This Day in History: March 3

Brier Creek, BATTLE OF ( 1779 ). Colonel Ashe, of North Carolina, was sent by General Lincoln, with two thousand men, to drive the British from Augusta. The latter fled when Ashe appeared on the opposite side of the river, and pushed towards the sea, led by Lieutenant- Colonel Campbell. Ashe crossed and pursued as far as Brier Creek, forty miles below Augusta, on the Georgia side of the Savannah River, where he encamped. He was surprised (March 3, 1779) and utterly defeated by General Prevost, who was marching up from Savannah to support Campbell. Ashe lost almost big entire army by death, captivity, and dispersion. Some were killed, others perished in the morasses, and many were drowned in attempting to pass the Savannah River. This blow deprived Lincoln of about one fourth of his army and led to the temporary re-establishment of royal authority in Georgia.