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ELIJAH CLARK
MEMORIAL STATE PARK

LINCOLNTON
GEORGIA


About a quarter mile from the entrance is Dooley Spring. The spring is the location where the Revolutionary War Patriot, John Dooly once lived. Dooly fought with Elijah Clark and was killed here by a band of Loyalists.

Dooly Spring

The spring, to the left of this marker, was used by the John Dooly family. The simple log cabin, in which Colonel John Dooly and his family resided, was situated across the road opposite the spring. It was here that Colonel Dooly was murdered by a band of Tories.
Colonel Dooly fought with General Elijah Clark during the Revolutionary War.

Dooly County was named for Colonel Dooly.

090-4, Georgia Historical Commission, 1957

(Elijah Clark Memorial State Park Marker)

About half mile from the entrance is the Ranger Station and the location of the Elijah Clark Museum. There is a small fee of a few dollars to pass the Ranger Station.

In the Elijah Clark Memorial State Park there is a restored log cabin museum that houses tools, utensils and furniture from the Revolutionary War period. The cabin is open for tours on weekends from April to November. Near the cabin are the graves of Elijah Clark and his wife, Hannah.

Elijah Clark Museum

Elijah Clark, who moved to Georgia from the Carolinas in 1774 became one of Georgia’s greatest Revolutionary War heroes.
The museum is a memorial to the brave men and women who pioneered Georgia and fought for its independence in the Revolutionary War.

(Elijah Clark Memorial State Park Marker)

 


ENROUTE TO HISTORIC AUGUSTA

Kettle Creek Battlefield — The battlefield is way off the beaten path about 20 miles to the west, but is one of Georgia’s most important Revolutionary War sites.

On this hill the Fourteenth day of February 1779 the Battle of Kettle Creek was fought. This battle of the American Revolution in which the British were severely defeated checked their invasion of Georgia. The victorious American forces were commanded by Colonel Andrew Pickens, Colonel Elijah Clarke, Colonel John Dooly. Erected by the United State Government upon request of the Kettle Creek Chapter Daughter of the American Revolution, 1930.

(Kettle Creek Battlefield Marker)

After the British invaded and overtook Augusta, GA without opposition on January 29, 1779, Colonel Andrew Pickens, a South Carolina Patriot brought his troops through this area. His target was a Loyalist camp at Kettle Creek.

On February 14th, Pickens’ launched a three-pronged attack with Captain John Dooley and his Georgia Patriots on the right, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Clark on the left and Pickens at the center. Although the Patriots had the element of surprise, the Loyalists held their position for nearly an hour. However, their commander, Colonel Boyd, received a mortal wound and the Loyalists retreated. The Loyalists suffered about 200 casualties while the Patriots numbered about 30.

Battle of Kettle Creek

The Battle of Kettle Creek, fought here on February 14, 1779, was one of the most important battles of the Revolutionary War in Georgia. At that time, the state was almost completely under British control. Colonel Boyd, with 600 British sympathizers (Loyalists or Tories) crossed the Savannah River into present-day Elbert County enroute to the British army then at Augusta. Patriots Colonel Andre Pickens with 200 South Carolina militia and Colonel John Dooly and Lieutenant Colonel Elijah Clark with 140 Georgia militia marched to overtake the Loyalists. On the morning of the 14th, Boyd and his men were camped here at a bend in the then flooded Kettle Creek. Their horses were grazing, sentries were posted, and most of the men were slaughtering cattle or searching for food. The Patriots attempted to attack the Loyalist camp by surprise but failed and a desperate battle raged on both sides of the creek for three hours before the Loyalists finally broke and fled. Pickens and Dooly lost seven men killed and 14 or 15 wounded. Pickens later wrote that Kettle Creek, “was the severest check and chastisement, the Tories ever received in South Carolina or Georgia.”

(Kettle Creek Battlefield Marker)

Marshall Monument -- The Reverend Daniel Marshall established the first continuing Baptist church in Georgia and remained in Georgia throughout the Revolution. 

Rev. Daniel Marshall

Born 1706. Died 1784. Pioneer Baptist minister, established Kiokee, the first Baptist Church in Georgia in 1772. Erected by the people of Georgia in 1903 in recognition of his devotion and consecration to the cause of Christ.

(Appling Marker)

 


Onto Augusta

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