At Clarke’s Creek near here, on the night of February 13, 1779, American troops commanded by Col. Elijah Clark, Col. John Dooley, and Col. Andrew Pickens encamped. Very early the next morning, they launched a surprise attack on the British forces under Colonel Boyd, encamped at Kettle Creek four miles away. The victory prevented the British troops from joining the notorious McGirth and broke their devastating march through Georgia.