By Mr. Durant Ashmore
Reprinted here with kind permission from the author
This is a LIDAR image of the Hammond’s Old Store Battlefield. It’s amazing what LIDAR will show, and just as amazing what LIDAR won’t show. This is my first experience with LIDAR, and I am happy to include this valuable tool in my battlefield preservation toolbox.
The colored dots represent artifacts collected by John Allison and his metal detecting team from the SC Battleground Trust. John is the premier battlefield discoverer in SC, and I dare say the best in the country. This map was produced by Bryan Tate, a member of the team. You can refer to the artifacts catalogue to see what was recovered.
The Bush River is in the upper right corner. Modern day Greenplain Rd. is in the bottom left corner. The large gash in the center is the Colonial Road, one of the most distinctive examples left in the state. The curved road to the right of the colonial road is a modern logging road.
You can see the artifacts are located on two sides of the colonial road. Before looking at this map we thought this was two battle sites.
Those familiar with LIDAR say that an erosion pattern shows up in the center of the battlefield, and this whole area contained the battlefield. This makes much more sense with the historical record. This battlefield is approximately 150 yards wide.
At the Battle of Hammond’s Old Store there were 100 Tories killed, 50 wounded, 50 captured and 40 escaped. What you are looking at is the killing field. There were 0 Patriot casualties.
As stated, what doesn’t show up is also amazing. There is a modern brick ranch style house on this site. You can see the circular drive coming off Greenplain Rd, but the house is invisible. There is also a 5,000 sq. ft. barn, a 1,000 Sq. ft. workshop and a swimming pool. These features are invisible.
I’m glad to be introduced to LIDAR.
More Photos
More Revolutionary War in Laurens County:
Site Guide
Timeline
Little River Regiment Honor Roll
See also: Hammond’s Old Store · The Williams-Cunningham Feud
← Back to the Durant Ashmore Essay Collection