Hero might be a little strong. He did what he considered to be his duty, turning out a volunteer several times over a three year period, providing his own horse and firearms. He never held command, he was a mounted soldier and a scout. He was awarded a 150 acre land grant for his service, in addition to a pension in his old age. Now, a genuine hero of his acquaintance in the southern campaign would be John Stokes, who gave far more in service to his country than did my fourth great grandfather; his treatment at the hands of Banastre Tarleton lends much credence to the nickname "Bloody Ban."
You might be right,But he didn't have to serve he new the stakes involved and if his side lost he probably would have been "strung up".
By the way is any of the 150 acres still in the family?