Star Fort, Ninety Six SC

[moon puppy]

Cousin Jane asked me the other day if I knew of a Revolutionary War site called Mudlick Creek. I had, but nothing specific. Seems there were two "battles", one consisting of 200 Patriot Dragoons running out 150 Georgia Loyalist Militia and another where Patriots were routed by some unknown group. A lot of these "battles" in the western part of South Carolina could also be settlement of past grievances between two parties, using the war as an excuse to extract revenge.

Our first stop was "the Belfast House". It is close to the same property that the battle took place.

And stupid me didn't get a picture of the actual house...

Little is known about Mudlick Creek battles other than they happened. I didn't give Cousin Jane much hope of seeing anything when we got to the area because the exact location has been lost to time. The property is now owned and managed by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Which gives us access to walk around some.

Well we got to the end of the dirt road and got out and walked around some. We talked about what it would have looked like some 240 years ago, lot less pine trees and probably would have been clear cut all around. We found no evidence of a pass battle, we could clearly see old road beds but they could have been forest service roads for all we knew. Nothing really to take pictures of so we didn't.

Next stop was the town of Ninety Six for lunch and then out to the Ninety Six National Historical Site.

This house is original, it was actually built in the town of Greenwood SC and additions to the house hid all the log cabin structure. the house was being torn down when workers discovered the log cabin inside the larger house. Local historical societies took over and preserved the house and it eventually found it's way to the park.

These are images of the earth works around the fort.

I'll fill in some blanks later...gotta go to the dentist...

 

[kryptosdaddy]

People want to think the revolution was won up north, they think of Valley Forge and Bunker hill and others but they ignore what happened in SC. Camden is full of sites like this and don't forget Port Royal and the battles of Charleston and Beaufort and Kings mountain, the Gettysburg of the revolution.

This state was the 7th of the original 13 colonies and nearly 1400 sites are dedicated on the National Register. And we have one of the nicest beaches in America- though MB is run by two families that have ruined it.

http://www.sciway.net/hist/periods/revolwar.html

 

[reconron]

Thanks for sharing this with us,MP!
Didn't know there is still so much to see from that time period in the States.

In Europe you can find historical sites all over the place,just love that kind of stuff!
Coming year I will try to share some more with you guys,from medieval to WW2 stuff.

Greetings,Ron.

 

[moon puppy]

Ron you have the U.S. National Park Service (and US Taxpayers )to thank for what you can see here.

When I was a child I remember going to the fort and it was totally covered with woods. You really had to use your imagination to see the battlefield. There was a mine that was dug, about 125 feet, from the First Parallel towards the fort (about where that person is walking the path). It was open at that time and someone had built brick work opening, it's since been covered up to keep people out. But that entrance was totally in the woods. Now it's in the middle of that open field you see above.

The Earthworks was about 14 foot high back then, they have eroded over time as you can imagine. That plus sand bags on top and pointed sticks in the ditch around it makes it a far more formidable location to attack than what it looks like today.

Here's an aero view of the site in 1939

and after clearing, excavating and reconstruction of some features in 2008. It was reconstructed in the 70s. But the earthworks you see are original.

Cindy and I had a great time yesterday, we talked about doing this more often. I'll get the good camera and more info if anyone is interested. Next visit should be either Cowpens, or Kings Mountain. Funny thing is, there are no sites around here from the War Between the States (War of Northern Aggression if you will).

 

[panzerace007]

MOONIE,

Great Stuff !! I really love Military History. I'll try to get off My Arse & get some of these Local Battles from th War of Northern Aggression .

Thanx for sharing !!

 

[Sherman 18]

COOL! Thanks for posting!