throughout november and december 1756, demeré and de brahm continued to squabble over the fort's design. demeré disliked de brahm's original design for outer and inner palisades, and thought de brahm's plans for two smaller auxiliary fortresses near the river were too complex. the two also disagreed on whether or not to discharge the provincials, with de brahm arguing the construction work was nearly complete and the provincials no longer needed, and demeré disagreeing, stating the fort was still uninhabitable. on december 24, 1756, de brahm, stating the fort was essentially finished, abruptly left for south carolina, drawing a strong rebuke from demeré. the nonplussed cherokees referred to de brahm as "the warrior who ran away in the night."