Colonel Hambright
Lieutenant-Colonel Hambright was born in Germany in 1727, emigrated to Pennsylvania about 1740, and after remaining there a short time removed to Virginia about 1755, where he was first married to Sarah Hardin and had twelve children! 1781, he was married to Mary Dover, by whom he had ten children.
As immigrants ventured westward, it was the practice to locate on or near a fort as protection from the attacks of Indians. Colonel Hambright removed his family to a fort in Tryon County, North Carolina, near the mouth of the South Fork of the Catawba River.
At the commencement of the Revolutionary War, the territory now lying on and near the eastern base of the Blue Ridge or Alleghany chain of mountains, constituted the borders of civilization and suffered frequently from marauding bands of Cherokee Indians. The region was sparsely settled with the families of adventurous individuals, who, confronting all dangers, had carved out homes in the mountains and raised hardy sons, deeply imbued with the spirit of liberty, prepared to go forth at a sudden warning to fight the battles of their country.
Colonel Hambright built a home on Long Creek near King's Mountain. Colonel Hambright and two of his sons fought bravely at the Battle of King's Mountain in 1781. After the war, he purchased a new home place on King's Creek.
Throughout the war, Colonel Hambright observed the movements of the Tories, whose malicious influence and plundering habits seriously disturbed the peace and welfare of society. His name soon became a terror to the Tories, who well knew the determination of his character and the vigilance and prowess of his arms in arresting disaffected persons and defeating their designs.
During the battle of King's Mountain, when Colonel William Graham, having charge of the Lincoln Regiment, was not present on account of sickness, the command devolved on Colonel Hambright.
Major William Chronicle, one of his most efficient and gallant officers, fell early in the battle. There, too, Captain John Mattocks, Lieutenants Robb and Boyd, and others, all from the same neighborhood, lost their lives in that fiercely contested battle.
Colonel Hambright was severely wounded by a Minie-ball ball passing through the fleshy part of his thigh. The soldiers near him soon discovered that he was injured and bleeding profusely. Samuel Moore, of York County, South Carolina, requested him to be taken from his horse; he refused by saying, "he knew he was wounded but was not sick or faint from the loss of blood - said he could still ride very well and therefore deemed it his duty to fight on till the battle was over.! And most nobly did he remain in his place, encouraging his men by his persistent bravery and heroic example until signal victory crowned the American arms.
At the close of the action, when Colonel Hambright alighted from his horse, blood ran over the top of the boot on the wounded leg. He was then conveyed to his cabin, where he was properly cared for until he was partially recovered.
Although the wound seemed to have healed in time, its deep-seated injury caused him to falter in his walk for the remainder of his life. The reason he was assigned for refusing to be taken from his horse when severely wounded does honor his exalted patriotism. He said if he had complied, his men would neglect to load and fire as often as they should, gather around him to administer to his wants, and thus fail to do their duty in opposing and conquering the enemy.
Colonel Hambright lived to be ninety years of age and was buried in the churchyard of the Shiloh Presbyterian Church in Cleaveland County.