The Star Fort

After assuming command of Ninety Six in 1780, Lieutenant Colonel Cruger fortified the town against a Patriot attack, making the eight-pointed Star Fort the center of the defense. Built by slaves laboring with British soldiers from the heavy red soil, it remains a rare and remarkably well-preserved example of original British military field fortifications and Revolutionary War earthworks. Its high walls, steep outer ditch, protruding fraises driven into the ramparts, and central traverse were designed to strengthen the defense and provide a fallback if the walls were breached. During the weeks of the 1781 siege, about 200 Loyalists and their artillery were confined inside with limited provisions and difficult access to water in the hot South Carolina spring. The fort's many angles allowed defenders to fire in crossfire against attackers from any direction, and this defense proved fatal to many of the Forlorn Hope during Greene's final assault on June 18.

Ninety Six, South Carolina · United States