Sumter had been particularly successful in the northern part of the state, making attacks on Rocky Mount and Hanging Rock in early August 1780.

Cornwallis moved reinforcements to Camden from Charleston, while Sumter, in some coordination with Gates' movements, harassed British communication and supply lines.

[1] After his victory at Camden, Cornwallis had ordered troops, including Banastre Tarleton and the Loyalist British Legion, to locate and neutralize Sumter.

Picking 160 men from his company and leaving the rest to cover his rear, Tarleton continued the pursuit, and finally caught up with Sumter at Fishing Creek.

He eventually reformed his militia, and got a measure of revenge against Tarleton at Blackstock's Farm in November 1780 -- even though Sumter himself was wounded early in the battle and Col. John Twiggs of Georgia took over command.