The Siege of Ninety-Six, May 1781

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The Siege of Ninety-Six, May 1781

By: AH1Tom

When the British gained control of Ninety-Six after the fall of Charlestown in May of 1780, they then surrounded the town with a stockade and rebuilt Fort Williamson. Beyond the town was another redoubt known as the Star Fort. It was two hundred feet in diameter and had ten salients or star points. A ditch and an abatis surrounded the Star Fort, which would become the principal British position during this final siege.

Lord Cornwallis left Lt. Colonel John Harris Cruger, a Loyalist from New York, in charge of the outpost, with strict orders to strengthen all fortifications and to be "vigorous" in punishing rebels and maintaining order in the area. Lt. Col. Cruger used the fortified town of Ninety-Six as his base of operations.

In October of 1780, a Patriot Militia force defeated Major Patrick Ferguson and his corps of Provincials and Loyalists at Kings Mountain. Brigadier General Francis Marion was campaigning against British Loyalists in the low country of South Carolina, and Brigadier General Thomas Sumter maneuvered his Patriot forces against Loyalist targets in the South Carolina upcountry. In addition, Major General Nathanael Greene had split his army to move more widely through the Carolinas.

Lord Cornwallis, fearing for Ninety-Six and overall British control of South Carolina, sent units to remove the Patriot threat. The British lost many of the ensuing encounters including the battle of Cowpens in January of 1781. Before leaving the outpost to its own devices, Lt. General Charles, Lord Cornwallis dispatched Lt. Henry Haldane of the Royal Engineers to assess the fort and to improve its defenses. Lt. Haldane constructed an additional fortification west of the town. A covered runway extended from the jailhouse and down a slope into a ravine, where a small stream flowed - the fort's only water source.

In May of 1781, Major General Nathanael Greene set siege to Ninety-Six.

Lt. Col. John Harris Cruger knew that the Star Fort was the key to his defenses here and he prepared quite well for the inevitable siege that was now upon him. Additionally, the town of Ninety-Six was surrounded by tall walls built upon an elevated site that provided a clearing of one mile around the exterior.

Major General Green had his men throw up earthworks for his own 3-gun battery before the sun came up on May 22nd. His guns were about 130 yards from the Star Fort. Continental engineer Thaddeus Kosciuszko laid out the siege lines in the typical European pattern. Throughout this first day, the Patriot artillery fired round after round into the Star Fort.

Kosciuszko began a new parallel farther back, about 1,200 yards from the fort. On June 3rd, the second parallel was completed and the Patriots were within 180 yards from the Star Fort. Major General Greene now sent in Col. Otho Williams with a surrender proposal, but Lt. Col. Cruger refused, as expected.

Squire William Kennedy of the 2nd Spartan Regiment of Militia and another sharpshooter shot two men at the spring from 200 yards, causing all within the Star Fort to look around for where the snipers were located. This significantly slowed down those going after water.

On June 11th, Major General Nathanael Greene learned that a relief column of 2,000 soldiers under Col. Francis, Lord Rawdon was on the way from Charlestown. Major General Greene immediately dispatched orders to Brigadier General Thomas Sumter and Brigadier General Francis Marion to gather their militias, get in front of Lord Rawdon, and do everything possible to delay his arrival at Ninety-Six.

On June 17th, a heavy artillery barrage was aimed at Fort Holmes to soften it up for an upcoming attack. The fire was so heavy that the Provincials abandoned Fort Holmes - and their only water supply.

At noon on June 18th, the Patriots opened up with another intense artillery fire. Major Rudolph led his troops across the moat and after an hour of fighting was able to force his way into Fort Holmes.

The next morning, Major General Greene lifted his siege and marched away. He stopped his army about twenty miles away and learned that Lord Rawdon marched into Ninety-Six on the afternoon of June 21st.

Lord Rawdon realized that he could not hold the town much longer. He marched out on June 29th with 800 men and 60 horses. He was expecting to meet up with Lt. Col. Alexander Stewart, but Stewart had received incorrect orders and had returned to Dorchester.

Major General Greene then ordered Lt. Col. Lee, Capt. Kirkland, and 100 Militia under Major Alexander Ross (?) to continue to harass Lord Rawdon's retreat. Lt. Col. John Harris Cruger remained at Ninety-Six to protect the local Loyalists who were gathering all their belongings. On July 8th, Lt. Col. Cruger destroyed the fort and escorted all who wanted to go to Charlestown to remain under British protection.

Ninety-Six was now back in Patriot's hands. The only remaining British outposts were Dorchester, Moncks Corner, and a small garrison at Nelson's Ferry on the Santee River. These would not last much longer either. The Patriots wanted the British back in Charlestown where they could be easily watched in one location and not spread out all over their lands.


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Image Credit: Fort Ninety-Six Display Rifle Tower, photo by John Stanton 8 May 2013