, in a great measure; to the enemy receiving the support they expected from thence”
(Candler and Knight 1908).
The news in Great Britain in April 1779 trumpeted Lieutenant Colonel Campbell’s accomplishments in
Georgia while downplaying Boyd’s defeat at Kettle Creek. The Scots magazine reported statements from
Lieutenant Colonel Campbell that mentioned the Loyalist loss without any specific reference to Colonel
Boyd or Kettle Creek. Campbell stated:
That at Augusta and round it, the inhabitants, to the number of 1400 men, submitted, swore allegiance to the King, took the
benefit of his Majesty's gracious protection, and were formed into twenty companies, in the style of militia, for the defence of
their property against the incursions of the rebels from Carolina: That after his return down the country, intelligence was
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