great man. He was not a heroic character, but a weak one. It was very unfortunate, both for himself and the country, that he had the chief command in the up-country at that time. That place should have been held by Le Roy Hammond, his brother-in-law, (they married sisters, the Misses Tyler, of Virginia,) who was of a more heroic mould. His success in the Cherokee war was due mainly to the courage and skill of Le Roy Hammond. And it is worthy of note that Colonel Hammond does not blame him for the course he took. Samuel Hammond was better fitted by nature for the chief command at Ninety-Six at that time then either Le Roy Hammond or Williamson; but he was too young.
Samuel Hammond and Bennett Crofton raised a company of seventy-six men, determined to seek assistance, or to die fighting as they were. Over half these men withdrew from Hammond in a short time and hid out; but they were afterwards captured by the British and sent to prison where many of them died. Hammond and thirty-two escaped to North Carolina. Concealing themselves all day and traveling all night, they passed Saluda and Bush River, and were kindly supplied by T. Harvey and Charles Moore, but still they could hear of no party
