During the Revolutionary War, Georgia faced more than a war against the British.

It faced a war within itself.

Some Georgians remained loyal to the British Crown.

While others demanded independence and a new nation.

But many were caught in between, uncertain of which side to choose.

These divisions finally boiled over at the Battle of Kettle Creek, where neighbors became enemies.

And the outcome of that battle would help shape Georgia's role in the fight for America's future.

(patriotic music) After the Declaration of Independence was issued in 1776, the colonists broke into two main sides in the American Revolutionary War.

One group was called Tories, or Loyalists, because they stayed loyal to Great Britain.

The country they believed helped them become wealthy in the colonies.

Loyalists didn't want the colonies to cut ties with Britain.

In Georgia, most Loyalists lived along the coast.

The other group of colonists were known as Patriots.

They supported American independence from the British Crown.

In Georgia, Patriots were typically small-scale farmers or business owners who lived further inland.

They believed life would be better without British control, and that freedom from the Crown would give them more opportunities for success.

The Patriots saw the war as a chance to build a better future for themselves and their new nation.

Men from both sides felt like they had a future to fight for, and for many years they did.

The British viewed Georgia as the key to restoring control over the Southern colonies.

Because Loyalists outnumbered Patriots in Georgia, the colony was not well protected against Great Britain.

In December 1778, British forces gained control of Savannah.

From there, it didn't take long to restore Georgia to British rule.

But those circumstances would change with the Battle of Kettle Creek.

The battle took place on February 14th, 1779 near what is now Washington, Georgia.

Here's what happened.

Loyalist Colonel James Boyd was leading a mission through Georgia and the Carolinas to recruit men for the British Army.

He had gathered more than 600 Loyalist troops who were marching toward Augusta when they stopped to camp on a hill near Kettle Creek, but waiting for them were Patriot leaders.

Colonel Andrew Pickens of South Carolina, and Colonel John Dooley and Lieutenant Colonel Elijah Clarke, both of Georgia.

Together, they led a smaller force of about 340 men to attack Boyd's camp.

Even though the Patriots were outnumbered nearly two-to-one, they launched a surprise attack on the Loyalists.

The battle was intense.

Boyd and his men tried to hold their position, but when Boyd was killed in the fight, the Loyalists' defense began to collapse.

The Patriots pushed forward and drove the Loyalists from the battlefield.

It was a hard earned victory for the cause of American independence.

The Battle of Kettle Creek gave Georgia's Patriots a huge morale boost, and proved that the British could be defeated in the South.

It even pushed some undecided Georgians to finally support independence.

The Battle of Kettle Creek also showed that the American Revolution didn't only involve white men.

People of all backgrounds played important roles in the fight for independence, including Austin Dabney, a Black Georgian who was enslaved and became a soldier in the Patriot army.

Dabney served under Elijah Clarke, and was even shot in battle.

Historians believe this may have happened at Kettle Creek.

For his service in the Revolutionary War, Dabney was freed from slavery, awarded land by Georgia, and granted a state pension.

Some accounts also credit Nancy Hart, who may have spied on the British and shared information that helped the Patriots win at Kettle Creek.

Her contributions to the American Revolution are remembered through several place names in Georgia, including Hart County and Lake Hartwell.

The battle of Kettle Creek proved the fight for independence was still alive and stronger than ever in the South.

In Georgia, the Patriots won a pivotal battle, but the war with the Loyalists and Great Britain would continue for another four years.

(intriguing music)