Ok, so the next stop on our tour is Hanging Rock. After the British captured Charleston in 1780, They quickly moved to establish outposts in the backcountry of South Carolina. Ninety-Six was the primary one in the western part of the state, and Camden was the main one in the eatsern/central part, with smaller posts at Rocky Mount and here at Hanging Rock. After Buford's Massacre (last post) local patriots were bent on revenge. General Thomas Sumter, known to the British as the Gamecock, was in charge of partisan activity in this area of the state, and planned to launch a surprise attack on Rocky Mount. Once that proved untangible, they turned there focus to Hanging Rock. On August 5, 1780, Major Richardson Davie (see previous post) led a Patriot force in the early morning hours that quickly overan the surprised Tories manning the compund. This was one of the first battles where "Remember Tarleton's Quarter" was used (see last post). While the Patriots were eventually chased away when the Tories regrouped, they did take valuable supplies and lost only 20 dead, 40 wounded to the enemies losses of over 200, arguably a valuable victory. Even if this was not the most vital or historic battle, it was certainly one of the most scenic, as you can see by the photos of the park.
Ok, so the next stop on our tour is Hanging Rock. After the British captured Charleston in 1780, They quickly moved to establish outposts in the backcountry of South Carolina. Ninety-Six was the primary one in the western part of the state, and Camden was the main one in the eatsern/central part, with smaller posts at Rocky Mount and here at Hanging Rock. After Buford's Massacre (last post) local patriots were bent on revenge. General Thomas Sumter, known to the British as the Gamecock, was in charge of partisan activity in this area of the state, and planned to launch a surprise attack on Rocky Mount. Once that proved untangible, they turned there focus to Hanging Rock. On August 5, 1780, Major Richardson Davie (see previous post) led a Patriot force in the early morning hours that quickly overan the surprised Tories manning the compund. This was one of the first battles where "Remember Tarleton's Quarter" was used (see last post). While the Patriots were eventually chased away when the Tories regrouped, they did take valuable supplies and lost only 20 dead, 40 wounded to the enemies losses of over 200, arguably a valuable victory. Even if this was not the most vital or historic battle, it was certainly one of the most scenic, as you can see by the photos of the park.
This was the site of another small battle where Davie captured supplies bound for the post at Hanging Rock. Unfortunetly, later that day, his own group was ambushed by a band of Tories, and he basically broke even.
The nearby marker for James Marion, father of modern gynecology.
This marker just makes me laugh. Critics of historical markers and "history chasers" say that the only thing markers ever say is stupid little things like "George Wahington slept here." Ok critics, you win this round.
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