Year: 1877

The Maham tower was completed on the
last day of May. The logs were all inter-
notched, and the frame work raised to level
with the enemy's parapets. The interior was
filled with stones, brick, wood and earth, so
as to give it solidity. On this tower, the six
FOUNDER, commanded by Captain Finley, and
a small piece, brought from fort Grierson,
were mounted on the End of June, and de.
clared to be in readiness to open on the enc
mys works.
Whilst the Americans were erecting their
tower the garrison were making strenuous ef-
forts for its defence. On an angle of Fort
Corvallis opposite the Maham tower, a plat
form was constructed, and upon this, two OF
the heaviest guns in the fort were placed.
Before the Maham tower was completed, these
two guns began to open upon those engaged
in its construction.


About noon on the End Of June, Captain
Finley had, with his little six Founders, dis
mounted the enemy's two guns and done con-
u'
At the same time, the only other piece of
ordnance which the Americans possessed, was
so situated on their right as to en6lade the
fort. At every fire, Captain Martin. who
commanded this gun, raked the platform.
Unfortunately, Captain Martin and several
of his men were killed by the enemy's rifle
men, but still the old iron cannon was not
suffered to cease firing. General Pickens
rushed up body of men to its support.


During the afternoon of the End, the six
Founders, placed on the Maham tower, and
the old iron piece placed on the enemy's left,
kept up continual firing. The works of the
enemy were fast giving way before their we'll
directed aim. Colonel Brown was now driven
to the last extremity. He saw that he would
not be able to remain long within his strong
hold, unless speedy deliverance was brought
him. Cut off from all communication with
the British posts in the neighboring country,
his only hope was to effect by strategy, what
he was unable to accomplish by force.


Between the British fort, and the Maham
tower erected by the Americans, there were
several old houses. The American officers
had permitted these houses to remain, think.
ing that they would be of advantage in the
final assault. Colonel Brown thought the
burning of the houses nearest the tower would,
in all probability, set the Maham tower on
fire. Of this thing he was convinced, so long
as the Maham tower stood intact, the British
garrison was not safe. In other words, he
was convinced that he must either destroy the
Maham tower or surrender at an early day.
To effect the destruction Of this tower, he
sent, at midnight, on the 3rd, a Scotchman,
under cloak of deserter into the American
works.


This pretended deserter was shrewd man
and sergeant of an artillery company. He
pretended that for some cruelty shown him
by Colonel Brown, he had deserted. By his
crafty conversation, he at once insinuated
himself into the good graces of Lieutenant
Colonel Lee This willy Scotchman pointed
out the mode by which the fort might be
speedily reduced. This plan was to throw
hot balls into the portion of the fort where
was stored away the powder. To aid in car
rying out this, as Lee, at first, thought, admi-
rable plan, the pretended deserter was sent,
in care of Colonel Lees adjutant to Maham's
tower, as an assistant to Captain Finley.
This was just what the deserter desired. The
real object of his mission was to burn or
otherwise destroy the tower. Fortunately,
Lee, on farther reflection, sent for the desert
er and had him put under guard to await fu'
ture developments.


About aybreak on the morning of the
4th, party sailed out from the fort and set
several of the houses, between the fort and
tower, on fire. No effort was made by the
Americans to extinguish the flames. Nine
o'clock on the 18th of June was designated by
the American officers to make an assault up
on the fort. The house nearest the fort was
selected by Lee and Pickens, as a proper
place in which to station number OF marks
men. A small detachment was sent to this
house during the night of the 4th to ascertain
how many rihemen could be employed with
advantage in the house. This they did and
reported to General Pickens. The number
was selected and ordered to take possession of
the house at daylight on the coming morn
ing. All things were now in readiness for
the final assault


At three o'clock in the morning, the Amer.
leans were aroused by violent explosion
The earth shook and heavy timbers were
heard falling all over the field. The house
chosen for the rihemen was blown up. Colo
mel Brown for several days had been piercing
the space between bis fort and the house
chosen by Lee and Pickens for their riAemen,
with a sap From what he could see, be con-
cluded that the Americans would occupy the
house with body of men, and thinking that
the detachment which had gone to examine
it during the night we're still in it, he blew it
up, supposing that their destruction would
cool the ardor of their companions He was
in too great a hurry. No one was in the
house. Had he delayed for only few hours,
be would have inflicted severe blow upon
the besiegers.


To avoid the destruction which Lee and
Pickens saw would follow an assault, these
officers on the 31st of May, summoned Col.
Brown to surrender. To this summons Col.
Brown replied: "It is my duty and inclina-
tion to defend this place to the last extremity"
On the Sd of June, he was again summoned.
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