Isaac Hammond Memorial, Fayetteville
An arched granite slab rests on a rectangular granite base. Some images show the slab standing upright on the base.
OUR COMRADE / ISAAC HAMMOND / REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER / AND / OFFICIAL FIFER -- 1797 / OF THE / FAYETTEVILLE INDEPENDENT / LIGHT INFANTRY / ERECTED BY THE F.I.L.I. / 1964
1964
35.053020 , -78.873730 View in Geobrowse
"Fayetteville's 31 Day Salute to Feature Multiple Performances by Army Ground Forces Band," fayettevillepr.com, (accessed June 26, 2014) Link
"Fifer's Grave," visitnc.com, (accessed June 26, 2014) Link
"Isaac Hammond -- 1st Fifer," Waymarking.com, (accessed June 26, 2014) Link
"Parade Grounds," fili1793.com, (accessed June 26, 2014) Link
Barefoot, Daniel W. Touring North Carolina's Revolutionary War Sites. (Winston-Salem, NC: John F. Blair, 1998), 130, (accessed June 26, 2014) Link
Poppele, Karen. "Tour Focuses on City's African-American Heritage," Up and Coming Weekly, February 8, 2013, (accessed June 27, 2014) Link
United States Department of the Interior National Park Service, "Fayetteville Downtown Historic District Registration Form," May 26, 1999, (accessed June 27, 2014) Link
Yes
Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry
Isaac Hammond (17?-1822), a free black barber in Fayetteville, was the company's first fifer for over 30 years. During the Revolutionary War, he enlisted in the 10th Regiment of the North Carolina Continental Line. In accordance with his request to be buried at the F.I.L.I. Parade Grounds so that he could be near the Company in spirit, he was buried with full military honors.
The Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry was organized on August 23, 1793 and is the oldest existing volunteer militia company in the South. The unit was active from the Colonial Era through World War I but now serves a largely ceremonial role. FILI currently maintains a museum that includes artifacts from its founding to the present.
The parade ground can be found on the southwest corner of the intersection of North Cool Spring Street and Meeting Street within the Fayetteville Downtown Historic District.
The monument rests on a grassy plot facing North Cool Spring Street to the south of the monument that marks the 200th anniversary of the Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry. A brick pathway passes directly in front of the monuments, and Cross Creek flows nearby. Large shade trees and flowering bushes complete the park-like atmosphere.
Yes
Today, the F.I.L.I. are a fraternal service organization and continue to honor their veterans annually. A concert in tribute to Hammond and another fifer, Isham Blake, took place at the Grounds on May 26, 2012.
Local military heritage tours and African-American heritage tours often include the FILI Parade Grounds.
FILI also honors annual flag retirement ceremonies at the Parade Grounds with an honor guard.