Key Takeaways

• Van Hipp highlights the Siege of Ninety-Six as a crucial but often overlooked episode of the American Revolutionary War.
• Ninety-Six served as a key British frontier outpost supporting control of South Carolina’s interior.
• The Star Fort at Ninety-Six was a well-designed 18th-century fortification that proved difficult to capture.
• Although the Patriot assault failed, the siege contributed to the British decision to abandon the fort and retreat to the coast.
• The events at Ninety-Six helped set the stage for the eventual British defeat at Yorktown later in 1781.

Van Hipp is a Washington, DC–based defense and government affairs expert with decades of experience in military service, public policy, and international relations. As chairman of American Defense International, Van Hipp advises national and international clients on government relations, strategic consulting, and program development. His background includes senior leadership roles within the US Department of Defense, where he served as deputy assistant secretary of the Army and principal deputy general counsel of the Navy.

Beyond contemporary defense and security matters, Mr. Hipp has demonstrated a longstanding interest in American history, particularly the military events that shaped the nation’s founding. Understanding the American Revolutionary War requires attention not only to well-known battles but also to lesser-known engagements that influenced the conflict’s outcome. One such episode is the Siege of Ninety-Six in South Carolina, a pivotal event in the Southern Campaign.

Examining this siege helps illuminate how military strategy, regional resistance, and perseverance contributed to the eventual collapse of British control in the southern colonies.

The Siege of Ninety-Six and the Southern Campaign

With the 250th anniversary of the Revolutionary War approaching, educators are focusing on key battlefields and the concepts of independence and liberty that drove American colonists to sever ties with the English motherland and forge a new national identity. One key part of this narrative in South Carolina is Ninety-Six, a tiny frontier town near Greenwood, South Carolina, that became critical as one of several British garrisons created to defend Charleston and the low country from hostile interlopers, including the Spanish, Indians, and French.

The name Ninety-Six was initially assigned by traders in the early 18th century, who mistakenly calculated it as the distance in miles between the community and Keowee, a Cherokee village in the upper South Carolina foothills. By 1780, the town had grown to encompass 13 residences, a jail, and a courthouse.

In addition, the British-built Star Fort presided on a hill looking over the village. Completed in June 1780, under Lt. General Charles, Lord Cornwallis, the fort provided the British with a base for backcountry operations. The stockaded fort was protected by a barrier of upright wooden posts, a fortification ditch, parallel-approach trenches, and a parapet that watched over a pair of blockhouses. In these elements, the Star Fort palisade and siegeworks conformed with standard 18th-century military manuals.

Soon after the outpost’s completion, Lord Cornwallis led his soldiers north out of South Carolina to reinforce other troops in the fast-expanding Revolutionary War. Left behind was New York Loyalist Lt. Colonel John Harris Cruger, who had standing orders to strengthen fortifications, while maintaining order and “vigorously punishing” rebels in the area. To this end, Lt. Col. Cruger employed the town as a base of operations for provisioning and organizing frequent raids against local patriots.

Starting in October 1780, the British Southern Campaign ran into headwinds, with a patriot militia force overrunning Major Patrick Ferguson and his Provincials and Loyalists Corps at Kings Mountain. The Continental Army in the South’s commander was Major General Nathanael Greene, and he sent waves of patriot troops throughout the Carolinas. Brigadier General Thomas Sumter focused on upcountry loyalist targets, and Brigadier General Francis Marion focused on Lowcountry targets.

In response, Lord Cornwallis sent British reinforcements to South Carolina, but these forces met stiff resistance and were defeated at the Battle of Cowpens in January 1781. In March, Major General Greene and Lord Cornwallis squared off at Guilford Court House in North Carolina. While the British technically emerged victorious, they lost many top officers and a third of their fighting force. This forced Lord Cornwallis to shift his remaining men to Wilmington, North Carolina, and allowed Major General Greene to attempt Ninety-Six.

The siege of Ninety-Six began on May 22, 1781, with 1,000 patriot troops involved in an attack against 550 loyalists within the stockade. On June 18th, the patriots learned that the British were assembling a garrison relief party in Charleston, about a day’s march away. This led them to attempt an all-out assault that failed. With the British only 30 miles away and closing in rapidly, Greene’s men fell back to the High Hills of the Santee.

This siege was the longest of the Revolutionary War and resulted in 147 American casualties and 85 British casualties. While unsuccessful, it contributed to the British abandoning the fort in July and falling back to positions along the Atlantic coast. The British would never again control the Southern interior and, four months later, hostilities ended with the British surrender at Yorktown. Discussion could now shift entirely to the creation of a new nation.

FAQs

Who is Van Hipp?

Van Hipp is a Washington, DC–based defense and government affairs expert and chairman of American Defense International. He has served in senior roles within the US Army and Navy and frequently comments on national security and history.

What was the Siege of Ninety-Six?

The Siege of Ninety-Six was a 1781 Patriot attempt to capture a British fort in South Carolina during the Southern Campaign of the Revolutionary War. It became the longest siege of the war and a key moment in the struggle for control of the southern interior.

Why was Ninety-Six strategically important?

Ninety-Six was a frontier outpost used by the British to secure the backcountry and support operations from Charleston. Its Star Fort made it a strong defensive position and a hub for loyalist activity in the region.

What was the outcome of the siege?

The Patriot forces failed to capture the fort and were forced to withdraw when British reinforcements approached. However, the British later abandoned Ninety-Six, weakening their hold on the interior South.

How did the siege affect the wider war?

Although tactically unsuccessful, the siege helped push British forces toward the coast and reduced their control of the southern colonies. This shift contributed to the chain of events that ended with the British surrender at Yorktown.

About Van Hipp

Van Hipp is chairman of American Defense International, a Washington, DC–based defense and government relations consulting firm. A veteran of the US Armed Forces, he has served as deputy assistant secretary of the Army and principal deputy general counsel of the Navy. Mr. Hipp is a frequent media commentator on national security and foreign affairs and has extensive experience in military, political, and international policy matters.