Fort Watson, a stockade fort on an old Indian mound, controlled the road from Charleston to Camden as well as the Santee River and was the first post in S.C. retaken from the British. On April 15, 1781, Gen. Francis Marion and Lt. Col. Henry Lee encircled it with troops while Maj. Hezekiah Maham built a log tower whose fire could command it. On April 23, the Americans undermined the works and forced its surrender.