General Sumter was thoroughly convinced that the ardent patriots of which his command consisted must be kept constantly employed, and that the minds of such men are greatly influenced by dashing exploits.  He, therefore, resolved to unite with Major Davie and other officers, and make a vigorous attack against the post of Hanging Rock.  This post derives its name from a huge conglomerate bowlder of granite, twenty-five or thirty feet in diameter, lying upon the eastern bank of Hanging Rock Creek, with a concavity sufficiently large to shelter fifty men from the rain, Near this natural curiosity Lord Rawdon, then commanding the British and Tories in that section, had established a post, garrisoned by Tarleton’s Legion of infantry, a part of Brown’s Corps of South Carolina and Georgia Provincials, and Colonel Bryan’s North Carolina Loyalists, the whole under the command of Major Carden.

BATTLE OF THE HANGING ROCK.

     “Catawba’s waters smiled again
       To see her Sumter’s soul in arms! 
     And issuing from each glade and glen,
       Rekindled by war’s fierce alarms,
     Thronged hundreds through the solitude
       Of the wild forests, to the call
     Of him whose spirit, unsubdued,
       Fresh impulse gave to each, to all.”

On the 5th of August, 1780, the detachments of the patriots met again at Land’s Ford, on the Catawba.  Major Davie had not lost a single man in his last dashing exploit.  The North Carolina militia, under Colonel Irwin and Major Davie, numbered about five hundred men, officers and privates; and about three hundred South Carolinians under Colonels Sumter, Lacey and Hill.  The chief command was conferred upon Colonel Sumter, as being the senior officer.  Early in the morning, Colonel Sumter marched cautiously, and approached the British camp in three divisions, with the intention of falling upon the main body stationed at Cole’s Old Field.  The right was composed of Major Davie’s corps, and some volunteers, under Major Bryan; the center, of the Mecklenburg militia, under Colonel Irwin; and the left, of South Carolina refugees, under Colonel Hill.  General Sumter proposed that the detachments should approach in their divisions, march directly to the centre encampments, then dismount, and each division attack its camp.  This plan was approved by all except Major Davie, who insisted on leaving their horses at their present position, and march to the attack on foot.  He urged, as an objection against the former plan, the confusion always consequent upon dismounting under fire, and the certainty of losing the effect of a sudden and vigorous attack.  He was, however, over-ruled, but the sequel proved he was right in his opinion.  Through the error of his guides, Sumter came first upon Bryan’s corps, on the western bank of the creek, half a mile from the British camp.  Colonel Irwin’s Mecklenburg militia, commenced the attack.  The Tories soon yielded, and fled