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NEWS-KCBA PROGRESS  Study group finds rare specimens on trip to Kettle Creek Battlefield
Georgia Botanical Club field trip visitors enjoyed their field trip and are shown here
on War Hill of the Kettle Creek Battlefield. Botanists and guests of the Georgia Botanical Club, seeking a variety of uncommon
plants in a small area, visited the Kettle Creek Battlefield site on May 10. Since the site has been undisturbed for over
100 years, it has protected many species from Revolutionary Days as well as those migrating in from all directions. Sixteen
professional botanists and hobbyists found the half-mile trail around War Hill a constant challenge for identifying uncommon
and rare specimens. "Well worth the two and half hour drive" was one comment. "I’ve never seen this in
flower before," was another. From a rare mushroom to "the tallest tulip poplar I’ve ever seen,"
the excitement of the very friendly group never subsided during the three-hour field trip. More than a hundred species were
identified, about half of which had not been reported from Wilkes County. "With permission, I would like to return over
the next couple of years and collect specimens for the University of Georgia Herbarium," said Linda Chafin, leader of
the group. An ornithologist listed 16 birds within the site in addition to a hen turkey with chicks, identified from
bird calls. The Georgia Botanical Society offers field trips at the invitation of local botanists, teachers, environmentalists
and others. Joe Harris, board chairman for the Kettle Creek Battlefield Association, arranged the visit through Linda Chafin,
of the Georgia Botanical Gardens in Athens. Allen Burton served as cohost and provided a briefing on the significance of the
site and battle in the Southern Campaign of the Revolutionary War.  Historian speaks on Wilkes Revolutionary Battle July 3rd, 2014. (Copied
from the News-Reporter newspaper of Washington, Georgia) Dr. Robert Scott (Bob) Davis, noted historian is
presented with the SAR’s Silver Good Citizenship award by Roger Coursey, president of the Georgia Society, Sons of the
American Revolution at a recent meeting of the Washington-Wilkes SAR. The award was presented for his research, writings,
and interest in the preservation of the Kettle Creek Battlefield. During the meeting, Dr. Davis spoke on the recent discovery
of, and archeology at, Carr’s Fort where the Patriots and Tories fought three days prior to and a few miles from Kettle
Creek, the site where the Patriots won an important battle on February 14, 1779. Davis was recommended for this medal for
supporting the initiative to preserve the battlefield as far back as 1975 when he pursued obtaining park status for the Battle
of Kettle Creek. Robert Scott Davis is also a noted genealogist and hales from Wallace State College in Alabama and has researched
countless Patriots who participated in the Battle of Kettle Creek. Other News: Betty Slaton continues to collect genealogy
research for the descendants of the patriots who fought at Kettle Creek with the latest Patriot identified as Austin Webb.
Austin Webb was known to have fought at the Battle of Kettle Creek February 14, 1776, under the leadership of Elijah Clarke,
one of the commanders of the Patriot forces. Webb was with Clarke when British feared commander Ferguson pursued north and
forced Clarke into Tennessee and North Carolina. As Ferguson broke off his pursuit he was cornered at Kings Mountain and was
killed at the Battle of Kings Mountain. Anyone who has genealogical roots of the patriots of Kettle Creek should get
in contact with Betty Slaton, genealogist of the Patriots of Kettle Creek…at kettlecreek@kettlecreekbattlefield.org.
KCBA Kettle Creek Battlefield Association purchases
land. The purchase of 60 acres is
the first extension of the Kettle Creek Battlefield site in a century. Wilkes County’s best-known Revolutionary War
battle site has expanded for the first time in nearly a century after officers of the Kettle Creek Battlefield Association
purchased more than 60 acres adjacent to the present site, expanding the size of the battlefield park to some 75 acres total.
