TO THE EDITOR:

The Samuel Elbert Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution, filed a request to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources - Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites - on November 2, 2005, asking permission to place a small granite monument at Richard B. Russell State Park. It would commemorate the battle/skirmish that took place February 11, 1779, at the mouth of Van Creek and the Savannah River in Wilkes County, Georgia.

Tory Colonel Boyd with about 800 men was coming from South Carolina into Georgia to persuade the residents of north Georgia to declare loyalty to the English Crown. Captain Robert Anderson with a party of about 90 Patriot militia attacked the Tories as they were landing on the Georgia side. Various histories seem to confirm that this took place.

On July 21, 2006, we learned that our petition was denied. The reasons for denial are as follows: "A review of the literature was undertaken and we found that Kenneth Coleman, author of 'The American In Georgia 1763-1789' and a leading authority on the Revolutionary War in the south, describes the event that took place at Cherokee Ford as a skirmish rather than a battle. Additionally, the confrontation occurred on South Carolina soil, not in Georgia. Further, a search of our records indicates that there is no historic marker chronicling this event." This letter of rejection was signed by Becky Kelley, Director.

Our Chapter Board will meet on August 3, 2006, and in all probability an appeal will be made as reasons for denial are vague and inaccurate.

We feel that this is an attack on early Wilkes County history and you may wish to respond. The department is located at: 2 MLK Jr. Drive, Suite 1352, Atlanta, Georgia 30334, phone 404-656-9448; FAX 404651-5871; Director@dnr.state.ga.us

STUART LYLE

vice-president Samuel Elbert Chapter, SAR