Ninety Six

Ninety Six National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior National Historic Site South Carolina The Star Fort was the heart of British defenses at Ninety Six and the stone upon which Gen. Nathanael Greene's well-planned siege stumbled. Although Greene and his patriot army were unsuccessful, the victorious loyalists soon abandoned the post and moved their garrison toward the coast. Gen. Nathanael Greene commanded the southern Continental Army. The Siege of Ninety Six, 1781 The siege of this frontier post grew out of one of the great dramas of the American Revolution—the second British attempt to conquer the South. Their first campaign in 1775-76 had failed. This second campaign began in late 1778 with an assault on Savannah, Ga. On May 12,1780, loyalists—Americans loyal to British interests—captured Charleston, S.C., America's fourth largest city and commercial capital of the South. By September 1780 loyalists held Georgia and most of South Carolina. A powerful army under Gen. Lord Cornwallis was poised to carry the war northward. British forces seemed unstoppable. Surprises for the Loyalists In the fall of 1780 American patriots—those seeking independence from British rule— turned the war against Cornwallis. On October 7 he lost his entire left offensive arm and its commander Maj. Patrick Ferguson at Kings Mountain, S.C. On January 17,1781, he lost his right striking force under the command of Col. Banastre Tarleton at Cowpens. By early 1781 Cornwallis faced a resurgent Con- tinental Army under the command of Gen. Nathanael Greene. Cornwallis drove Greene and the patriots from the field at Guilford Courthouse, N.C., in mid-March, but at such a cost that he and his loyalist army had to retreat to the coast. Greene did not pursue Cornwallis but set out to reduce the chain of backcountry posts held by the British. non and musket fire from its top. Then, Greene learned that a relief column of 2,000 British troops was marching to Cruger's aid. He resolved to storm the post before he was trapped between the two forces. June 18—The Attack at Noon The onslaught began at noon. Col. Henry "Light-horse Harry" Lee's legion captured the Stockade Fort west of the village. Greene launched his attack on the Star Fort from the third parallel. Troops in trenches moved forward, inching four 6-pounder cannon toward the fort. But the cannon fire was not powerful enough to breach the 10to 12-foot-thick earthen wall. Greene ordered 50 soldiers forward to prepare the way for the main army. Men with axes cut through the sharpened stakes that extended from the fort's walls, and those with hooks attempted to pull down sandbags. Cruger ordered troops into the ditch that surrounded the fort. Fighting hand-to-hand, loyalists drove off the patriots with both sides taking great losses. Critical Crossroads The hamlet named Ninety Six, a vital political and economic center in the South Carolina backcountry, was garrisoned by 550 American loyalists led by Lt. Col. John Cruger. When Cruger took command in 1780, he used loyalist soldiers and slaves from nearby farms to reinforce the walls of the town's stockade and build the Star Fort. Greene and his patriot army of 1,000 regulars and a few militia arrived at Ninety Six on May 21,1781. One look at the formidable defenses, along with Greene's lack of heavy artillery, ruled out a quick, direct assault. Only a siege could bring down Ninety Six. Greene focused on the Star Fort. Col. Thaddeus Kosciuszko, a military engineer and aide to Greene, directed the siege operations. Sappers (trench diggers) began digging a system of parallels and approach trenches through the hard clay—an exhausting labor made worse by intense heat, mosquitoes, and cannon fire from the fort. They completed the first parallel on June 1, the second on June 3, and the third on June 10. Now they were within musket range of the loyalists. Col. Henry Lee, father of Robert E. Lee, earned the nickname "Light-horse Harry" for his skillful command of cavalry units. This repulse decided the contest. The rescue column was too near for Greene to organize a general attack. Greene and his army slipped away before dawn on June 20, moving north up the Island Ford Road and across the Saluda River