The Mayham Tower, Augusta, Georgia

“These are the times that try men’s souls.”

Thomas Paine

Walking around downtown on Reynolds Street, we noticed a sign the said “The Mayham Tower.” We had never noticed it before even after going by this area many times in the past. The sign is located just outside of the Cotton Exchange Building on Reynolds and Eighth Street. After reading this sign, we learned about the fascinating history of Augusta during the Revolutionary War.

Fort Cornwallis was a British fort that was located where Saint Paul’s Church is now located and was commanded by Loyalist Thomas Brown. The American forces, led by General Andrew Pickens and Lt. Colonel “Light Horse Harry” Lee, had an ingenious idea of building a thirty foot tower that stood above the fort walls so they could see into the fort and place sharp shooters to fire over the wall. They built this wall out of logs and filled it with dirt and they hosted up a six pounder cannon for defense that could fire into the fort. They worked on this wall behind a home and it wasn't noticed till they put it in its place. The British dug holes to protect themselves but it wasn't enough. On June 1^st the Patriots started firing their cannon into the fort. The cannon destroyed barracks and knocked guns off there mounts. On June 3^rd the last house was destroyed.

On June 5, 1781, the British garrison of 300 faced with overwhelming fire power, surrendered. Augusta and all of north and central Georgia remained in American hands until the end of the war. On October 19, 1781, the British surrendered to General George Washington at Yorktown and evacuated Savannah which was Georgia last holding by the British.

This marker was erected in 1956.

I was thrilled that we noticed this marker and now I know some of the history of this amazing city, Augusta, Georgia.

Bye for now.