Members of the Brier Creek, Wiregrass, and Little River Chapters of the Georgia Society and the Henry Laurens Chapter of the South Carolina Society held an Education Day, Friday, March 4, at the Brier Creek Battlefield for over 65 students and adults from the Screven Christian Academy located on 603 E. Ogeechee Street, Sylvania. SAR members Dr. John Derden, Ted Walker, Allen Mincey, Alton McCloud, Bernard Martin, Don Bazemore, John Tapley, Ryan Williams, Dess Smith III and John Fitzner arrived at the battlefield around 9 a.m. to set up three stations that students would rotate between starting at 11 a.m. Each station lasted about 20 minutes with instruction at Station No. 1 from Dr. Derden on the actual battle; discussion of artifacts and weapons systems with Walker and Mincey at Station No. 2; and Burke and McCloud at Station #3 with discussion on lifetime of artifacts, relics and roadkill skins made into vests, hats and cloths.
At the end of each 20-minute session, Compatriot McCloud would fire his flintlock for students to move to the next station. At the end of the period, compatriots with their 50 cal. Pennsylvania/Kentucky Rifles, 69 cal. Charleville muskets and 75 cal. Brown Bess muskets fired in demonstration with the Brier Creek Artillery's 6-pounder Mortar, 6-pounder Naval Cannon, and the chapter’s 8-pounder Field Cannon, three rounds each.
The students left with a much better idea of what it was like here on the battlefield 243 years ago on March 3, 1779, when over 150 American patriots were killed and murdered. Their bodies are buried in unmarked graves over the battlefield.
Next year's education day with be on Friday, March 3. Reservations for school classes will be available at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and can be scheduled by contacting Chair Dess D Smith III by phone at 478-299-1039 or via e-mail him at saussure@bellsouth.net.
