The Siege of Ninety Six: The Forgotten Battleground of the Southern Campaign

Ninety Six: A Strategic Stronghold in the Carolina Backcountry

Ninety Six was no ordinary frontier town. Situated at a key crossroads in the Carolina backcountry, it became a critical stronghold for the British forces in their Southern Campaign.

The town, named for its distance from the Cherokee town of Keowee, had grown in prominence as a trading post but took on greater military importance as the British sought to control the interior of the Carolinas.

The British recognized that by securing Ninety Six, they could maintain a vital link between loyalist settlements and protect their supply routes.

At the heart of their defense stood the Star Fort, a well-constructed earthen fortification designed to withstand sustained sieges.

For the British, Ninety Six was a bulwark of Loyalist support that could check Patriot advances across South Carolina.

Nathanael Greene’s Southern Gamble

As the war in the north reached a stalemate, the British shifted their focus to the South, hoping to rally Loyalist support.

In response, General Nathanael Greene, commander of the Southern Continental Army, adopted a strategy of attrition, seeking to wear down British forces through guerrilla warfare and targeted sieges.

By the spring of 1781, Greene had recaptured much of the Carolinas, but Ninety Six remained a stubborn Loyalist outpost. Capturing it was crucial to breaking British control in the region.

With roughly 1,000 troops under his command, Greene marched toward Ninety Six, determined to capture it before British reinforcements could arrive.

His opponent, Lieutenant Colonel John Cruger, commanded a smaller force of about 550 Loyalists but held the advantage of a well-entrenched position and prepared defenses.

The Siege: A Test of Ingenuity and Resolve

On May 22, Greene’s army surrounded Ninety Six, beginning what would become the longest field siege of the American Revolution.

Lacking heavy artillery, Greene’s men resorted to building siege lines, trenches, and the innovative Maham Tower—a 30-foot wooden structure allowing Patriot sharpshooters to fire into the Star Fort from above.

The siege was punctuated by skirmishes, sniper fire, and artillery bombardments, as both sides endured heat, disease, and dwindling supplies.

For nearly a month, Greene’s forces worked to close the noose around the defenders. However, news arrived that a British relief column, led by Lord Rawdon, was marching from Charleston.

Greene, knowing time was running short, opted for a desperate assault.

The June 18 Assault and Its Aftermath

On June 18, Greene launched a coordinated attack on the Star Fort. Despite the ingenuity of their tactics and the bravery of their soldiers, the Patriots were met with fierce resistance.

Cruger’s men, well-defended and fortified, repelled the assault after intense fighting, forcing Greene to call off the attack.

With Rawdon’s forces approaching, Greene had no choice but to abandon the siege and withdraw his army.

While the Patriots failed to capture Ninety Six, the siege was not without impact. It strained British resources and further solidified Greene’s reputation as a tenacious and skilled commander.

In the following months, the British abandoned Ninety Six, realizing they could no longer hold the isolated outpost in the face of mounting Patriot pressure.

Legacy of the Siege

Though often overshadowed by larger battles, the Siege of Ninety Six was a crucial moment in the Southern Campaign.

It highlighted the strategic significance of South Carolina and the resilience of the Patriot forces. Nathanael Greene’s ability to wage a campaign of attrition, even in defeat, helped set the stage for the eventual Patriot victory at Yorktown just a few months later.

For the Loyalists defending Ninety Six, their ultimate evacuation marked the collapse of British authority in the Carolina backcountry.

Many, including those who had served under Cruger, were resettled in Nova Scotia, where they founded new communities, including one named Rawdon in honor of their commander.

The Siege of Ninety Six may have faded from popular memory, but it remains a testament to the complexity of the American Revolutionary War and the fierce struggles that defined the Southern Theater.

GREENE