Ninety Six

https://www.nps.gov/nisi/index.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninety_Six_National_Historic_Site Ninety Six National Historic Site, also known as Old Ninety Six and Star Fort, is located about 60 miles (96 kilometers) south of Greenville, South Carolina. It was established to preserve the original site of Ninety Six, South Carolina, a small town established in the early 18th century. Settlers struggled against the harsh backcountry to survive. Cherokee Indians hunted and fought to keep their land. Two towns and a trading post were formed then abandoned to the elements. And two Revolutionary War battles claimed over 100 lives. Come discover the 18th century history of South Carolina. 2 miles south of Ninety Six, SC on Hwy 248. For more detailed information, click on "Directions Details" below. Ninety Six National Historic Site Open Wednesday-Sunday from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm, closed Monday and Tuesday. Museum contains a reproduction 3-pounder cannon, artifacts found on the battlefield, and other exhibits. "Ninety Six: Crossroads" is a 22-minute video shown on request. Sales Outlet operated by America's National Parks offers books, postcards, and theme-related souvenirs. 2 miles south of Ninety Six, SC on Hwy 248. For more detailed information, please click on "Directions Details" below. Cannon and Maham Tower A cannon is in the left foreground with the Maham rifle tower in the distance. Cannon and Maham Tower Exhibit in the Fog A corten steel figure of a Native American stands sentinel in the fog. A corten steel figure of a Native American stands sentinel in the fog. 1781 Battlefield View The walking trail winds past a cannon and a rifle tower. The walking trail winds past a cannon and a rifle tower. Road Signs A wooden sign shows the direction of important places in 1781. A wooden sign shows the direction of important places in 1781. Birmingham Monument A monument to James Birmingham, the first South Carolinian to die in the American Revolution A monument to patriot James Birmingham, the first South Carolinian to die in the American Revolution Tent Row A British regimental coat hangs on a tent. A British regimental coat hangs on the middle tent during a special event. Divine Service Reenactors listen as another reenactor presents and 18th century church service. Reenactors sit in chairs in front of the Black Swan Tavern as another reenactor presents and 18th century church service. Flag at Stockade A British flag flies over the stockade fort. A British flag flies over the stockade fort. Sign and Flag A blue Liberty flag is in the right foreground with the park entrance sign behind it. A blue Liberty flag is in the right foreground with the park entrance sign behind it during a special event. NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Ninety Six National Historic Site, South Carolina Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park. historic sunken Island Ford Road Intrusted to a Letter Harry Dana procured a unique assortment of letters from the American Revolution, largely related to George Washington’s time in his Cambridge headquarters. Now in the collections of Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site, these letters provide insight into what people chose to “intrust to a Letter." signature block of letter Districts to Counties How the districts and counties of South Carolina changed since the 1700s. 1775 map of North and South Carolina showing towns, boundary lines, and geological features. Southern Campaign of the American Revolution Junior Ranger Program Explore the Southern Campaign of the American Revolution with this Junior Ranger program that features five units of the National Park Service! Green cover of Junior Ranger Program with five photographs of different parks. Thomas Young Discover the life of patriot soldier, Thomas Young. Tombstone of Thomas Young The Adventures of Ranger Cow! Follow Ranger Cow's journey to American Revolutionary War sites! Crochet Cow in Park Ranger uniform Black Powder Weapons of the Southern Campaign Discover black powder weapons of the Southern Campaign of the American Revolution. Grasshopper cannon with blue wheels National Park Service Maintenance Action Teams, A Revolutionary Approach to Trail Rehabilitation The impact of MAT projects extends far beyond immediate maintenance needs at parks. A project at Ninety Six National Historic Site addressed critical facility needs and improved accessibility and recreational opportunities at the park. A photo collage of trail users at Ninety Six National Historic Site. Updated Species Database Will Help Boost Amphibian Conservation Across the National Park System To steward amphibians effectively, managers need basic information about which species live in parks. But species lists need constant maintenance to remain accurate. Due to recent efforts, the National Park Service now has an up-to-date amphibian species checklist for almost 300 parks. This information can serve as the basis for innumerable conservation efforts across the nation. A toad sits on red sand, looking into the camera.

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 trenc