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Only existing military tunnel from the Revolutionary War


cutiger83
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http://www.townofninetysixsc.com/?page_id=70

 

The town of Ninety-Six, SC was important to both sides in the Revolutionary War. In November, 1775, in the early days of the war, the first land battle south of the South was fought between Americans for and against British rule. During this battle, Patriot soldier James Birmingham was wounded by a musket ball and became the first South Carolinian to lose his life for freedom.

 

By 1780 Ninety Six was fortified and became an important outpost for the British to exert the King’s authority in South Carolina’s western upcountry. Over 500 Loyalist troops (Americans loyal to the Crown) led by Colonel John Cruger were directed to hold Ninety Six. In May and June, 1781, Maj. General Nathanael Greene led 1,000 Continental Army troops and militia arrived at Ninety Six and found the place strongly fortified with stockades and a massive earthen star-shaped fort. Greene’s troops constructed siege trenches and a 30-foot tall log rifle tower (from which they could fire into the fort). The Patriots also began digging a tunnel, under the command of General Thaddeus Kosciuszko, in which they hoped to ignite a charge of black powder and blow an opening in the Star Fort’s wall. However, after reports of advancing British reinforcements Greene’s troops ended the longest field siege of the war (28 days). The Patriots never captured the Star Fort but the long siege greatly weakened Cruger’s defenses. Within weeks the British burned and abandoned Ninety Six, leaving their last outpost in the South Carolina backcountry.

 

 

http://www.nps.gov/nisi/learn/news/high-tech-science-comes-to-old-ninety-six.htm

 

In a unique partnership between archeologists and researchers, work will be done that will assist the park to stabilize, protect and preserve the Kosciuszko tunnel, the only existing military tunnel during the American Revolution. The 125-foot tunnel is 3-4 feet in height and was dug in the subsurface soil by Patriot soldiers from American lines toward the British-held Star Fort during the course of the 1781 siege that is commemorated at the park. A team from the University of South Florida (USF), in collaboration with the National Park Service and the Southeast Archeological Center (SEAC), are using 3D laser scanning and imaging along with geophysical remote sensing tools to assist with conservation, management, and public interpretive development of unique American Revolutionary period site features. The researchers will use 3D laser scanners to create the most accurate model of the Star Fort and the tunnel beneath, creating new state-of-the-art public interpretation and digital record, including a 3D print model of the important site and its features.

This youtube video shows the 3-D rendition:

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Thanks for posting, need to see more on the Revolutionary War on this forum. It appears the tunnel has not collapsed yet. Amazing.

 

I watched a documentary regarding this tunnel. When the fire dept went into the tunnel to check it out before allowing the archaeologists access, they were surprised how well fortified the tunnel was after 250 years. When it was built, they really did a fantastic job.

 

...Kat

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Cobra 6 Actual

Great read ... thank you for posting it, ma'am. When it's finally open to the public I will definitely visit it (living within driving distance of Washington, DC and Northern Virginia I am "patiently" awaiting the opening of both the planned National Museum of the United States Army [Ft. Belvoir, VA] and the National Law Enforcement Museum [Washington, DC]).

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Corpsman_1941

Amazing find! Gen. Kosciuszko was like father of US Engineer Corps but he was also great commander of greatest Polish uprising against Russian whom occupied big part of Poland at that time, when uprising colappsed he escaped to US

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i've been to 96 but had no idea the tunnel was there. Great place to visit the star fort is worth the ride IMHO. Good visitor center.

Tom Bowers

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