before the loyalists could give chase. Although Greene lost the siege, his offensive weakened Cruger's stronghold in the backcountry. By July the loyalists abandoned Ninety Six and moved to a post nearer the coast. During the night of June 13 Greene's men built a 30-foot tower of logs close to the fort, hoping to suppress loyalist can- PORTRAITS OF N A T H A N A E L GREENE (TOP RIGHT) A N D HENRY LEE (LEFT) 8 Y CHARLES W I L L S O N PEALE PORTRAIT OF T H A D D E U S KOSCIUSZKO (LOWER RIGHT) BY JULIAN RYS COURTESY: INDEPENDENCE N A T I O N A L HISTORICAL PARK, PHILADELPHIA, PA Understanding the Earthworks The loyalists' Star Fort survived as you see it today. In 1973 and 1974 archeologists found evidence of the patriots' siege trenches and restored the old outlines, including the original contours. There are f e w better examples of 1700s siegecraft or of the close personal nature of battle in that day. The Siege Trenches Col. Thaddeus Kosciuszko, a Polish native trained in the classical methods of European warfare, knew siegecraft—if a f o r t could not be taken by surprise, an attacking army had to take it by force. A siege, the process of surrounding an enemy's strong point and slowly cutting off contact w i t h the outside world, was the patriots' only hope for victory at Ninety Six. c : I • Looking south down the patriots' lines toward the loyalists' Star Fort. Starting about 200 yards f r o m the f o r t , sappers—trench diggers that included patriots and slaves— dug a four-foot-wide, three-foot-deep trench parallel to the f o r t , so that patriots could move in troops and supplies. They dug zigzag approach trenches t o w a r d the f o r t , mounding up the earth for protection. The zigzag pattern made it more difficult for loyalists to fire on men in the trenches. At about 70 yards, sappers dug the second parallel. Enslaved people living here before 1781 made this colonoware bowl in the African tradition by firing unglazed, handformed clay on an open hearth. Thaddeus Kosciuszko They worked their way toward the f o r t adding more zigzag approach trenches, gun batteries, and a third parallel at about 40 yards f r o m the fort. From here the patriots fired at a single point, hoping to breach the wall and take the fort. Victory by attackers or defenders always hung in the balance. Skill and luck were i m p o r t a n t factors. Conducting a textbook siege did not guarantee success either, for t h e loyalists were busy t o o — f i r i n g at the sappers and sending out nighttime raiding parties. The Village Then and Now English mochaware creamer ca. 1815 English salt-glazed stoneware tankard ca. 1760-1770 (white areas are repairs) Prehistoric Indian tools from left: chert flake (undated), two quartz points (undated), chert point (about 800 years old) Archeologists working here and people walking the fields found these items. They date from prehistoric times to the 1700s and 1800s. By the 1820s Indians, traders, and colonists were gone. Only these tools of everyday life remain t o tell their story. Bone-handled knife and fork Life in the Frontier Village No o n e k n o w s h o w Ninety Six g o t its n a m e . O n e e x p l a n a t i o n is t h a t Charleston traders t h o u g h t this i n t e r s e c t i o n of trails was 96 miles south of t h e Cherokee t o w n of Keo w e e , near today's Clemson, S.C. Traders packed firearms, blankets, beads, a n d wares a l o n g an I n d i a n t r a i l called the C h e r o k e e Path, s w a p p i n g t h e m f o r f u r s . By 1700 this t r a i l was a major commercial artery, f l o w i n g w i t h goods essential t o a prospering colony. A Rising T o w n The Cherokee Path intersected o t h e r trails here, a n d N i n e t y Six became a stopover f o r traders. In 1751 Robert Gouedy o p e n e d a t r a d i n g post at Ninety Six, establishing it as a h u b of t h e b a c k c o u n t r y Indian These cufflinks reflect the fashions of colonial Ninety Six, including patterned glass, ivory, and silver engraved with designs and a "C." English pearlware bowl and handleless cup ca. 1810 t r a d e . A veteran of Cherokee t r a d e , he parlayed t h a t enterprise i n t o a business t h a t rivaled some of Charleston's merchants. He g r e w grain and