[Train Whistle] In 1775, the Georgia legislature forbade trade with Great Britain in order to protest new taxes enacted by the British parliament. In Augusta, the Sons of Liberty’s enforcement of the trade ban led to a violent confrontation with wealthy new resident Thomas Brown, who was outspoken in his support of the royal government. Rules and Regulations, Georgia’s first constitution was adopted in Augusta on April 15th, 1776. Soon after, three Augustans: George Walton, Lyman Hall, and Button Gwinnett, signed the Declaration of Independence. Units of the British Army occupied Augusta in January 1779, accompanied by a vengeful Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Brown in command of a company of rangers. Nearly two years later patriot Commander Elijah Clarke attacked Augusta and besieged Brown’s rangers and his Native American allies. The siege continued for four days. British reinforcements coming from South Carolina forced Clarke to retreat. Brown hanged 13 patriot prisoners who had taken an oath not to take up arms against the British. The second battle of Augusta began on May 22, 1781 with British forces underground defending Fort Grierson and Fort Cornwallis. Patriot forces were led by colonel Elijah Clarke, General “Light Horse” Harry Lee, and General Nathaniel Greene. On May 25th, the patriots began erecting a Mayhem Tower to mount a cannon capable of firing down into Fort Cornwallis. On June 1st, the patriot cannon atop Mayhem Tower began to fire on a British Fort with great effect. Brown surrendered the British forces on June 5, 1781. The victory at the second battle of Augusta helped ensure Georgia against independence despite Savannah still being held by the British. [Train Whistle]