Augusta. After the reduction of fort Galphin, colonel Lee detached major Eggleston, with the cavalry, with orders to cross Savannah river at Wallicon's ferry, three miles below Augusta, and form a junction with general Pickens and colonel Clarke. When Eggleston reached Augusta, he summoned Brown to surrender, informing him of the near approach of a formidable force from general Greene's army, under the command of colonel Lee, and the investure of Ninety-six. Colonel Brown treated the flag with contempt, refused to give a written answer to the letter, and requested that communications upon that subject might, not be repeated.

The town of Augusta is situated on the south side of Savannah river, upon a level plain, which terminates in thick low woods, interspersed with swamps and lagunes. Fort Cornwallis, which was the principal work, was situate on the northwest side of the town, about two hundred yards from its centre, and about one hundred from the river, having a complete command of the ground to the water's edge, and in every other direction, to the distance of eight hundred yards. To the west is a lagune, which communicates through a deep gully with the river. On the western margin of this gully was fort Grierson, about half a mile west of fort Cornwallis.

On the 23rd of May a junction was formed by Pickens, Lee, and Clarke: after reconnoitering the ground and the British works, it was deter

mined to dislodge Grierson, and to destroy or intercept him in his retreat to fort Cornwallis; and arrangements were accordingly made without loss of time for executing the plan. General Pickens and colonel Clarke were to attack the fort upon the north-west, with the militia; major Eaton's battalion, and some Georgia militia under major Jackson, were to pass down the river and attack the work upon the north-east; while Lee, with his infantry and artillery, took a position south of the fort, so as to support Eaton or keep Brown in check if he should make a sortie to save Grierson's command, in case he should attempt to eva cuate his work, and retreat to fort Cornwallis. The cavalry under Eggleston were posted in the skirt of the woods, to the south of Lee, ready to fall upon Brown's rear if he attempted to sally out. Discovering that Grierson was in a critical situation, Brown drew out a part of his command and advanced with two field pieces, with the ap. pearance of giving battle, to save Grierson, who was warmly assailed by Pickens and Eaton: Lee opposed Brown, counteracted his plan, and con. fined his interposition to a distant cannonade, without much effect on either side. Grierson finding that resistance would be vain, determined to evacuate his fortress and throw his command into fort Cornwallis. With this view he threw open the gate, passed down the gully to the river bank, and under cover of it, some of his troops escaped into the fort.

In this hazardous retreat, thirty of Grierson's men were killed, and forty-five wounded and taken prisoners: among the former was his major. Grierson was killed by one of the Georgia riflemen after he had surrendered, in consequence of his having rendered himself peculiarly odious to the Georgians by his cruel practices. A reward was offered by the American commanders for apprehending the person who shot him, but no one made the discovery. The imagination need not be much wearied in conjecturing by whom' this act was committed, when it is turned to the treatment received by the venerable Alexander. Among the Americans who fell, was the gallant major Eaton, who had on all occasions sought the post of danger.

Brown finding that he would be closely invested, applied himself to strengthen his fortress; and every part which required amendment was repaired with industry: he placed the aged Alexander, and others who had been long in captivity, in one of the bastions most exposed to the fire of the rifle batteries; one of which was manned by captain Samuel Alexander's company: thus the father was exposed to be killed by the hand of his son; but he escaped uninjured.

The preparations, on the part of the enemy, could not be counteracted. The Americans had but one field piece, and all that could be done was by close investure and regular approaches; therefore, all the tools which could be collected

from the neighbouring farms, were brought into camp, and with those taken at fort Galphin, the Americans commenced their approaches near the river bank, extending it towards the enemy's left.

The condition of the enemy's wounded, required medicine and hospital stores, which could not be furnished from the American camp. The senior officer solicited permission to send a flag to colonel Brown for a supply. The American commanders had no hesitancy in granting the request, but they disliked the idea of subjecting their flag to a second insult; recollecting the answer given by colonel Brown to major Eggleston. The principles of humanity however prevailed, and a British officer was permitted to be the bearer of the flag, and a letter from Pickens and Lee, assuring Brown that no consideration affecting themselves or their troops, would have led to the condescension of renewing a correspondence, which he had lately rejected with so much insolence and contempt. Brown returned a polite answer by the prisoner, excusing himself by re fering to some previous altercations with colonel Clarke.

Colonel Lee suggested the plan of raising a sort of tower, such as he had used to great advantage in the reduction of fort Watson, in SouthCarolina. It was simply a square pen of logs, raised about thirty feet high and filled with combustibles; proof against the enemy's artillery, and sufficient to sustain a six pounder. The tower

was thrown up under cover of an old framed house, which Brown had suffered to remain near the fort. On the night of the 28th, Brown sent out a detachment to force the Americans from their works: the onset was vigorous, and the guard was forced to retreat. Captain Handy met the enemy in the ditch, and for a few minutes the conflict was obstinate: Handy pressed the bayo net, and forced the enemy to retreat to the fort. Lee's infantry, after this sortie, were exclusively employed in defending the American works at night. Another attempt was made the succeeding night in the same quarter, and for a considerable time the struggle for the possession of the ditches was about equal. Captain Rudulph reenforced the guard, cleared the trenches with the bayonet, and forced the enemy, with some loss, to make a precipitate retreat.

On the 1st of June the tower was raised as high as the enemies works, and Brown anticipating the fatal consequences which would result from its completion; directed his attention to the destruction of it. On the other hand, the besiegers determined to oppose their whole force against any effort which might be made to drive them from their works.

Pickens took command of one division of the militia in person, supported by Handy's company of infantry; and Clarke took command of the other, supported by Rudulph's. About ten o'clock at night, Clarke's division were charged