Siege of Savage's Old Fields

Southern theater 1775–79

Gunpowder Incident Kemp's Landing Snow Campaign Savage's Old Fields Great Bridge Norfolk Moore's Creek Bridge Rice Boats Sullivan's Island Lindley's Fort Thomas Creek Frederica Alligator Bridge 1st Savannah Beaufort Kettle Creek Brier Creek Stono Ferry 2nd Savannah

The Siege of Savage's Old Fields (also known as the Siege of Ninety Six, November 19-21, 1775) as an encounter between Patriot and Loyalist forces in the backcountry town Ninety Six, South Carolina, early in the American Revolutionary War. It was the first major conflict in South Carolina in the war, having been preceded by bloodless seizures of several military fortifications in the province. Patriot forces under the command of Major Andrew Williamson had been dispatched to the area to recover a shipment of gunpowder and ammunition intended for the Cherokees that had been seized by Loyalists. Williamson's force, numbering over 500, had established a stockaded fort near Ninety Six, and were surrounded by some 1,900 Loyalists. Because the war was in its early days and the partisan war in the southern backcountry had not become as brutal as it would be later in the war, the siege was conducted desultorily, and was effectively a stalement. After two days the Loyalists withdrew, having lost four killed and 20 wounded to one Patriot killed and 12 wounded.

References

South Carolina and the American Revolutionary War: A Battlefield History