A British outpost was established in the area. In late July 1780, William Richardson Davie led a raid on the outpost taking horses and arms from the British forces. On August 6, 1780, General Thomas Sumter with 600 militiamen from the Carolinas attacked and looted the outpost which was garrisoned by 1400 British fighters. At the age of 13, President Andrew Jackson experienced the battle. This young boy, who went on to be the Hero of New Orleans, said that he learned his military skills from the brave men who fought at the Hanging Rock.

An interpretive program is planned to commemorate the 225th Anniversary of the Battle of Hanging Rock on Saturday, August 6, 2005. Join us at the Barron Masonic Lodge in Heath Springs for presentations on the battle at 3 p.m. Bert Dunkerly, Revolutionary War author, reenactor and interpretive ranger at Kings Mountain National Military Park, will be giving an overview of the battle. Andrew Jackson State Park Manager, Kirk Johnston will also share research on the battle. Keith Brown of the Catawba Nation will be explaining the role of Chief New River and the other tribe members who participated in the battle. Time for questions and discussion will be allowed after each presenter. There will be books and Catawba pottery for sale.

At 5:30, we will meet at the base of the Hanging Rock to hold a memorial service. After the memorial service, visitors are invited to meet at the corner of Flat Rock Road and Hanging Rock Road to view the layout of the battlefield. Reenactors and local historians will be on hand at both the Barron Masonic Lodge and Hanging Rock to answer questions.

We are pleased to announce that a local Boy Scout and descendant of Patriots who fought at Hanging Rock, Whitfield Marshall has decided to use his Eagle Scout Project to help improve the site. He and the volunteers that he has organized have already covered the graffiti that had been painted on the rock. He is re-engineering the current retaining wall and adding steps at the base of the rock so that the marker will be more accessible to visitors. The project includes doing some general clean up and landscaping as well.

The Hanging Rock is located 2 miles south of Heath Springs. Take Flat Rock Road to Hanging Rock Road. On Hanging Rock Road, proceed across Hanging Rock Creek and turn right on the dirt road. The Hanging Rock State Historic Site is a satellite site of the Andrew Jackson State Park.

Andrew Jackson State Park preserves and protects the site of Andrew Jackson’s boyhood home in South Carolina. Among its attractions are a museum about Andrew Jackson’s boyhood, a reproduction schoolhouse, trails, a campground, and a fishing lake. The park is nine miles north of Lancaster on U.S.521 at 196 Andrew Jackson Park Road. For more information, call the park at (803) 285-3344.