Star Fort Hike Questions

QUESTIONS:

Begin the hike in the visitor center. Watch the video and study the exhibits. Questions 1 through 10 can be answered at the visitor center.

1. Ninety Six is an odd name for a town or district and it is not known for sure how it got its name. One theory says that it was 96 miles from a principal town of the lower Cherokee Indians. What was the name of that town? _____________________________________
2. What trail ran from that Indian town to far away Charleston? ______________________

3. In 1753, a trader set up a post at Ninety Six, and became quite successful. What was his name? ________________________________________________________________________

4. The British Colonial government gave settlers valuable supplies to get them started in the wilderness. When did this settlement begin? ___________________________________

5. When was the Cherokee War? ______________________________________________

6. Much of the Revolutionary War in South Carolina was not fought by large armies in the field. It was fought by neighbor against neighbor and by small raiding parties committing evil acts on supposed enemies. What name is given to this type of war? ________________________________________________________________________

7. What were the forces for Britain called? _______________________________________

8. What were the forces for Independence called? _________________________________

9. Some coins on display were actually found at Ninety Six. Try to read dates on two of them. What are these dates? ________________________________________________

10. There is a replica cannon on display in the museum. What is the name of the cannon? _____________________. Three numbers are stamped on the rear of this cannon. These numbers give the weight of the cannon in an old English system of weights. What are these three numbers? _______, _______, ________. The first number is the number of hundred weights (112 lb.). The second number is the number of quarter hundred weights (28 lb.). The third number is the number of pounds remaining. How much does this small cannon weigh? __________. This system of weights is also found on old blacksmith’s anvils.

The rest of the questions may be answered by signs on the self-guided tour of the site. Leave the visitor center and follow the trail to the right. Please stay on the trail and off the earthworks. Some of them are over 200 years old and we do not want to wear them down.

1. Describe the landscape around Ninety Six when Patriot troops arrived in 1781. ________________________________________________________________________
2. Why did the Loyalists clear the land surrounding Ninety Six? ______________________ ________________________________________________________________________
3. Why was Island Ford Road important during the Revolutionary War? _______________ ________________________________________________________________________
4. Which colonies did General Greene’s forces come from? _________________________ ________________________________________________________________________
5. Who was the Loyalist Commander garrisoned at Ninety Six? ______________________
6. What is the advantage of building a star shaped fort? _____________________________ ________________________________________________________________________
7. When was the best time for digging trenches? __________________________________
8. What size cannons did the Patriots use to attack the Star Fort? ______________________
9. Why were the approach trenches angled to the Star Fort? __________________________ ________________________________________________________________________
10. Why did Cruger refuse to surrender the Star Fort to Greene after the 2^nd parallel was completed? _____________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________
11. What are gabions and fascines? What are they used for? __________________________ ________________________________________________________________________
12. What was the benefit of the Patriot Rifle Tower? ________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________
13. Why did General Greene call off the construction of the mine? _____________________ ________________________________________________________________________
14. What is the name of the group of Patriots that volunteered to make one last assault on the Star Fort? _______________________________________________________________

Go inside the Star Fort and imagine what it was like when over 200 Loyalists were in this spot fighting for their lives for 28 hot summer days. (Please refrain from climbing on the Fort walls and mounds. Thank you!)

1. How many Loyalist soldiers were positioned inside the Star Fort at one time? ________________________________________________________________________
2. How deep was the well inside the Star Fort? Did it reach water? _______________________ ________________________________________________________________________

Notice the long mound inside the Star Fort. The defenders built it during the siege to stop rifle and cannon shots that came over the wall from Patriots in the trenches. Erosion has impacted the mound. During the siege, it was a very tall wall of earth.

1. How tall were the walls of the Covered Way? __________________________________
2. What types of buildings were inside the town of Ninety Six? ______________________ ________________________________________________________________________
3. Why did Cruger give the order to burn the town of Ninety Six? _____________________ ________________________________________________________________________
4. The jail and courthouse brought law and order to Ninety Six. What other purpose did these buildings serve during the Revolution? _________________________ ________________________________________________________________________
5. What was the important water source for the town on Ninety Six? ________________________________________________________________________
6. Why was Ninety Six a strategic post during the Revolutionary War? ________________ ________________________________________________________________________
7. Lieutenant Colonel Henry “Light Horse Harry” Lee was the father of what famous Civil War General? ____________________________________________________________
8. Who was the first South Carolinian to lose his life for freedom during the Revolutionary War? __________________________________________________________________

We hope you enjoyed the Siege of Ninety Six Historical Hike.