--- title: HR 541. Legacy of the Battle of Brier Creek; honor collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr541 cite_as: HR 541, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr541 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr541.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr541/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71232 date: 2025-03-06 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-09-12 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr540.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr542.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr541.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 541 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-03-06 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Jon Burns text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR541/2025 upstream_id: 1994244 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - Georgia history - American Revolution - Screven County - historic preservation - commemorative resolutions --- # HR 541. Legacy of the Battle of Brier Creek; honor ## Text House Resolution 541 By: Representative Burns of the 159th A RESOLUTION Honoring the legacy of the Battle of Brier Creek; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, the Battle of Brier Creek, fought on March 3, 1779, in Screven County, Georgia, was a pivotal conflict in the Southern Campaign of the American Revolutionary War, where British forces under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell achieved a decisive victory over American forces led by General John Ashe; and WHEREAS, this battle marked a significant moment in the conflict, as the British victory at Brier Creek not only allowed them to maintain a foothold in Georgia but also paved the way for their subsequent invasion of South Carolina, which was critical to the continuation of British efforts to subdue the southern colonies; and WHEREAS, the destruction of the bridge over Brier Creek by British forces, combined with a surprise flanking maneuver, led to the swift defeat of American troops, resulting in a rout and a major setback for the Patriot cause in Georgia and the Carolinas; and WHEREAS, the Battle of Brier Creek is a vital yet often overlooked chapter in the history of the American Revolution, contributing significantly to the broader understanding of the Southern Strategy employed by the British and the struggles faced by the Continental Army during this phase of the war; and WHEREAS, the Brier Creek Battlefield remains a historically significant site that is essential for understanding the military strategies and challenges that shaped the outcome of the American Revolution, particularly in the southern theater; and WHEREAS, preserving the Brier Creek Battlefield provides an opportunity to educate future generations about this crucial event in American history and honors the sacrifices made by both American and British forces; and WHEREAS, the preservation of the Brier Creek Battlefield will foster a greater appreciation for the region's historical importance, contribute to local tourism, and support educational initiatives focused on the American Revolution. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body join in honoring the history and legacy of those who fought at the Battle of Brier Creek, ensuring that their contributions to the struggle for American independence are remembered and celebrated. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the press. ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary. A Georgia House resolution honors the history and legacy of the Battle of Brier Creek, a 1779 Revolutionary War fight in Screven County, and directs copies to be distributed publicly. ### Plain-language summary This resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives commemorates the Battle of Brier Creek, fought on March 3, 1779, in Screven County, Georgia, during the Revolutionary War. The battle was a British victory over American forces and is described as a significant but often overlooked event in the Southern Campaign that shaped the war's later course in the Carolinas. The resolution states that the House joins in honoring those who fought at Brier Creek so their contributions to American independence are remembered. It also directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare copies of the resolution for distribution to the public and the press. The resolution does not create any new law, funding, or program; it is a formal statement of recognition. ### What it does - Formally honors the history and legacy of those who fought at the Battle of Brier Creek on behalf of the Georgia House of Representatives. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to the public and the press. - Creates no new statute, funding, or program, since it is a commemorative resolution rather than a law. ### Who it affects The resolution mainly affects the historical record and public recognition of the Battle of Brier Creek; it directly involves the Clerk of the House of Representatives, who must prepare and distribute copies, and indirectly touches Screven County's historical and tourism interests. ### Why it matters While the resolution carries no legal force, it formally places the Georgia House on record recognizing a specific Revolutionary War battle, which can support local historical preservation, education, and tourism efforts tied to the Brier Creek Battlefield site. ### Key provisions - The preamble recounts the battle's history, noting British forces under Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell defeated American forces led by General John Ashe on March 3, 1779. - The first resolving clause has the House of Representatives join in honoring those who fought at Brier Creek and commit to remembering their contributions. - The second resolving clause directs the Clerk of the House to make copies of the resolution available to the public and the press. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-03-06) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-03-06) - Sponsors: Jon Burns - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71232 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr541.md?full=1