Archaeologists in Georgia say they have discovered the location of a small frontier fort that was the site of a violent Revolutionary War gunbattle between patriot militiamen and fellow colonists siding with the British army.

The fighting at Carr's Fort in Wilkes County in northeastern Georgia killed or wounded more than a dozen men on each side of the battle on Feb. 10, 1779. Archaeologist Dan Elliott's team found musket balls and rifle parts at the battle site, and he says it was a rare victory for Georgia patriots who mostly saw defeats during the Revolutionary War.

The fort was built around the farm house of Wilkes County cattle farmer and militia captain Robert Carr to give colonists protection from attacks by enemy troops and hostile Indians.

Tags: Wilkes County, revolutionary war, american revolution, archaeology, fort, carr's fort