Instructor: Billy Benton is a passionate foxhunter with the Aiken Foxhounds, an Aqua Fitness Instructor, and a respected History Lecturer for USCA Lifelong Learning. He’s a longtime Edgefield Historical Society member and former president, and previously led the Aiken Opera Society, demonstrating a commitment to community and lifelong education. Description: Explore the American Revolution’s dramatic impact on the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) in this engaging four-part lecture series. Delve into the Ninety-Six District’s pivotal role, from the 1775 Fort Charlotte Raid to the brutal Cherokee War of 1776 and the 1781 sieges of Ninety Six and Augusta. Learn about key figures like Andrew Pickens, Thomas Brown, and George Galphin, and the Cherokees’ fight for sovereignty amidst Loyalist-Patriot tensions. Discover how land cessions, guerrilla warfare, and civil conflict shaped the CSRA, with insights from historical sites and primary sources.