The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1859-11-10
INCIDENTS OF THE REVOLUTION.
ADVENTURES OF COL. HAMMOND.

III F"s9"S 'h'oaSh the country from the
lower part of the District of Richlard to-
wards the Savannah River, Col. Hammond
heard Of Il body of Tories, then in Tie
lower and southwestern portion of South
Carolina, who were committing many and
fearful dcpredatons on whig families and
property. This band being large, mum
bering one hundred and fifty, or more, and
e made bold by their numbers, and the alb
sence, at that time, of Wing parties, swept
over all :!'e country lying between the Ed.
isto and Savannah, down through Barn
well, to the upper part Of Beaufor, District,
leaving marks Of ruin and desola,ion in
their train. To ensure the safety of Wl.ig
,amlies, by the destriiction Of these ma
rauiers, CIl. Hammond set oiit. With
the view to ascertain, IL possible; Something
their movements, or VIII hcreabouts, lie d.
.oc,ed his men to continue their marcl, up
.,uaws Creek, u:til they should strike the
meadands, and so on t. the Ridge Read
leS|ing from Columbia to Edgefield.--
Thence along this to where the Cd Pine
House Road iutersects it, few miles 10
the right Of Edgefeld village. and there TO
examine the country around, until he should
Join them at that place. With these it,
structions his men pushed on.
Col. Hammond, now alone turned i'm
mcdiately across the country, intending to
visit Snow HILL the seat Of Col. LIE Roy
Hammond, on the Savannah River, q few
miles above where Hamburg now stands,
thinking II more than probable that if the
Tories had taken that direction, lie would
either strike upon their trail, or hear some
thing Of them. To carry out his intenton,
lie had travelled few miles and reached
the house Of Capt. Cushman, brave Wing,
then with Col. Pckeus in the upper dis
tticus. Here he halted for the do ub!e rur-
pose of making inquiries Of Mrs. G. and
getting some refreshments. While engaged
with his dinner, and conver>ing with this
lady, who, during tho time, stocd sentinel
in the doorway and watched the road, she
hearing noise resembling the tramp of
horses stepped out to get a better view, and
behold the identical band Of Tories Col. H.
was pursuing, coming directly up to the
house. Col. Hammond was quickly con-
cealed under a stack Of fodder ucar the
house. Then Fastening to his horse, tied
to tree in the back yard, Mrs. c. re-
moved the saddle, slipped the bride, and
started him off at a rapid pace 10y sharp
cut with the reins. The saddle aud bride
were then thrown into an old we'll. This
done, Mrs. c. returned to the house and re.
sumed het knitting. In few minutes,
the house was surrounded, every nook and
corner of which, is well as the entire prem
ises, underwent rigid search.
While engaged in this work, Col. II.
heard threats Of vengeance denounced
against himself and learned some Of their
plans for his capture: So certain were the
Tories that some person Of note was Sc
creted there, that they prowled about the
place for several days watching, hoping to
capture him. During the trying confiue-
ment of three days and nights, Col. II.
had been fed by Mrs. CusI,man. Every
night, when all ~as quiet, she would steal
softly out to,tfe stack, conveying food and
water. This bitter, however, was not with
out its sweet, and was really fortunate
circum"tance, ultimately proving blessing
TO all that section Of country. In tire many
visits made by the Tories to the house OF
Mrs. G., for search and provisions, deem
ing themselves secure they had talked much
and freely, thus disclosing some of thei,
plans, and what was Of more Importance
their place of rendezvous, rs we'll as the
mode of reaching it. During these visits
Mrs. e.. was an attentive listener, treasur
ing all she heard, and communicating the
same 10 Col. H., who took careful note O
the important information so providential
~ furnished him. 1t was in this way tina
he e7as made acquainted with the exact 10
cality of the Tory camp, situated ON the
elevated spot near the margin of the Edis,o
and surrounded by a swamp. Freed At las
heset out to find his troops.
The afternoon ofthe same day on which
-hs left Mrs. C.s found him witI, bis men
petaiNpg to them what had occurred, ant
Tho .infarr1 otsoo Ja.;uod a,a,.e.o.n h. ~,