Near Elberton in Elbert County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Battle of Cherokee Ford

11 Feb. 1779

Photographed by James Larry Wilson, December 8, 2008

1. Battle of Cherokee Ford Marker

Inscription.

In honor of the brave militia men under Robert Anderson, including Capt. William Baskin, Jr., James Little, John Miller, Joseph Pickens and Lt. Thomas Shanklin, who fought a superior Tory force led by Col. Boyd at the mouth of Van[n]'s Creek and the Savannah River. This encounter weakened Col. Boyd's Tories three days prior to the Battle of Kettle Creek.

Reverse:
The first encounter with Col. Boyd occurred at the blockhouse where he was refused a quiet crossing of the Ford. The battle took place at the mouth of Van[n]'s Creek, 1.80 miles from this location.

Erected 2007 by Samuel Elbert Chapter Sons of the American Revolution.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Patriots & Patriotism • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is February 11, 1779.

Location. 34° 9.901′ N, 82° 44.14′ W. Marker is near Elberton, Georgia, in Elbert County. It can be reached from Ruckersville Road 7½ miles State Route 77. The marker is located on the Richard B. Rucker State Park in Elbert County. It is approximate 10 miles from the City of Elberton on the Ruckersville Road. Touch for map. Marker

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is at or near this postal address: Richard B Russell State Park, Elberton GA 30635, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Georgia’s Mountains. It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Bartlett Tucker Family Cemetery (approx. 2.2 miles away in South Carolina); Van’s Creek Baptist Church (approx. 3 miles away); Harpers Ferry Drowning (approx. 5.8 miles away in South Carolina); Lowndesville Veterans Monument (approx. 6 miles away in South Carolina); Lowndesville (approx. 6.1 miles away in South Carolina); "Old Dan Tucker" (approx. 6.4 miles away); Gov. Heard’s Home (approx. 6.4 miles away); W.D. Nixon Bridge (approx. 6.8 miles away in South Carolina). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Elberton.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Gov. Heard’s Grave (was approx. 4.3 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

More about this marker. The marker is scheduled to be placed December 8th, 2007 and dedicated that day.

Additional commentary.
1. The Battle of Cherokee Ford
The Battle of Cherokee Ford actually took place 3 miles upstream from Cherokee Ford on the banks of Wilkes County (now Elbert County) February 11, 1779. British Commander Col. Boyd

Draft picture of Battle of Cherokee Ford Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Larry Wilson, circa October 1, 2007

2. Draft picture of Battle of Cherokee Ford Marker

elected to not clash at Cherokee Ford and proceeded to the mouth of Vann's Creek and the Savannah River where Boyd's men crossed. Boyd had anywhere from 500-700 men recruited from NC, SC, and GA to reinforce Col. Campbell in Augusta, but Patriot Capt. Robert Anderson and his 100-120 men intercepted Boyd at their crossing and consequently Boyd lost some 100 men either captured, wounded, killed, or deserted and thus this probably contributed to the defeat of Boyd and his Tories at the battle of Kettle Creek where Boyd was critically wounded.

— Submitted September 13, 2008, by James Larry Wilson of Ruckersville, Georgia.

2. Vann's Creek battle site
The actual site of this Revolutionary War battle is under the waters of Lake Richard B. Russell. The GPS coordinates are shown on the monument.

— Submitted May 25, 2009, by Charles B. Baxley of Lugoff, South Carolina.

Additional keywords. Elbert (then Wilkes), County

Battle of Cherokee Ford Marker near Mouth of Van(n)'s Creek image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Larry Wilson, December 8, 2008

3. Battle of Cherokee Ford Marker near Mouth of Van(n)'s Creek

With the Marker are historians Steven Rauch (L), Stuart Lyle (sitting), and Robert Davis (RT).

Photographed by James Larry Wilson, December 6, 2008

4. Battle of Cherokee Ford Marker

Attorney Charles B. Baxley - main speaker at the Van(n)'s Creek Ceremony in Elbert County, GA. Dec 6, 2008. He is the editor and publisher of the on-line magazine, Southern Campaigns of the American Revolution, and gives battlefield tours and military staff rides. On his right, Reverend Jack R. Bozeman was presiding the ceremony.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 29, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 1, 2007, by James Larry Wilson of Ruckersville, Georgia. This page has been viewed 5,981 times since then and 143 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 13, 2008, by James Larry Wilson of Ruckersville, Georgia. 2. submitted on October 1, 2007, by James Larry Wilson of Ruckersville, Georgia. 3. submitted on October 1, 2008, by James Larry Wilson of Ruckersville, Georgia. 4. submitted on May 25, 2009, by James Larry Wilson of Ruckersville, Georgia. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.