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Photographer: Brian Scott
Taken: September 5, 2008
Caption: Previous The Rifle Tower Marker
Additional Description: As the Patriots moved within musket range of the Star Fort, British marksmen subjected them to intense fire. A number of Americans were killed or wounded.

To counter this hazardous fire, Greene ordered the construction of a rifle tower. On June 13, under cover of darkness, the Americans worked feverishly to build a log tower about thirty feet high. At daybreak on June 14, Greene stationed riflemen on the tower who could now fire over the fort wall at men inside. The American rifle fire was deadly. Greene reported that "not a Man could show his Head but he was immediately shot down..."

Cruger raised the fort walls an additional three feet with sandbags to give his men greater protection. He also attempted to burn the tower by firing heated cannonballs at it, but since the wood was green the effort failed.
Submitted: September 8, 2008, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.
Database Locator Identification Number: p34859
File Size: 2.509 Megabytes

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