Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-05-31
garrison consisted mainly of tories and loya
ists from the surrounding country.


1t was planned by Lieutenant-C Colonel Lee
that Fort Grierson should be assaulted on
both sides and in front at the same time The
troops, under Clarke and Pickens, we're to at
tack the north. west side; Eaton's command
together with some Georgia militia, under
Major Jackson, we're to march round and at
tack the northeast side, whilst Lieutenant
Colonel Lee, with the infantry attached to his
Legion, took position south Of Fort Grierson
and between the two forts-Grierson and
CORVALLIS. The cavalry, under Eggleston
were stationed in a skirt of woods south OF
Lieutenant. Colonel Lee. Such was the posi-
ton occupied by the American forces, that
the garrison of Fort Grierson could not es'
cape to Fort CORVALLIS, nor could Colonel
Brown, the commander of Fort Cornwallis
render aid to Grierson, the commander of the
fort which bore his name.
When Colonel Brown discovered the move.
ments of the American forces, be advanced,
with two 6eld.pieces, with the determination,
apparently, to save Fort Grierson. Soon,
however, he discovered that be was about to
be attacked in the front by the infantry under
Lee, and in the rear by the cavalry under
Eggleston. In view of this fact, he wisely
concluded to leave Fort Grierson to its fate,
and Immediately took shelter behind the
walls of Fort CORVALLIS.
The resistance made by the garrison in Fort
Grierson was short and feeble. The Ameri'
cans had few men wounded and Major Ea.
ton killed. A few of the garrison escaped to
the river. and by creeping along the side OF
the bank, succeeded in reaching Fort Corn
wallis. With The exception of these, the
garrison officers, and men, fell into the hands
of the Americans. Colonel Grierson was
taken prisoner, but was shot Immediately aft
erward. This act was not approved of by the
American officers. So incensed was General
Pickens at the act, that he offered large re-
ward for the discovery of the man who killed
Grierson but no one was willing to give the
desired information. 1t was made public
afterwards that Colonel Grerson was shot by
Captain Samuel (some authorities say james,
Alexander Both Grierson and Brown were
bitterly hated.
In both British forts, there we're number
of Whig prisoners Some of these were old
men and boys, unfit for military duty.
Whenever either garrison was attacked by
American partisan corps, it was the practice
of the commanding officer to place these old
men and boys in front of their men, 20 as to
protect them from the fire of the Americans.
In this way, it often happened that sons were
firing at their fathers, and fathers at their
sons. The father of Captain Alexander was
in Fort Grierson at the time it was taken by
the Wings. The old man had been exposed
to the fire of his own friends. For this, Cap
tain Alexander is said to have shot Colonel
Grierson. In fact, it was with great difficult
ty that the American officers restrained the
troops, under their command, from killing all
the prisoners Many were killed. Colonel
Brown had perpetrated many cruel deeds, and
the Wings, especially those of the surround
ing country, were determined on being re-
venged. The army stores, together with all
the arms and ammunition contained in Fort
Grierson, fell into the possession of the Wings.
The spoils captured in Grierson enabled the
American officers to proceed at once to laying
siege to Fort CORVALLIS.
On the bank of the river, between Fort
Grierson and Fort Cornwallis, there stood a
large brick house. This house was the prop
erty of loyalist who had joined Col. Brown.
Col. Lee, with his forces took post at this
house; Pickens, with his militia, were placed
in skirt of woods south west of the fort. Be.
tween the river and the fort, body of men,
consisting of several small commands under
Clarke, Rudolph, Oldham, Handy, Ham
mond and others, was posted. At this point,
Colonel Lee, who was the ruling spirit among
the besiegers, determined to begin the work.
There were only two pieces of artillery in the
American camp-ope an old iron piece that
Colonel Clarke had picked up, and small
brass six FOUNDER commanded by Captain
Finley. With these, it was determined to bat
ter down Fort CORVALLIS and force Colonel
Brown to surrender.
Every individual in the American camp
was in good spirits, and not only willing but
anxious to do his part. All the tools captur-
ed at Forts Bafour, Gslphin and Grierson,
together with many collected from the farms
in the neighborhood, we're put into the hands
of the soldiers, and in short time the two
pieces ofartillery we're mounted upon batteries.
The garrison in Fort CORVALLIS was not
idle. Colonel Brown had collected from the
adjacent country, previous to the commence
ment of the siege, not less than two hundred
negroes With these and details made from
the garrison, he strengthened his works and
prepared to die like brave man. Bags of
sand were heaped upon the ramparts, and
both his r;aemen and artillery kept up con-
slant fire.
Such was the nature of the ground that the
Americans could not bring their two pieces of
cannon to bear with effect upon the enemys
works. To remedy this defect, it was propos.
ed to erect a Maham tower That its erec-
tion might be concealed from the enemy, the
rear of an old house was chosen for its site.
In the meantime, Colonel Brown, seeing
that he had determined and skillful foe to
meet, adopted the resolution to frustrate the
approach of the Americans, by making SAL
lies upon the besiegers. Accordingly, at mid
night on the 2Sth of May, a strong force rush.
ed out of the fort and made desperate at
tack upon the American works near the river.