Murder at Ninety Six

On June 15, 1776, Capt. William Ritche discovered that William Cunningham, an infamous South Carolina Loyalist, had deserted the Patriot cause and fled to Savannah, Georgia. Ritche rode to Cunningham’s home and assaulted his debilitated brother and parents. Upon learning of the attack, Cunningham retaliated by riding to Ritche’s home and fatally shooting him. Subsequently, Cunningham joined the British cause and became known as “Bloody Bill.”