Hammond's Old Store
December 30, 1780
Learn from Local Experts
Thank you, Laurens County 250 Committee, for sharing this great video!
Here, Patriot militia and Continental Light Dragoons led by Col. William Washington (George Washington’s second cousin once removed) attacked an encampment of Loyalists from Georgia at Hammond’s Old Store. The Loyalists, traveling to support Col. Thomas Fletchall’s Royal troops at Ninety Six, had been raiding and attacking homes in the area. The Patriots chased them out of their camp, and the battle spilled into the land around the nearby farm and store buildings. It was a resounding victory for the Patriots, with high Loyalist casualties and many taken prisoner. The remaining Loyalists were chased to Fort Williams, which was attacked the following day. 140 Loyalists were killed or wounded, 40 were captured, and 60 escaped. There were no Patriots casualties!
This battle occurred three weeks before Cowpens, and it is regarded as a preliminary action in this campaign. As a result of Hammond's Store, Backcountry Patriot militiamen flocked to join Daniel Morgan's army, which would fight three weeks later at Cowpens, and Loyalist militia went to ground. 1,000 Patriot militiamen fought at Cowpens, but only 50 Loyalists chose to do so.
 Parking is available in a gravel lot at Hammond's Old Store. |  The historical marker describes the action at the Hammond's Old Store site. |  Further work on the Hammond's Old Store site is planned by the SC Battleground Preservation Trust. |
|---|---|---|
 The Hammond's Old Store location is currently a pine forest. |  The depression on the left side of the photo is a remnant of the colonial road. |  The depression pictured is a remnant of the colonial road that passed by Hammond's Old Store. |
 Native azaleas bloom at the Hammond's Old Store site. |
Visit Hammond's Old Store
1503 Greenplain Rd, Clinton, SC 29325
The Hammond’s Old Store site is well-studied, and it can be interpreted off of Greenplain Road. At this site, you can also see traces of the colonial road (picture included above). Parking is available in a gravel lot at this site, and additional developments are planned by the SC Battleground Preservation Trust.