• Any data used from the site should be credited. In a web page this can be with a simple link the site, such as this:
  © Global Gazetteer of the American Revolution.
  The url (subject to change) is http://gaz.jrshelby.com/.

• In a printed work, it may simply be sited as "John Robertson, © Global Gazetteer of the American Revolution, http://gaz.jrshelby.com/."

• If only a few sites are involved, the above citations are all that are required. If an entire work is to be based on this information, permission should be requested in advance. A typical requirement for moderate portions of the database to be used would be a request for a gratis copy of the published work. If the entire database, or most of it, were to be the basis of a work, financial arrangements would have to be worked out.

• Collaborators can expect liberal freedom of use, but please check in advance. Citation of source would still be expected, except for information you contributed.

• Google
  Select both latitude and longitude (simultaneously) from database entry. Paste them into the box at the top of this form
  Then click "Search Maps".
  Works for most sites, better for some than others.

• DMA Explorer Use this site
  Select and copy the longitude from the database entry and paste into the leftmost very small box at the right of the page.
  Select and copy the latitude from the database entery and paste into the box on the right at the right of the page.
  Click "Go".
  Note that the coordinates are entered longitude, then latitude.
  Works for almost all sites. Requires Java.

Dr. Lawrence E. Babits, Director and Professor, Program in Maritime Studies, Eastern Carolina University, marine archaeologist, author of Devil of a Whipping, 1998:

I believe that publishing site locations will, in most cases, do more to enhance the sites including protect them, than if the information were not available. My reasoning is that most sites have already been visited and hunted over by relic hunters. Most historical minded folk have little idea where the vast majority of these sites are located. If people interested in local and regional history learn these locations, they are more likely to visit them and their presence will help protect them in two ways. First, since many are on private property, or protected public property, visitation will keep down looting. The second way, is that interested people will see how these sites are related and, with a better contextual picture, they will be more inclined to support protection.

The real key to preserving these non-renewable resources is education. Once we can convince people that these sites, and their contents, are important to our heritage, we have won the battle for saving them. Until we can show how important the sites are, we can not expect people to believe us, even if they know where they are. Putting their locations out for people to visit is the first step in education.

John Allison, Columbia SC, an avid but responsible metal detectorist and an equally avid student of the Revolutionary War, concerned with the study and protection of battle/skirmish/significant sites. He can accurately be described as an amateur archaeologist and has been an active participant in the archaeological study of the Hobkirk Hill site as described in the Southern Campaigns of the American Revolution newsletter.

The good in publishing on-line site data for Revolutionary War related sites will greatly outweigh any negative impact on these sites. The better informed the general public becomes with these locations, the more likely we will be able to preserve them for future study. Although your site data may invite some amateur metal detectorists, educating an information- starved general public will greatly outweigh any potential harm that could be caused by a few rogue relic hunters. A better informed and educated public is our best weapon against losing our remaining Revolutionary War sites to development. Your Global Gazetteer will move us a step further along in this education effort, and in the preservation of these all-important landmarks.

Bobby Gilmer Moss, Blacksburg SC, Ph.D; Prof. Emeritus, Limestone College. His books include (but are not limited to): Roster Of South Carolina Patriots In The American Revolution, 1983;   Roster Of The Patriots In The Battle Of Moores Creek Bridge, 1992;   Roster Of The Loyalists In The Battle Of Moores Creek Bridge, 1992;   The Patriots At The Cowpens, Revised Edition, 1985;   The Patriots At Kings Mountain, 1990;   The Loyalists At Kings Mountain, 1998;   The Loyalists In The Siege Of Fort Ninety Six, 1999;   Uzal Johnson, Loyalist Surgeon, A Revolutionary War Diary, 2000;   Journal Of Capt. Alexander Chesney, Adjutant to Maj. Patrick Ferguson, 2002;   The Journal And Genealogy Of Michael Gaffney, From Ireland to the Backwoods of South Carolina, 2004;   African-American Patriots In The Southern Campaign Of The American Revolution (with Michael Scoggins), 2004;   African-American Loyalists In The Southern Campaign Of The American Revolution (with Michael Scoggins), 2005.

John Robertson has performed a great service to all Revolutionary War historians, history buffs, and the population as a whole. No longer will builders, developers, and others have the excuse of saying that they did not know a historical site would be destroyed by their activities. Furthermore, the property owners, possibly for the first time, will learn that a historical site is on their property. Calling the fact to their attention is a major step in enlisting their support in preserving the site. I know this to be true from my experience in locating burial sites in Cherokee County.

For years I have sought the exact location of Revolutionary War engagements and no one, except relic hunters, knew where sites were. On occasions these enthusiasts gave me the location. They believed they were protecting the site by keeping the location secret. In a way, they were protecting the site. However, a broader knowledge of the historical site provides better protection. Hundreds, or perhaps thousands, of guards will always be more effective than a smaller group. Conservation organizations, relic hunters, professional historians, and the community as a whole now can unite to better protect our heritage. Seeing all the sites gathered on a map has made me aware that far more engagements took place than I realized. This alone is a wake-up call for everyone who has an interest in the Revolutionary War. Now is the time to locate, identify, and protect these sites before more of them are destroyed. Knowledge is the best weapon to use in the defense of these landmarks. Robertson has given us the key to open the door to that knowledge. It is now our responsibility to join him by identifying any other unrecorded sites.

Calvin Keys, Asheboro NC, former avid metal detectorist and equally avid student of the Revolutionary War. No one contributed more to the historical and archaeological study of the Battle of Camden site as recorded here on the most thoroughly documented website for any battle in any war. Calvin epitomizes the "amateur archaeologist" in that he shares his knowledge with professionals and he accurately records the location of his finds. His original map of the Battle of Camden has been published in several books and publications. He is no longer active in site searches but he continues to support historical research.

This awesome database of Revolutionary War locations is truly a treasure chest for those of us who have a passion for Revolutionary War history. Visiting these sites allows me to step back in time and to reenact the events in my mind. I often visit sites of battles and skirmishes to get a sense of the action and to see the layout of the ground. I believe the blood-stained ground to be special and I consider our soldiers who lost that blood to be deserving of our honor. It is very important for our future generations and to our country that the exact locations of Revolutionary War events and places be known and correctly marked. How else can we properly place monuments in honor of the events that formed this great nation, or how can we protect the sites where they occurred? Certainly not by protecting and marking the wrong ground. Certainly not by sitting on information and knowledge that would otherwise help to locate and to protect the sites. The greatest amount of Revolutionary War information in history is being compiled on many great web sites but much knowledge will still die with our generation if it is not shared. I would like to encourage everyone who has information and/or artifacts that would help locate or more accurately place Revolutionary War sites to share your knowledge for the benefit of future generations.

Also see unsolicited feedback from users of the site.