STARTS Act of 2021

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the preservation of the American Revolutionary War battlefield site at Kettle Creek and to thank all of those individuals involved in this effort over the years.

Throughout my time in Congress, I have been a strong advocate for preserving America's historic battlefields. I have supported numerous battlefield conservation efforts and have pushed for the preservation of the Kettle Creek Battlefield.

During the 115th Congress, I introduced H.R. 6108, the Preserving America's Battlefields Act, to reauthorize the Battlefield Land Acquisition Grants Program to ensure the successful preservation of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War battlefields.

During the 116th Congress, I introduced H.R. 306, the Kettle Creek Battlefield Survey Act. The legislation would help evaluate the significance of the Kettle Creek battlefield site and determine its suitability as a designated unit of the National Park System.

America's preserved battlefields stand as magnificent memorials to our Nation's history and the courage of those individuals who gave the ``last full measure of devotion'' to our country. People who visit these historical sites cannot help but walk away with a greater appreciation of the sacrifices necessary to secure the freedoms we enjoy today.

Congress has made significant strides in preserving the history of America. Unfortunately, too many of our Nation's founding moments, including many Revolutionary War battlefields, are slowly disappearing with the passage of time. As these places fade away, Americans become unaware that many of our Nation's defining moments occurred right in their own backyards.

Kettle Creek Battlefield will not be forgotten thanks to the dedication and hard work of so many organizations and individuals.

Located in Wilkes County, Georgia, the Battle of Kettle Creek occurred on February 14, 1779. It was a significant victory for the Patriot forces during the Southern Campaign of the American Revolutionary War.

Led by Colonel Andrew Pickens, Patriot forces made a surprise attack on a large British allied Tory militia marching toward Augusta, Georgia. Despite outnumbering the Patriot forces nearly two to one, the ensuing four-hour bloody battle resulted in significant casualties for the Tory forces. With the Tory forces fleeing the battlefield, a Patriot victory was won. This valiant effort by Colonel Pickens and his men stopped any hope of a British advance into the backcountry frontier of Georgia.

One of the notable stories from the battle I'd like to share is about an individual named Austin Dabney. Despite being a slave, Mr. Dabney was a private in the Patriot militia and served with honor and distinction until he was wounded at the Battle of Kettle Creek.

And though crippled, after the battle, he returned to servitude. Mr. Dabney's actions that day were not forgotten. In fact, after the war in 1786, an official act of the Georgia State Legislature emancipated Mr. Dabney and granted him 50 acres of land and an annual pension. This short statement of Mr. Dabney only scratches the surface of his incredible story. And yet it's something that we need never forget.

Efforts to preserve the sacred site of the Kettle Creek Battlefield date back nearly one hundred years. Many individuals and organizations, including U.S. Senator Richard Russell and the Daughters of the American Revolution, have tried to ensure that this hallowed ground, and its priceless stories are not lost to time. Thankfully, a few individuals persevered.

Following a momentous visit by the National Park Service Acting Director Dan Smith, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior, David Bernhardt, finally designated the Kettle Creek Battlefield as an affiliated site of the National Park Service on January 14, 2021.

With this designation, the National Park Service recognized the national significance of the Kettle Creek victory and committed to preserving this vital part of history for future generations.

This recognition is an enormous win for those who have spent years working towards this goal. I want to extend a special `thank you' to a few individuals and organizations who went above and beyond the call of duty and helped make this day happen.

First, I want to thank the community leaders of Wilkes County, including the Board of Commissioners, for their years of hard work that made it possible for Kettle Creek Battlefield to receive the recognition it deserves.

I also want to thank former University of Georgia football coach (GO DAWGS!) and Civil War historian Vince Dooley and the American Battlefield Trust for acquiring 180 acres of the battlefield to transform these hallowed grounds into an educational, historic destination.

Finally, I want to offer the most significant gesture of appreciation to Dr. Joe Harris and the Kettle Creek Battlefield Association. The incredible efforts of Dr. Harris and the KCBA to preserve the battlefield and its stories should be an inspirational example of what tireless dedication and selfless public service will achieve.

These individuals and countless others from across the community, region, the State of Georgia, and beyond have made it possible to ensure future generations can learn about and appreciate this important part of Georgian and American history.

I hope that one day my colleagues in this chamber and their constituents will visit the storied grounds of what Colonel Pickens described as the most significant victory of the Southern Campaign and a place where a young African American Patriot earned his freedom 86 years prior to the end of slavery, for I firmly believe they are more than significant enough to preserve for future generations.

I am proud to have been a part of the effort to preserve the history of Kettle Creek. I invite my colleagues to join me in celebrating this achievement, and I give my heartfelt appreciation to those individuals that made this moment possible.