WTOC, Savannah, Georgia, news, weather and sports | Revolutionary War site still a mystery
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SYLVANIA, GA (WTOC) - History and a mystery all rolled into one. Musket fire filled the woods near Brier Creek, but nothing like 230 years ago.
Crowds gathered to remember the 3,000 Revolutionary War soldiers who fought there on this date. Among them, Tom Gurley's great, great, great grandfather.
"He submitted paperwork for a Revolutionary War pension and in his deposition he described marching here, the battle and escaping across the Savannah River." said Gurley.
150 men weren't as lucky. They were killed by the British in one of the war's lesser known battles.
Local historians know the names of many who died here, even the unit they fought with. What remains a mystery is where they're buried.
"This is a significant site for military history and American history. We need to locate the graves of 150 patriots," said Alex Lee, a local member of the Sons of the American Revolution.
Lee said they were probably buried together or close together with no time for markings. If so, it could be one of the nation's largest mass burials. He and other locals hope grant money will pay for research, ground sonar, whatever it takes to find the graves.
"Any soldiers of any war deserves that honor. That's the least we can do," urged Jason Beard, also a SAR member. "We feel like it is important to find the actual battlefield and the burial grounds."
"It has all the making of a National Cemetery, if we can just find it," Gurley said with a laugh.
Many at the ceremony Tuesday think national distinction would be a victory 230 years over due.
Locals estimate the battlefield was 2,000 acres large. It should take about two months for the National Park service to decide about the grant. and possibly a year after that to find the graves.
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