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

A detachment of North Carolina militia, including at least two companies of Light Horse, rode to the
assistance of Colonel Pickens and these men fought at Kettle Creek. These men were commanded by
Captains Adam Hampton and Henry Turney. Their regiment was commanded by Colonel Tutt, who was
not likely present in the battle. The evidence for the participation of the North Carolina Light Horse was
not contained in any published histories on the battle of Kettle Creek. It was recognized by the present
research effort while reviewing pension records of participants in the battle (Footnote.com 2008 [Joseph
Dunn S12811]).
Captain David Wilson commanded a company of “light horse” from Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
in February, 1779. Wilson’s company participated in the campaign against the Loyalist uprising (Tompkins
1903:38). Private William Tucker served in Captain Wilson’s company was part of a regiment under
command of Colonel Matthew Lock [probably Colonel Francis Locke] in 1780 (Footnote.com 2008
[William Tucker R18574]). Major [David?] Wilson commanded the North Carolina militia and served
under Colonel Francis Lock in the battle of Ramsour’s Mill, North Carolina in 1780 (Sherman 2003). Our
research was unable to determine if Captain Wilson’s company fought in the battle of Kettle Creek. The
company participated in the battle of Brier Creek on March 3, 1779, however, so the company was active in
the Savannah River watershed. Private Hugh Forbus served in Captain Wilson’s company and he stated in
his pension application that he was discharged on February 1, 1779 at the Savannah River (Footnote.com
2008 [Hugh Forbus pension application S5853]).
Table 3. Troop Return of Pickens' Detachment, June 21, 1779.
A Return of the Detachment of Light Horse Commanded by
Colo Andrew Pickins Camp at Fargason Plantation June 21, 1779.
In Camp Present fit for Duty
Head Officers Commanding Officers
Colonels 1
Captains 2
Lieutenants 9
Adjutants 1
Quarter Master 1
Non Commanding Officers & Privates
Sergeant Major 1
Drum Major 1
Sergeants 8
Rank & file 69
Total 93
Sick
Commanding Officers
Captains 1
Rank & file 7
Total 8
Killed Wounded & Missing
Non Commissioned Officers & Privates
Rank & File 1
Total 1
(Adapted from Pickens 1779).
40
A preliminary list of soldiers in the South
Carolina and North Carolina militia who
were almost certainly participants in the
battle of Kettle Creek is presented in Table
4. This table also includes soldiers in the
North Carolina militia (Light Horse), who
were detached to serve under Colonel
Pickens in the February 1779 campaign). A
more exhaustive list, which includes soldiers
who were possibly present, or whose status
in the battle was not determined is provided
in Appendix II.
The Georgia militia was commanded by
Governor John Houston in January, 1779.
Houston, a resident of Vernonburg, Georgia,
was elected governor in 1778 and had taken
office on January 10, 1778. The Georgia
government was in a state of disarray by
February, 1779 and was experiencing major
problems, not the least of which included the
British capture of Savannah in 1778.
Savannah had been the seat of government
of the State of Georgia. The death of
Governor Button Gwinnett created other
problems. In addition, John Houston had led the Georgia troops on their third failed attempt to conquer
British East Florida.
The next State governor of Georgia and commander of the Georgia militia was William Glascock.
Governor Glascock took office as President of the Executive Council on January 10, 1779 and ended his
service prematurely on July 24, 1779. Glascock took office less than a month before the battle of Kettle
Creek in the midst of the capture of Sunbury and Ebenezer and just after the capture of Savannah, so it is
unlikely that he had any significant influence in the military action in Wilkes County in February, 1779.