Battle of Hanging Rock Historic Site is a historic battle site commemorating the

Battle of Hanging Rock The Battle of Hanging Rock (August 6, 1780) was a battle in the American Revolutionary War that occurred between the Patriot (American Revolution), American Patriots and the Kingdom of Great Britain, British. It was part of a campaign by militia G ...

during the

American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...

and located near Heath Springs,

Lancaster County, South Carolina Lancaster County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, its population was 96,016, Its county seat is Lancaster, which has an urban population of 23,979. The county was created in 1785. Lancaster Coun ...

. As part of a series of strongholds planned to maintain the British position in South Carolina, an outpost was established at Hanging Rock in 1780. The importance of this post was in its strategic location on the road from Camden to Charlotte. The first American attack on the post occurred on July 30, 1780, led by Major

William Richardson Davie William Richardson Davie (June 20, 1756 – November 29, 1820) was a Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father of the United States, military officer during the Revolutionary War (United States), Revolutionary War, and List of Go ...

, with 40 dragoons and 40 mounted riflemen. On August 6, 1780, and after three hours of fighting, many of General

Thomas Sumter Thomas Sumter (August 14, 1734June 1, 1832) was a soldier in the Colony of Virginia militia; a brigadier general in the South Carolina militia during the American Revolution, a planter, and a politician. After the United States gained independen ...

’s men were unable to continue the battle. It was agreed to plunder the British camp and depart. It was added to the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

in 1974.

References

Military facilities on the National Register of Historic Places in South Carolina Buildings and structures in Lancaster County, South Carolina National Register of Historic Places in Lancaster County, South Carolina American Revolution on the National Register of Historic Places {{LancasterCountySC-NRHP-stub