Click on the link: Wilkes County Reporter - Kettle Creek
KCBA Kettle
Creek Battlefield Assoc. continues progress. Progress and planning on four fronts were extensively discussed at a recent meeting of Kettle
Creek Battlefield Association (KCBA) officers and others. Langford Holbrook of the UGA Carl Vinson Institute of Government, presided for a strategic planning session held in Washington. Holbrook opened the meeting with a brief report on a dozen telephone interviews with key offices
and individuals whose position related to Kettle Creek battle site development. Whereas he found uniform positive support
among local individuals, conversations with Athens acquaintances revealed that ignorance of the very significant. Holbrook USA Article 11-14-2013 KCBA Forum on War Hill discusses many future
uses for pristine Revolutionary War battlefield park By
KIP BURKE-news editor of the Washington-Wilkes News Reporter…. Leaders or their representatives from
across Washington-Wilkes and the state of Georgia assembled at War Hill Friday to discuss with
members of the Kettle Creek Battlefield Association
the future potential of the pristine Revolutionary War battle site. Dr. Joseph Harris,
chairman of the KCBA, welcomed the visitors and read a letter from Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal. “The history of Georgia is an important part
of our identity,” the governor wrote, “and I thank you for the work you do to………click on
the following link to read the “rest of the story”…. FORUM ON WAR HILL SEPTEMBER 20, 2013. KCBA Land Fund – Beginning of the Development of the Kettle Creek Battlefield Park.
Donate for the Preservation Cause to protect the battlefield KCBA Honor
Roll of Donors Thank you for your support-you make
it happen! $40,000 Georgia Society Sons of the American Revolution Kettle Creek Battlefield Association Joseph Habersham Daughters of the American Revolution Georgia Society Children of the American Revolution Charlie A. & Clare H. Newcomer Walker & Jo An Chewning Dr. James A. Granade LTC Robert & Honorable Mary Jane Galer Kettle Creek National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Marty Thurmond Fund Elijah Clark
Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Button Gwinnett Chapter, GASSAR Piedmont
Chapter, GASSAR Allen Howard
Society, GASCAR Samuel Elbert Chapter GASSAR Dwight G. Harley, Sr. John David & Linda Chestnut William
K. Jackson George Thurmond Col. Marshall A. Guill Robert R. Turbyfill, Jr. Mark and Emile Waters Oglethorpe
Chapter NSDAR Old Unicoi Chapter NSDAR Coweta Falls chapter, Georgia Society SAR Owen, Thomas & Jane Ramsaur, Richard and Lynne Harris, Joseph Athens Chapter
GASSAR Sapp, Robert A.
and Joyce Galis, Heard Col. Ebenezer Folsom Fareway
Bldg, R. Cofer Don & Nancy Burdick Burton, Emory Allen Farmers State Bank Guest, Jackson Reanoke
Chapter NSDAR Broome, Thad and Ginny Wiregrass Chapter GASSAR Robert F. Carr Augustin Clayton NSDAR Bernie Henderson Betty Slaton David Denard David R. Titus Elaine Roberts F &
M Bank John S. Harris Peggy H. Galist Rusty Callaway Sandra &
Charles Wray T. Marion Slaton Virginia Jaehnig Walter Louis Harris William Hargrove III William
Reynold Altamaha Chapter NSDAR Anne S. Floyd Benjamin Hawkins NSDAR Brackey, E. Lynn G. Kathryn
Anderson Garvin Aycock James Larry Pinson James Pittman NSDAR Kettle Creek
NSDAR Mary H. Washington NSDAR Meadow Garden NSCAR Old Noonday Chapter NSDAR Sandy Springs NSDAR Sukey Hart
NSDAR Thomas Reynolds, Sr Thomas L. Reynolds, Jr. Washington-Wilkes Chapter GASSAR Washington-Wilkes Chamber of Commerce Edmund B. Reinagel Glenn Eskey Hawkinsville
NSDAR James Stewart Chapter NSDAR Kettle Creek NSDAR Larry Wilson W. H. Fluker Beverly
Moody Katherine K. Bray Thomas Miller CD XVII John deVane Sr. John Clarke NSDAR KCBA History of the Preservation of Kettle
Creek.