tobacco, raised cattle, served as a banker, a n d sold c l o t h , shoes, beads, g u n p o w d e r , t o o l s , a n d r u m . He amassed over 1,500 acres, a n d , a t his d e a t h in 1775, some 500 p e o p l e w e r e in his d e b t . In t h e 1750s f r i c t i o n g r e w b e t w e e n Indians a n d t h e settlers p u s h i n g i n t o N i n e t y Six a n d t h e area. Settlers, militia, a n d enslaved p e o p l e b u i l t a stockade a r o u n d Gouedy's b a r n f o r p r o t e c t i o n , w h i c h became Fort Ninety Six. It served t h e m w e l l in 1760 w h e n t h e Cherokee a t t a c k e d t w i c e b u t f a i l e d t o c a p t u r e t h e f o r t . A f t e r years o f f i g h t i n g , t h e Cherokee signed a t r e a t y in 1761 t h a t c u r t a i l e d t h e i r travels b e y o n d K e o w e e . Peace f o l l o w e d , a l o n g w i t h a r e b o u n d in land d e v e l o p m e n t . The British e n t i c e d settlers t o t h e f r o n t i e r by p r o m i s i n g p r o t e c t i o n , f i n a n c i a l a i d , f r e e t o o l s , a n d f r e e l a n d . Settlers f l o o d e d i n t o t h e c o u n t r y b e y o n d t h e Saluda River. Ninety Six lay in t h e m i d d l e of this l a n d b o o m . W h o W a n t s I n d e p e n d e n c e ? O n t h e eve of t h e A m e r i c a n Revolution, Ninety Six was a prosperous c o m m u n i t y w i t h homes, a c o u r t h o u s e , a n d a brick j a i l . A t least 100 p e o p l e lived in t h e area. A b o u t i n d e p e n dence, s e n t i m e n t was m o r e d i v i d e d here t h a n a l o n g t h e coast. For m a n y settlers, incentives and p r o t e c t i o n f r o m t h e Cherokee created s t r o n g loyalties t o w a r d Great Britain. Others t h o u g h t t h a t t h e C r o w n shirked on its promises t o b a c k c o u n t r y settlers, a n d t h e y w a n t e d i n d e p e n d e n c e . On N o v e m b e r 19, 1775, in t h e A m e r i c a n Revolution's first major land b a t t l e in t h e S o u t h , 1,900 loyalists att a c k e d a b o u t 600 patriots g a t h e r e d at Ninety Six u n d e r M a j . A n d r e w W i l l i a m s o n . A f t e r days o f f i g h t i n g t h e t w o sides a g r e e d t o a t r u c e , b u t p a t r i o t s p i r i t was r u n n i n g h i g h . P a t r i o t leaders m o u n t e d an e x p e d i t i o n t o sweep away loyalist supporters. But s u b d u i n g t h e King's friends d i d n o t b r i n g peace. A savage w a r o f factions broke o u t t h a t lasted u n t i l 1781. In June 1781 Gen. Nathanael Greene f a i l e d t o t a k e t h e f o r t by siege. In July loyalists l e f t t h e village a s m o k i n g r u i n ; t h e y set fire t o t h e buildings, f i l l e d in t h e siegeworks, and t r i e d t o destroy t h e Star Fort. S t a r t i n g A n e w W i t h i n a f e w years a n e w t o w n rose near t h e site of t h e o l d o n e . In 1787 villagers aspiring t o make t h e t o w n a center of learning n a m e d it C a m b r i d g e a f t e r t h e English university. C a m b r i d g e f l o u r i s h e d f o r a w h i l e as t h e c o u n t y seat a n d h o m e of an academy. In t h e early 1800s t h e t o w n began t o decline. In 1815 a f l u epidemic s w e p t t h e area, a n d C a m b r i d g e became l i t t l e more t h a n a crossroads. By t h e mid-1800s, b o t h o l d Ninety Six a n d n e w e r C a m b r i d g e w e r e l i t t l e m o r e t h a n memories. ARTIFACTS (IOP): DISHES A N D FLATWARE, SOUTH CAROLINA DEPT OF A R C H E O L O G Y A N D ANTHROPOLOGY, PREHISTORIC I N D I A N TOOLS, NINETY SIX NHS/SOUTHEAST A R C H E O L O G I C A L CENTER; CUFFLINKS A N D BUTTONS. MERLE M C G E E ; NFS/PHOTOS OF ARTIFACTS (ABOVE. LEFT)- Planning Your Visit No computers or video games? Young reenactors play games popular in colonial times. The Logan Log House dates from the 1700s. It is open for special park events. Visitor Center Start at t h e visitor center f o r i n f o r m a t i o n , maps, a museum, b o o k s t o r e , and a short video. The visitor center is o p e n daily f r o m 9 am t o 5 p m ; it is closed Thanksg i v i n g Day, December 25, a n d January 1. The park is o p e n d a w n t o dusk y e a r - r o u n d . chairs or strollers should use c a u t i o n . The Gouedy Trail is u n