The Siege of Augusta began on May 22, 1781 and was conducted by General Andrew Pickens and Colonel Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee against British troops occupying the town of Augusta, Georgia. Fort Cornwallis, the primary defenses, were successfully exposed to cannonfire by the construction of a tower 30 feet (9.1 m) high on which the Americans mounted a small cannon. The garrison surrended on June 6.
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On April 16, Patriot militia companies under the command of Micajah Williamson arrived on the outskirts of Augusta, Georgia and established a fortified camp. The garrison of the town's primary fortification, Fort Cornwallis, was commanded by a hated Loyalist, Thomas Brown, and did not immediately confront Williamson due to exaggerated reports of his troop strength.
General Andrew Pickens maneuvered a force of 400 men between Augusta and Ninety Six, South Carolina to prevent the British outpost there from reinforcing Brown. On May 15, Williamsom was joined by his commander, Elijah Clarke and another 100 men, and the British supply lines were effectively cut.
General Nathanael Greene had sent Major Henry Lee to attempt the capture of Ninety Six, but when Lee neared he learned that the town had been fortified in anticipation of Greene's arrival. Greene then ordered Lee to assist Pickens at Augusta. Pressing on, Lee reached Augusta after traveling 75 miles (121 km) in three days.
On May 21, the stockaded house of George Galphin, a British Indian agent, located 12 miles (19 km) south of Augusta was attacked by forces under Clerke and Lee. After a brief exchange, in which one Patriot died of the heat and eight to ten were wounded, the British garrison there surrendered after three or four men were killed. A total of 126 men, mostly regulars, surrendered. The prize (and the reason for the Patriot attack) was much-needed supplies and military equipment which had been intended for distribution to the local Indians.
Fort Grierson was a secondary fortified outpost located about half a mile (0.8 km) from Fort Cornwallis. This fort was defended by about 80 men under Colonel Grierson. On May 23 the Patriot forces began to encircle the fort in a manner intended to draw Grierson out in an attempt to reach Fort Cornwallis. Brown, aware of the danger to Grierson, sallied forth from Cornwallis, but when faced with Lee's strength, limited his support attempt to an ineffective cannonade.
Grierson, desperate to escape the trap, attempted to flee along the riverbank but his entire company was captured. Clerke's men then took their revenge on similar actions perpetrated by Brown, and refused quarter, killing Grierson and all of his men.
The forces defending Cornwallis numbered about 300 Loyalist militia, who were assisted in defensive works by about 200 African-Americans. The fort was well-constructed and the Patriots could not find a ready means of attack, since they only had a single cannon. At Lee's suggestion they decided to use a stratagem that had met with success at the Siege of Fort Watson. Under cover of a nearby house, they constructed a wooden tower about 30 feet (9.1 m) high. During its construction Brown made several further sorties, but Lee's men fought them off each time.
The tower was high enough to top the fort's walls on June 1 and the Patriots began firing into the fort. That night Brown led most of the garrison out and a pitched battle wLesbian Lesbian Lesbian Lesbian Www Weinberg En Siege of Augusta - pedia, the free encyclopedia Lesbian Lesbian Lesbian Lesbian Www Weinberg Enz Pics Lesbian Mpeg hLesbian Lesbian Lesbian Lesbian Www Weinberg En Siege of Augusta - pedia, the free encyclopedia Lesbian Lesbian Lesbian Lesbian Www Weinberg Enf m Adult