Over $550,000 has been donated toward the preservation of Kettle Creek Since 1899. This includes DAR,
SAR, Car, local Wilkes County Citizens, GADNR, Historians, and interested citizens. Click on the document: KCBA July 7, 2012. Children of the American Revolution donates to the land fund KCBAJune
2013. Wilkes County agrees
to allow KCBA to purchase 10-30 acres for the beginning acquisition of the battlefield. Negotiations on-going with Plum
Creek Timber Company. KCBA
Progress for Funding: KCBA is in the process of obtaining funds for various projects: Book for Sale: “Stirring Up a
Hornet’s Nest” by Dan Elliott. For Sale…..Categorized in American Revolution, Archaeology, Genealogy,
Battlefield Archaeology American Revolution, Archaeology, Battlefield Archaeology, Georgia, Loyalist, Loyalists and
Revolutionary War. Evidence from the 2008 historical archeology study of the Kettle Creek battlefield in Wilkes County, Georgia
shows “footprints” where the battle of Kettle Creek (February 14, 1779) took place. This is not just an archeological
study about the Battle of Kettle Creek February 14, 1779, but it identifies those patriots who served there and identifies
loyalist as well. This study sets the stage for the development of the Kettle Creek Battlefield Park……….visit
https://www.createspace.com/4237776 $45.00 KCBA
Archaeologists Discover Revolutionary War Carr’s Fort on Georgia Frontier ….Wilkes County, Georgia – Archaeologists
with the LAMAR Institute discovered the location of Carr’s Fort, a significant frontier fortification that was
attacked on February 10, 1779. The discovery was funded through grants from the National Park Service American Battlefield
Protection Program, Kettle Creek Battlefield Association, and The LAMAR Institute. The month-long search by a team of six
researchers encompassed more than 2,700 wooded acres of the Beaverdam Creek watershed. Battlefield archaeology at Carr’s
Fort yielded about a dozen fired musket balls, several musket parts and several hundred iron and brass items from the 18th
century………………….Carr’s
Fort Press Release 4-30-2012 KCBABlack Patriots: Funded by the City of Washington, a memorial for the Black Patriots
was placed on the grounds of the City Square in August 2012. (Cost exceeds $50,000-$100,000)……..Click for story:
Black Patriots KCBAMaster Plan - $50,000 by CSRA, Jason Hardin author. (Download
4th version at): http://kettlecreekbattlefield.org/id22.html KCBASignage: Washington-Wilkes Chapter
(2011) applied for $2,000 for signage (funded). Directional Signs for Kettle Creek Battlefield location are in place
along highways. KCBA Several Grants have been submitted for a total of $1.8 million to acquire land. To date we have interested “Partners”
but have to find more. County has agreed to be the recipient of the land and will maintain the park as they have been
doing since 1930 (included the access route). KCBA continues to develop their financial resources and presently they
are in negotiations for on-going purchase of land. Stay tuned for further announcements. KCBAGovernor Nathan Deal: On March , KCBA officials met with
Governor Nathan Deal of Georgia, State Senator William Jackson, House Representatives Tom McCall Mickey Channell, and
TPL (Trust for Public Land) and discussed the needs for future funding. The request was made for partnership in funding.
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(12) U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss:
On April 2nd, KCBA officials met with congressional leader U. S. Senator (GA) Saxby Chambliss to request future
funding from the federal government.
L-R: KCBA Bd. Member Larry Wilson, Chairman KCBA Dr. Joseph Harris, Wilkes County Board of
Commissioner Kerry McAvoy and Washington-Wilkes County Chamber of Commerce President David Toburen Webmaster: Wendy Johnson. Send comments to: mailto:kettlecreek@kettlecreekbattlefield.org.
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