Fort Watson, Fort Mott,
Fort Granby, Nelson's Ferry, Georgetown, Fort Dreadnought and Augusta
were all reduced or deserted, and there remained only Charleston and
Ninety-six in South Carolina, and Savannah, in Georgia, in the hands of
the enemy. The post of Ninety-six was closely besieged for three weeks,
and without reinforcements, which the Americans hardly expected, would
certainly have been taken. But it so happened, unfortunately, that the
garrison was strongly reinforced by Lord Rawdon, and the Americans were
obliged to abandon the siege. Col. Williams writes thus:

"BUSH RIVER, _June 23d, 1781_.

"_Dear Bro._--The circumstances of the war, in this part of the
world, have had a material alteration since I had the pleasure to
write you. After Lord Rawdon's retreat from Camden, Gen. Greene
pushed his operations southwardly, and has obliged the enemy to
abandon or surrender all their posts in South Carolina, except
Charleston and Ninety-six. On the 22d ult. our little army invested
the last mentioned place, and continued the siege with infinite
labor and alacrity till the 20th inst., when we were obliged to
relinquish an object, which, if attained, would not only have given
peace to this distracted country, but would have added a lustre to
our former services, sufficiently brilliant to have thrown a proper
light upon the character of our excellent General, and reflected a
ray of glory upon the reputation of each inferior officer. Though
we have been greatly disappointed, no troops ever deserved more
credit for their exertions. The operations were prosecuted with
indefatigable zeal and bravery, and the place was defended with
spirit and address. Our loss is Capt. Armstrong, of the Maryland
Line, killed; Capt. Benson, dangerously wounded, and Lieut. Duvall,
also wounded. Besides officers, we lost fifty-eight men killed,
sixty-nine wounded, and twenty missing. From this account you will
conclude that a day seldom passed without execution, and I can
assure you that each night rather promoted than diminished the
mischief. We succeeded so far as to take one of the enemy's
redoubts, and in all probability a few days more would have happily
concluded the business. But Lord Rawdon had received a strong
reinforcement, and by making forced marches, arrived in time to
avert the impending f