On the 16th of April, lieutenant-colonel Williamson's detachment assembled at the appointed rendezvous, on Little river, and marched to Augusta, where he was joined by colonel Baker, with the southern militia; and by captains Dunn and Irwin, with a few men from Burke county. Colonel Hammond and major James Jackson, were employed in embodying the militia of Carolina, near Augusta, and joined them a few days afterward. Notwithstanding the exertions of those officers, their assembled force was but little superior in numbers to their adversary, and vastly inferior in discipline and military equipment. Williamson took a position at twelve hundred yards distance from the British fortifications, and fortified his camp; and by the exaggerated reports which Brown received of his strength, he was deterred from attacking him. If Brown had moved out and attacked him, the issue would probably have been favourable to the British, as they had the advantage of artillery. Augusta was placed in a state of blockade un til the middle of May, when the troops became discouraged by the delay of the expected assistance, and were on the point of abandoning their ground. Major Jackson had been accustomed to harrangue the militia in their hours of difficulty and despondence, and on this occasion his enthusiastic eloquence had the desired effect, and retained them at their post. About the 15th of May, colonel Clarke had so far recovered from the small pox as to resume his command, and brought a re-enforcement of one hundred men to the camp. About the time of Clarke's arrival, major Dill collected a party of loyalists, with intention of joining Brown and forcing the Americans to raise the siege. Clarke detached captains Shelby and Carr, with a party of mountaineers and Georgians, to advance on Dill; whom they attacked by surprise, at Walker's bridge, on Brier creek; killed and wounded a number, and dispersed the rest, without sustaining any loss. When Clarke believed himself secure against the necessity of a retreat, he sent the horses of his troops, with a guard of six men, to Beech island, below Augusta, where there was plenty of forage to be had: Brown was informed of this circumstance, and sent a detachment of regular troops, militia, and Indians, down on the river bank, and in canoes, to cut off the guard and bring off the horses. Clarke was apprised of the detachment, and ordered Shelby and Carr in pursuit of it. Brown's detachment succeeded in the enterprise, murdered the guard, and were returning with the booty; when Shelby and Carr, informed of the result, lay wait in a thicket, near Mrs. Bugg's plantation, and attacked them; and following the example which had just been set before them by the enemy, they spared the life of none who fell into their hands: nearly half of the detachment of the enemy were killed, and the rest ran away, and the property recovered without loss. Clarke was unfurnished with cannon, but had picked up an old four pounder in the field, which had been thrown away by the British; believing it might be converted to use, he had it mounted, and employed a black-smith to form pieces of iron into the shape of balls; and commenced his approaches by constructing a battery at four hundred yards distance from Grierson's fort, and placed his gun upon it. Powder was so scarce, that orders were given not to use it when the sword could be substituted. He sent an express to general Pickens, stating his situation, and requesting assistance. General Pickens, with about four hundred men of Anderson's regiment, was maneuvering between Augusta and Ninety-six to prevent the garrison of that place from re-enforcing Brown, Colonels Branham and Hayes, were hovering on the eastward of Ninety-six to recruit their forces and intercept supplies. Colonel Hayes, with forty-five men, was attacked by a detachment of provincials from Ninety-six, commanded by ma jor Cunningham, and after defending himself in a house until resistance was useless, he surren dered on conditions, as prisoners of war: their arms were to be left in the house, and his men were to march out and surrender; which being done, they were every man murdered. The Indians had re-commenced hostilities on the frontier of Georgia and South-Carolina, which obliged general Pickens to weaken his force, by : detachments against them and the loyal refugees.. Pickens had informed general Greene of the situation of things at Augusta, and requested aid, which was promised him. Colonel Henry Lee's legion consisted of three troops of cavalry, commanded by captains Egles. ton, O'Neal, and Armstrong, and three companies of infantry, commanded by captains Carnes, Rudulph, and Handy. He was joined by major Eaton, with part of a battalion of North-Carolina militia, and after the reduction of fort Granby, in South-Carolina, was ordered to form a junction with Pickens and Clarke, at Augusta. After a rapid march of seventy-five miles, in less than three days, Lee reached the vicinity of Augusta. He had kept in his front captain Ferdinand O'Neal, with a detachment of dragoons, to collect provisions for his legion and acquire intelligence. From this active officer he received the pleasing information of the arrival of the royal annual presents at fort Galphin, on the north side of Savan nah river, twelve miles below Augusta, for the Cherokee and Creek Indians. The boats containing the goods had a small guard, who had been attacked by some American militia, ordered from Augusta for that purpose, and had driven them into the fort; but their number was not sufficient to dislodge them, and the boats lay under cover of the fort. Colonel Lee filed off with captain Rudulph's company, some other detachments of the legion, and a field piece, to take pos session of this valuable prize, consisting of ammunition, salt, rum, and many other articles very much wanted by the American army. The fort was a small stockade around Gal phin's house, garrisoned by two companies of colonel Brown's infantry. Lee had taken such precautions, that neither Brown nor the commanding-officer at fort Galphin, had any knowledge of his approach, which he hastened by mounting the infantry behind his dragoons. By a rapid march, he reached the vicinity of the fort early in the morning, of the 21st of May, and halted in a pine barren, skirting a field which surrounded the fort; and here prepared for the assault. Prefering stratagem to the exposure of his troops, he dismounted some of his militia, who were ordered to make a feint attack in an opposite direction from his main body, with the hope of drawing out a considerable portion of the garrison in pursuit of them. Captain Rudulph was ordered to rush upon the fort, while the remainder of his infantry, supported by a troop of dragoons, were ordered to shield his militia from the enemy. The whole plan succeeded without the loss of a man, except one who died from fatigue, and the garrison with its contents and the valuable Indian stores, fell into his hands. Three or four of the enemy were killed, and a few escaped who took to the woods. Major Eaton, with the residue of Lee's legion, formed a junction with general Pickens at the Cherokee ponds, six miles from |