Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-05-24
Aisturp uf 8. Gatulima.
HISTORICAL SKETCHES
OF THE
Early Settlement of South Carolina.
BY REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
CAPTURE OF FORT GALPHIN.


CAPTURE OF FORT GALPHIN.
The patriots, on the Georgia side of th'
Savannah, responded promptly to the call O.
General Greene. The British and tories hac
strong post at Augusta. Here they hac
erected two forts-Cornwalis and Grierson-
the former on the east side of the town the
latter on the west. The spot where once wa:
erected Fort CORVALLIS, is now burying
ground in the rear of the Episcopal Church
of Augusta.
On the 18th day of April-four days after
the fall of Balfour-the Georgia militia, un
der the command of Colonel Williams, as
sisted by Colonels Hammond and Baker, and
Major Jackson, began to assemble in the
neighborhood of Augusta. The garrison
placed in Fort CORVALLIS, were mostly regu
lars; while that in Grierson was composed
mainly of militia. Colonel Thomas Brown
was in command of fort CORVALLIS, and Col
onel Grierson in command of the fort which
bore his name.
Colonel Thomas Brown was, if not noted
man, at least notorious in his day. He was q
native of Georgia and resided in the town Of
Augusta. From the beginning of the Revo'
lutionary war, he was opposed to it. In the
summer of 1775, he and man by the name
of William Thompson, so conducted them.
selves as to induce the Committee of Safety to
order their arrest. Both attempted to cross
the Savannah and secrete themselves in South
Carolina, but only Thompson escaped. Brown
was captured, and after being brought back,
was tried. AS might have been expected, he
was found guilty and sentenced to be tarred
and feathered, and then tied to the end of a
cart and made to follow it whilst it was drawn
through the most public portion Of the town.
The cart, with Brown covered with tar and
feathers, was, by the sentence of the court, to
be drawn three miles, or until Brown would
confess that he had done wrong and take q
solemn oath that in future he would support
the Republican cause. The cart had not pro.
ceeded far until Brown made the desired con-
fession and took the proposed oath. This
rash treatment made Brown, if not brave,
cruel. He remained in the Republican ranks
no longer than he obtained good opportuni.
ty to Join the British. He was made Colonel
and placed in command Of Augusta. Stung
by the infamy which had been heaped upon
him by the Committee of Safety, he ever took
advantage ofany opportunity which presented
itself, to retaliate upon the Wings during the
days Of their distress.
Colonel Brown bore the reputation of a
brave man, and he was we'll fortified in Fort
CORVALLIS. This being the case, the Georgia
militia were too few in number, and, besides,
they were not prepared to conduct, success
fully, either siege or an assault Brown
was unable to ascertain, correctly, the number
of Wings who had collected in the neighbor-
hood. 1t was judged prudent by both par
ties, to await farther developments. Brown
was expecting succor from Cruger, at Ninety
Six, and the Georgians knew that force
from General Greene would soon come to
their assistance.
An attempt was made, by party of 10y
alists, under the command of Major Dill, to
drive away the Georgia militia, and thus re-
lieve Brown; but Colonel Clarke sent a de-
tachment of mountain men, under Isaac Shell
by, and Georgians, under Carr, who met Dill,
at Brier Creek, and scattered his command
to the winds.
The forces now around Augusta had so in
creased in numbers, and had become so hope
full, that the cause for which they had been so
long battling, and on account of which they
had suffered so much, would ultimately pre-.
vail, that they began to consider the propriety
of making an assault upon the garrisons in
fort Grierson and CORVALLIS. Colonel Clarke,
having recovered from the smallpox, had
Joined the army and taken command of the
forces around Augusta, advised this course.
He had been so fortunate as to get possession
of an old iron FIVE FOUNDER. This he mount,
ed on battery within four hundred yards of
fort Grierson, and made general preparations
for an assault.
AS was often the case with the American
army during the Revolutionary war, Clarke
found that he had not sufficient supply of
powder on hands. To meet the exigencies Of
the case, he sent messenger to Pickens, who
was between Augusta and Ninety.Six, re.
questing him that he would send him rein
forcement of men and supply of powder.
1t so happened that Pickens was so engaged
with the Indians, who had again commenced
hostilities in Georgia and South Carolina, that
he could not comply with the request Of
Clarke at that time. Pickens, however,
promptly informed General Greene of the
condition of things in the western section of
South Carolina. The courier from Pickens
to Greene reached the latter probably about
the time that fort Motto surrendered. This
accounts for the fact that whilst Greene at
first contemplated advancing by circuitoue
route to Ninety-Six, he turned to the right in
the neighborhood of Columbia, crossing at
Fridays ferry. The intention of Greene
was to go to Orangeburg-at least so thought
the British-and in view of this fact, Rawdon
took post at Monks Corner.
On the evening of the 18th of May, 1881,
Lieutenant Colonel Lee set out for Augusta.
This was the day on which Maxwell surren'
dered Fort CRANKY. Lee marched thirteen
miles that evening and camped. This plain
ly shows that there was urgent business on
hand. Before leaving CRANKY, Gen. Greene
assigned battalion of North Carolinians, un-
dor Ma;or Eaton to Lee At an early hour