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304 GEOEGIA AND GEORGIANS
preparations for the thorough investment of the town. By the 23d of
September, all their dispositions had ibeen perfected; and on the same
day occurred the first skirmish between the opposing armies. During
the night of October 1st, Colonel John "White, with the aid of five associ
ates, achieved an exploit of a truly remarkable character; he. with a
handful of comrades effecting the capture of a detachment of 111 British
regular. On the midnight of October 3d, the bombardment of Savan
nah was commenced; it being continued, irregularly, until the 8th. It
was then decided by the allied chieftains to convert the siege into an
assault. And so, plans were carefully concerted for a general attack
on the British lines on the morning of the eventful 9th of October. It
was ascertained by the foe that the principal onslaught would be directed
against the Spring Hill redoubt, and the adjacent batteries, and, as a
consequence, Colonel Maitland was placed, with his choicest, troops, at
the point of greatest danger.
The aggregate French force, to be identified with this historic affair,
approximated 4,500 men; and was expected to form in three columns—
two for assault, one for the reserve corps. The American contingent,
participating, which could not have exceeded 2,100, was to be divided
into two attacking columns; the weight of those allied armies being
mainly concentrated upon the right of the British lines, where the Spring
Hill batteries were located. The enemy's strength at this time was fairly
estimated at 2,500; and they were intrenched behind practically impreg
nable defenses. The death-dealing -works proved most fatal to the allied
armies, they being hurled back from them, with a combined loss, in
killed and wounded, of 1,150. The English casualties were reported as
forty killed and sixty-three wounded. Thus ended this sanguinary and
epochal siege, which occupies a lofty place among the conflicts of the
American Revolution.
With the failure of the allied armies to recapture Savannah, despair
again resumed its sway over patriotic hearts. The little commonwealth
was now in extremis, and the war-clouds looked most ominous. About
this time, Nancy Hart, the Georgia heroine, arose, and showed the people
that all the dauntless souls were not dead, and that there Was "life in
the old land yet." She acted courageously, and she was a present
inspiration for everybody to do the same. The gallant partisans became
emboldened once more, and gave their attention to important enterprises.
Augusta was now in the hands of the Loyalists, and its recovery seemed
most essential. They, accordingly, took that project in hand.
The siege and capture of Augusta began in May, 1781; and with that
notable affair, General Pickens and Colonels Clarke and Lee were hero
ically identified. Colonel Thomas Brown, the Tory, was in charge of the
town, and his government of the place was high-handed and extremely
obnoxious. At this time, two fortifications formed the principal defenses
of Augusta.- Fort Cornwallis and Fort Grierson. The latter was named
in honor of the Loyalist lieutenant-colonel, who commanded its garrison;
and stood very nearly upon the spot now occupied by the Riverside Mills
The location of the former was identical with that of St. Paul's church
and cemetery. British regulars were stationed at Fort Cornwallis; while
the tenure of Grierson was confided to militia. After a careful consid
eration of the matter, it was resolved to drive Grierson out of his fort,