Enclosure: Major General Nathanael Greene to Samuel Huntington, 20 June 1781
ENCLOSURE
Major General Nathanael Greene to Samuel Huntington
Camp at little River near 96 [S.C.]1 June 20th 1781.
sir
In my Letter of the 9th I informed your Excellency that the Enemy had received a reinforcement at Charles Town, and that I was apprehensive they would march out and interrupt our operations.2 On the 11th I got intelligence that they were advancing.3 I immediately detached all the Cavalry with orders to General Sumter to collect all the force he could and keep in their front, and by every means in his power retard their march.4 Either from bad intelligence or from the difficulty of collecting his force he permitted the Enemy to pass him at the Congaree before he got his troops in motion: afterwards he found it impracticable to gain their front. It was my intention to have fought them before they arrived at Ninety six, could I have collected a force sufficient for the purpose. But it is almost impossible to draw the Militia out of one district into another.
We had pushed on our approaches very near to the Enemy’s works. Our third parellel was formed round their Abattis. A Mine and two approaches were within a few feet of their Ditch. These approaches were directed against the Star fort which stands upon the left of the Town as we approached it from the Saluda.5 On the right our approaches6 were very near the Enemys Redoubt, this was a strong stockade fort with two block Houses in it. These two Works flanked the Town, which is picketted in with strong Picketts, a Ditch round the whole, and a Bank raised near the height of a common parapet.7 Beside these fortifications were several little flushes8 in different parts of the Town, and all the Works communicated with each other by covering ways.9 We had raised several Batteries for Cannon, one upwards of 20 feet high and within one hundred and forty yards of the star fort to command the Works, and a rifle Battery also within 30 yards to prevent the Enemy from annoying our Workmen. For the last ten Days not a Man could shew his head but he was immediately shot down, and the firing was almost incessant Day and Night. In this stage of the approaches I found the Enemy so near us that it would be impossible to reduce the place without hazarding a storm; this from the peculiar strength of the place could only be warranted by the success of a partial attempt to make a Lodgment on one of the curtains10 of the star Redoubt, and a vigorous push to carry the right hand Work. The disposition was accordingly formed and the attack made; Lieutt Colo. Lee with his Legion Infantry, and Capt. Kirkwoods Light Infantry made the attack on the right, and Lieutt Colo. Campbell with the 1st Maryland and the 1st Virginia Regiments was to have stormed the star Redoubt, which is their principal Work, and stands upon the left. The parapet of this Works is near 12 feet high, and raised with sand Bags near 3 feet more. Lieutt. Duval of the Maryland line and Lieutt selden of the Virginia line led on the forlorn hope, followed by a party with hooks to pull down the sand Bags, the better to enable them to make the Lodgment.11 A furious Cannonade preluded the attack. On the right the Enemy were driven out of their work, and our people took possession of it. On the left never was greater bravery exhibited than by the parties led on by Duval and Selden, but they were not so successful. They entered the Enemys Ditch and made every exertion to get down their sand Bags, which from the depth of the ditch, height of the parapet and under a galling fire, was rendered very difficult. Finding the Enemy defended their Works with great obstinacy, and seeing but little prospect of succeeding without a heavy loss, and the issue doubtful, I ordered the attack to be pushed no further. The behaviour of the Troops on this occasion deserve the highest commendations, both the Officers who entered the Ditch were wounded, and the greater part of their Men were either killed or wounded. I have only to lament that such brave Men fell in an unsuccessful attempt. Captn Armstrong of the first Maryland Regiment was killed, and Captain Benson who commanded the Regiment was wounded at the head of the trenches.12 In both attacks we had upwards of 40 Men killed and Wounded; the loss was pricipally at the Star fort, and in the Enemy’s Ditch, the other parties being all under cover. The attack was continued three quarters of an hour, and as the Enemy were greatly exposed to the fire of the Rifle Battery and Artillery they must have suffered greatly. Our Artillery was well served, and I beleive did great execution.
The troops have undergone incredible hardships during the seige, and tho’ the issue was not successful I hope their exertions will merit the approbation of Congress. Had the Virginia Militia joined us agreable to order our success would have been compleat.13 The seige has been bloody on both sides from the frequent sallies that the Enemy made. The Garrison behaved with great spirit, and defended themselves with judgment and address. Inclosed is a List of our killed and wounded during the Seige;14 and I am persuaded the Enemys are not less.
We continued the seige untill the Enemy got within a few miles of us having previously sent off all our sick, wounded and spare Stores. It is mortifying to be obliged to leave a Garrison so near reduced, and I have nothing to console me but a consciousness that nothing was left unattempted that could facilitate its reduction.
It will be my endeavor in our future movements to oblige Lord Rawdon to move down into the lower Country, and to evacuate Ninety Six. But my force is so small that I can hardly flatter myself with the hopes of success. Our movements to the Southward have been attended with very great advantages, and had not this reinforcement arrived so soon, or the Virginia Militia failed me the manœuvre would have been crowned with compleat success. Had we not have moved this way this Country would have been inevitably lost, and all further exertions would have failed. Besides which the Enemy would have it in their power to detach a greater force from this quarter and hold the Country in subjection, than we have employed to bring about the revolution. But our present situation is truly distressing; and while the Enemy continues to pour in reinforcements, and we are left without support, it is no difficult matter to foresee the issue of the present struggle.
I have once before informed Congress that a very large Majority of the People from inclination were in the Enemy’s interest. My own experience and observation confirm it. In the district of 96 I verily beleive there are five for one against us. The Tories swarm around us and render it extreme difficult to get either forage or subsistance for our Troops. We contend with the Enemy upon such an unequal footing that I have nothing less to expect than disgrace and ruin. But whatever fate may attend our operations I hope Congress will be persuaded that I have spared no pains to render them successful. You know the strength, constitution and provision made for this Army, from which you can easily judge of our prospects. In Virginia I hope we shall contend with the Enemy upon a more equal footing, but they will over-run all the Southern States unless we can keep up a superior Cavalry. I have left myself exceedingly weak here to prevent the Enemys gaining an advantage there. I have the honor to be with great respect, Your Excellencys most obt hble servt
N: Greene.
