the
independence of his adopted country. In 1777 he received the
appointment of Lieutenant-Colonel, and was throughout the war an
active and courageous officer. He was constantly watching 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."

At the battle of King's Mountain Col. William Graham, having charge of
the Lincoln regiment, not being present on account of sickness in his
family, the command devolved on Col. Hambright and most nobly and
courageously did he sustain the responsible position. No portion of
the advancing Whig columns evinced more irresistible bravery, and
suffered more severely than the troops under his immediate command.
Major William Chronicle, one of his most efficient and gallant
officers, fell early in the action. There, too, Captain John Mattocks,
Lieutenants Robb and Boyd, and others, all from the same neighborhood,
lost their lives in that fiercely contested battle, which resulted so
gloriously for the cause of liberty.

In this conflict Colonel Hambright was severely wounded by a large
rifle ball passing through the fleshy part of the thigh. It was soon
discovered by the soldiers near him that he was wounded and bleeding
profusely. Samuel Moore, of York county, South Carolina, requested him
to 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, the blood was running over the top of the boot on the wounded
leg. He was then conveyed to the cabin erected on his own land, as
previously stated, before the war, where he was properly cared for
until he was partially recovered. Although the wound, in process of
time, seemed to have healed, yet its deep-seated injury caused him to
falter in his walk during the remainder of his life. The reason he
assigned for refusing to be taken from his horse when severely wounded