The Augusta Richmond County Historical Society plans a commemoration of the 225th anniversary of the Battle of Augusta on Friday and Saturday June 2 & 3, 2006. Three major events, a seminar, a dinner and a battle re-enactment, are planned to commemorate the siege of Fort Cornwallis, which took place 22 May through 5 June 1781, during the American Revolution. In May 1781, patriot forces under General Andrew Pickens, Colonel Elijah Clark, and Lieutenant Colonel "Light Horse Harry" Lee undertook the siege of two British forts at Augusta and recaptured the town from its occupiers on June 5, 1781. Augusta became the capital of Georgia and functioned as such for much of the next fifteen years.

This commemorative event has the official sanction of the City of Augusta and is being sponsored by the Augusta Richmond County Historical Society and the Center for the Study of Georgia History, Augusta State University. Additional historical organizations associated with the planning and conduct of this event include the Augusta Museum of History, Historic Augusta, Saint Paul's Episcopal Church, Colonial Times (North Augusta, SC) and the US Army Signal Center Historian Office.

Friday, June 2, 1-4 PM: Battle of Augusta Symposium, Augusta Museum of History, 560 Reynolds Street. Three thirty minute presentations with discussion and breaks, seating capacity 80.

Program: Overview, Mr. Steven J. Rauch, Command Historian, Ft. Gordon. Thomas Browne and the Loyalist Forces, Dr. Edward J. Cashin, Center for the Study of Georgia History. Andrew Pickens, "Lighthorse Harry" Lee, and American Forces, Dr. Russell K. Brown, William Few Chapter, GASSAR.

Friday, June 2 @ 6:00 PM: St. Paul's Church Parish Hall at 605 Reynolds Street, Augusta, GA. Welcome Hour (6 PM) followed by Colonial dinner (7 PM) with historical interpreters in colonial dress be participating in the meal. Tickets for this event may be purchased from Lynn Thompson, 803-279-7560 or lynn@colonialtimes.us. Price is $50 per person and only about 70 seats are available.

Saturday, June 3 @ 2 PM: Fort Augusta Monument (St. Paul's parking lot). Georgia Society, Sons of the American Revolution wreath presentation ceremony with patriotic organizations from Georgia and South Carolina participating. Presentation of SAR charter proclamation by Mayor of Augusta (invited but not confirmed). The SAR Revolutionary War Color Guard and Elijah Clarke militia will also take part in the ceremony. The Elijah Clarke Militia will fire a volley at the conclusion of the ceremony.

Saturday June 3 @ 4 PM: Pension field adjacent to Saint Paul's Church. Battle of Augusta reenactment with 150-175 participants. Reenactors will be bused from N. Augusta for this

The re-enactors involved in the battle will also be participating in the living history weekend (June 3 & 4, 2006) "Under the Crown" (http:// www.colonialtimes.us/) in North Augusta, South Carolina. The Living History Park will be open for visitors Saturday, 10am to 7pm, and Sunday, 10amto 4pm. This joint effort of historians and re-enactors from two states should help stimulate interest, publicity and attendance at these commemorative events. Following the re-enactment, members of the audience will be invited to visit the participating reenactors for their interpretation of colonial and revolutionary life and to see the various items of clothing, equipment and weapons used.

Sunday June 4 @ 10:00 AM: An 18th Century Anglican church service is scheduled for 10 a.m. Sunday, 4 June at the Willow Spring Meeting House, Living History Park, North Augusta, SC.