Copy, DLC:GW.
British lieutenant colonel Nisbet Balfour, stationed in Charleston, wrote Lord George Germain on 27 June that “General Greene combined his force and laid close siege to Ninety-Six, the most commanding and important of all the posts in the back country, and which was therefore maintained by about three hundred and fifty men exclusive of militia and put under the charge of Lieut.-Colonel Cruger, an able and zealous officer.
“Thus circumstanced was this province when a reinforcement of three regiments from Ireland arrived. And as soon as the necessary arrangements could be made Lord Rawdon, having under him a corps of near two thousand men, proceeded to the relief of Ninety-Six, an undertaking, from the unfavourableness of the climate at this season, which your lordship knows must have been attended with many difficulties and much fatigue but which the zeal and exertion of the troops enabled them to surmount.
“General Greene, on finding this corps approching him, took the resolution of attempting to storm the garrison as an expedient less dangerous and decisive than coming to action with Lord Rawdon. On the morning of the 19th inst. he therefore made the experiment but by the gallantry of the troops was repulsed, having as acknowledged by the enemy at least seventy-five killed and one hundred and fifty wounded. On this occasion and during the siege our loss was truly inconsiderable though at present I am unable to specify to your lordship the particulars of it.
“Thus disappointed in his views, General Greene the ensuing day raised the siege and retired with his army behind the Saluda to a strong situation within sixteen miles of Ninety-Six, at which post Lord Rawdon arrived on the 21st” (, 20:163–64).
Unable to keep Ninety Six supplied, Lt. Col. Francis Rawdon-Hastings in early July ordered Lt. Col. John Harris Cruger to evacuate the post and join him at Orangeburg, South Carolina. The loss of British protection prompted the Loyalists of the Ninety Six District to accompany Cruger’s troops to Orangeburg (see Rawdon to Charles Cornwallis, 2 Aug., in , 6:63–66). For Greene’s report of his casualties, see n.14 below. A modern estimate based on contemporary sources puts American casualties at fifty-nine killed, seventy-two wounded, one captured, and twenty missing; and the British casualties as twenty-seven killed and fifty-eight wounded (see , 87). For details and analysis of the siege, see , 8:423–26, and , 804–8.
1. In a letter to Col. Thomas Polk on this date, Greene gave his location as “Camp at Williams Fort” (, 8:426). Fort Williams, S.C., was on the south side of the Little River about thirteen miles north of Ninety Six.
2. See Greene to Huntington, 9 June, in , 8:363–65.
3. Rawdon marched from Charleston “for the relief of Ninety Six with somewhat more than 1,700 foot, and 150 horse” (Rawdon to Charles Cornwallis, 2 Aug., in , 6:63–66, quote on 63).
4. See Greene to Thomas Sumter, 10 and 12 June, in , 8:374–76, 382–83.
5. The star fort at Ninety Six was so named because its earthen and wooden walls were formed in the shape of a circle with multiple triangular protrusions.
6. Approaches, in siege warfare, are trenches constructed to allow a protected approach, in successively closer lines, to a fortified post.
7. A picket is a pointed or sharpened stake or post. Used in combination, they add a barrier to the top of an earthen parapet, or wall.
8. Greene probably meant flèches, simple fieldworks for the protection of men or cannon.
9. For a map of the fortifications at Ninety Six, see , 8:420. A covering, or covered, way is a trench protected from enemy fire by a roof or other covering.
10. A curtain wall in a fort is the part of the wall connecting two bastions.
11. In eighteenth-century warfare, a forlorn hope was the leading party of an assault force.
Isaac Duval (d. 8 Sept. 1781) joined the 3d Maryland Regiment as an ensign in March 1777 and rose to lieutenant in April 1779. He was wounded at the Battle of Camden, S.C., on 16 Aug. 1780. In January 1781, Duval transferred to the 1st Maryland Regiment. After being wounded at the siege of Ninety Six, Duval was killed during the Battle of Eutaw Springs, South Carolina.
12. George Armstrong (d. 1781) joined the 3d Maryland Regiment as a lieutenant in December 1776. He became a captain lieutenant in August 1778 and rose to captain in February 1780. Armstrong transferred to the 1st Maryland Regiment in January 1781.
13. Greene had requested 1,500 militia from Virginia, but the state’s executive had ordered those who had not yet marched south to remain to help repel the British incursion into the state (see Greene to Thomas Jefferson, 23 March, and Jefferson to Robert Lawson, 8 May, in , 5:215–16, 613–14).
14. The undated “Return of the Killed, Wounded & Missing during the Siege of Ninety Six in so. Carolina” sent with this copy listed the number of casualties among the noncommissioned officers and the rank and file: the Virginia brigade, 41 killed, 33 wounded, and 16 missing; the Maryland brigade, 12 killed, 24 wounded, and 3 missing; the light infantry, 1 killed, 9 wounded, and 1 missing; Lee’s Legion infantry, 2 killed and 2 wounded; and the Virginia militia, 1 killed and 2 wounded. Total casualties were 147. The casualties among the officers were: “Capt. Armstrong of M. Line Killed.
“Capt: Benson & Lieut. Duvall. Wounded.
“Capt. Bently. of Virga Line. Prisoner War.
“Lieut’s. Evans. Miller & Seldon. Wounded.
“Colonel Kosciewzko Chief Engineer receiv’d a slight wound” (DLC:GW; filed under 20 June).