determination. These officers then retired to Wilkes County, Ga., and Williamson to Whitehall. Many of his officers were there assembled, and Samuel Hammond had high hopes, before the council met, that they would determine to move, without loss of time, northward, with all the forces they had assembled; to keep together; to increase their numbers; and to be ready, at all times, for offensive or defensive operations, until assistance could come from the main army.
General Williamson had, then and there, three companies of regular infantry, raised by the State and enlisted for three years or the war. The officers were good; the troops well trained. Besides these there were present one hundred and fifty or two hundred unorganized men. Colonel Andrew Pickens, with his force - number not given - was halted about three miles below Ninety--Six. This was the situation when the council met. General Williamson read the capitulation of Charlestown; made some comments; advised keeping together and retreating; but said that he would be governed by the determination a majority of the council should adopt. Samuel Hammond says that he was struck dumb on finding that not more than one officer of
