Victory at Hanging Rock!

Today, as we mark the 246th anniversary of the Battle of Hanging Rock, one of the few Patriot victories of the summer of 1780, we get to celebrate another victory together. Thanks to the support of our members, the Trust has just saved 160 acres of hallowed ground at Hanging Rock!

This precious battlefield sits not far from the rapidly expanding metropolitan area in Charlotte, N.C., which is why the National Trust for Historic Preservation named Hanging Rock Battlefield one of the 11 Most Endangered Historic Places in America earlier this year.

These acres of hallowed ground were at risk of being lost to development forever. Instead, generations to come will be able to visit Hanging Rock and learn the crucial role this battle played in our fight for independence.

This tract is located directly adjacent to land previously saved by the Trust and our partners, now totaling more than 300 unified acres of saved battlefield land.

In addition to the generosity of our donors, this Victory could not have been possible without both federal and state support, including grants from the American Battlefield Protection Program, the South Carolina Conservation Bank, and Sustain SC.

The battlefield is also part of The Liberty Trail S.C., a statewide initiative developed in partnership with the South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust to connect and interpret key Revolutionary War locations across the Palmetto State. Today, visitors to Hanging Rock can experience a three-quarter-mile walking loop and interpretive signage detailing the battle and its significance, as well as The Liberty Trail’s robust digital offerings.

The Battle of Hanging Rock  

On August 6, 1780, several hundred Patriot troops under General Thomas Sumter attacked  Loyalist troops encamped near Hanging Rock along the Great Wagon Road. The battle was fought largely by militia and provincial forces on both sides, with major fighting occurring on the tract we just saved.  

South Carolina militia under Sumter and Major William Richardson Davie attacked three camps of British provincials at Hanging Rock, one of which was located on the northeast corner of this tract.

A contingent of Sumter’s militia attacked eastward across the tract. Pressure from Patriot forces to the north caused the British position to collapse and the South Carolina advance continued.  

Major John Carden, the British commander, sent the Prince of Wales Regiment in as support. The Patriots engaged and nearly destroyed the regiment on the land we have now saved. In a last-ditch effort to save his command, Carden decided on a tactic often employed against cavalry and ordered his men to form a square on the southeast corner of the property. Davie’s remaining dragoons managed to hold off a potential British counterattack.  

The result was one of the only victories for the Patriots in the summer of 1780, with British casualties outnumbering Americans 4-to-1.

Acquiring this tract builds upon the work by the Trust and our partners seeking to create a nearly complete preserved battlefield, providing us with an incredible opportunity to further interpret the battle and add more trails for visitors to enjoy. 

The American Battlefield Trust is dedicated to preserving America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educating the public about what happened there and why it matters today. The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization has protected more than 62,000 acres associated with the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Civil War across 160 sites in 25 states. Learn more at www.battlefields.org.