Accordingly, in response to the warm, patriotic impulses of his nature, when General Rutherford called out an army of over two thousand men from the surrounding counties to subdue the Cherokee Indians, who were committing numerous murders and depredations on the frontier settlements, Mr. Hall promptly volunteered his services, and was gladly accepted by the commanding officers as their Chaplain.

In the brief, diary notes of Captain Charles Polk, (now before the author), who commanded a company in this expedition, he says: 

“On Thursday, the 12th of September, we marched down the river three miles, to Cowee Town, and encamped.  On this day there was a party of men sent down this river (Nuckessey) ten miles, to cut down the corn; the Indians fired on them as they were cutting the corn and killed Hancock Polk, of Colonel Beekman’s Regiment.”

On Friday, the 13th, they remained encamped in Cowee Town.  On Saturday, the 14th, “we marched to Nuckessey Town, six miles higher up the river, and encamped.  On Sunday, the 15th, one of Captain Irwin’s men was buried in Nuckessey Town.  On Monday, the 16th, we marched five miles—­this day with a detachment of twelve hundred men—­for the Valley Towns, and encamped on the waters of Tennessee river.  Mr. Hall preached a sermon last Sunday; in time of sermon the express we sent to the South army returned home.  On Tuesday, the 17th, we marched six miles, and arrived at a town called Nowee, about 12 o’clock; three guns were fired at Robert Harris, of Mecklenburg, by the Indians, said Harris being in the rear of the army.  We marched one mile from Nowee and encamped on the side of a steep mountain, without any fire.”

These extracts show that Mr. Hall was then at his post of duty, and ready to deliver religious instruction to the American army.  The sermon was directly prompted by the death of a fellow soldier.  Who can tell how many hearts were touched and benefitted by the gospel truths proclaimed by the youthful preacher on that solemn occasion?  The counsels of Eternity can alone answer the question.

In 1779, when South Carolina was overrun by the British and Tories, Mr. Hall’s spirit was stirred within him on receiving intelligence of the massacres and plunderings experienced by the inhabitants of the upper part of that State.  Under this state of feeling he assembled his congregation and addressed them in strong, patriotic language on what he believed to be their present duty.  He pictured to their view, in a most thrilling manner, the wrongs and sufferings of their afflicted countrymen.  The appeal to their patriotism was not made in vain.  With as little delay as possible a company of cavalry, composed of choice young men from his congregation, was promptly raised.  On its organization, Mr. Hall was unanimously chosen for their Captain; all his excuses were overruled, and, in order to encourage his countrymen to act rather than to talk, he accepted the command.  “Heart within, and God o’erhead.”  During this tour of service two of his men were taken prisoners.  As he could not recover them by force of arms, their case was made the subject of prayer, both in his private devotions and in public with his company.  In a few days afterward the prisoners made their escape and rejoined their fellow soldiers.