p a v e d , w i t h some grades. Activities The park offers a variety o f trails, t h e 27-acre Star Fort Pond, a n d w i l d l i f e viewi n g . D o n ' t miss t h e o n e - m i l e w a l k i n g t o u r o f t h e park (see below). You w i l l see t h e e a r t h w o r k s , historic roads, reconstructed stockade, sites of t h e 1781 siege and b a t t l e , and site o f t h e Ninety Six village. The 1.5-mile Gouedy Trail passes t h e grave o f Gouedy's son. The park has living history events A p r i l t h r o u g h November. Ask at t h e visitor center a b o u t special activities or visit w w w . n p s . g o v / n i s i . Accessibility The visitor center, museum, a n d restroom are accessible f o r visitors w i t h dis- Safety First Please observe these regulations. • The Star Fort, parallels, and o t h e r features a l o n g t h e siege trenches are f r a g i l e — d o n o t climb or walk o n t h e earthworks. • Stay o n walks and trails t o help prevent erosion. On t h e Gouedy Trail w a t c h f o r uneven f o o t i n g and exposed t r e e roots. • Beware o f f i r e ants, p o i son ivy, ticks, and snakes. D o n ' t p u t your hands or feet in places y o u can't see. • Metal detecting or d i g g i n g f o r artifacts are strictly p r o h i b i t ed. Do n o t collect, damage, or remove any plants, w i l d l i f e , rocks, or artifacts; all are protected by federal law. Report suspicious activity t o a ranger. Emergencies: call 9 1 1 . More Information Ninety Six National Historic Site P.O. Box 418 Ninety Six, SC 29666-0496 abilities. A l t h o u g h paved, t h e w a l k i n g t o u r 864-543-4068 p a t h is steep in places; people w i t h w h e e l - www.nps.gov/nisi Walking Tour of the Park I ne one-mile roundtrip trail begins at the visitor center. on the loyalists. This 10-foot t o w e r is a reconstruction. Spring Branch This © T h e Attack Patriots stream, free-flowing in began firing at noon 1781, was the loyalists' on June 18. Opening source of water during the way, 50 patriots the siege. rushed into the fort's ditch. Loyalists killed 30. Greene halted the Qlsland Ford Road You final attack. are parallel t o a colonial road. Decades of travel cut the road © S t a r Fort These eartht o today's d e p t h . The en mounds are the reroad crossed Saluda mains of the Star Fort. River at Island Ford, During the siege, the seven miles n o r t h . walls rose 14 feet above the ditch. Loyalists added the protective tra©Patriot Forces Arrive verse and dug a 25General Greene's Conf o o t w e l l . They f o u n d t i n e n t a l Army came no water, and enslaved along Island Ford Road people brought water on May 21, 1781. at night t h r o u g h the communication trench ©British Fortification (covered way), four-to Colonel Cruger b o l five-foot deep ditches stered Ninety Six by that connected the Star adding stockades, digFort, village, and Stockging ditches around ade Fort. buildings, and building t h e Star Fort. Slaves did much of the work. © T o w n of Ninety Six Three roads intersected ©Siege Trenches Colonel here. Loyalist troops Kosciuszko conducted maintained British links siege operations by w i t h the Cherokee, trythe manual: zigzag aping to suppress the paproach trenches (saps) triots. A two-story brick connected three paraljail, built here in 1772, lels. From the third parhoused the jailer on the allel sappers dug a sixfirst floor, prisoners on foot-vertical mine shaft. the second. Another From its bottom they communication trench tunneled toward the led to the Stockade Star Fort, planning t o Fort. blast open the wall so troops could charge in- ©Stockade Fort Loyalists side. The siege ended built a stockade around before the mine was fin - James Holmes'home to ished. This was the only guard the town's water use of a mine in the supply. On June 18 ColAmerican Revolution. onel Lee captured the Patriots built a 30-foot f o r t but held it only unlog rifle tower about til Greene ended the 30 yards from the fort, attack. so they could fire d o w n Living history reenactors demonstrate military skills used during the American Revolution. AGTO:2009—349-224/80311 Repiinl 2009 Printed on recycled paper. To learn a b o u t national parks and National Park Service programs, visit www.nps.gov.