he first ordered colonel henry "light horse harry" lee to continue shadowing cornwallis so that his southward movement was screened. once he was on his way into south carolina, he ordered lee to abandon cornwallis and instead join forces with militia colonel francis marion in the eastern part of the state. lee and marion met on april 14, and first targeted fort watson, a small stockaded fort on the east side of the santee river, which fell after a short siege. they chased after john watson, the fort's usual commander, who had led a force away from it in search of marion, but was forced onto the defensive when lee arrived.