It was part of a campaign by militia General Thomas Sumter to harass or destroy British outposts in the South Carolina back-country that had been established after the fall of Charleston in May 1780.

The British, in complete control of both South Carolina and Georgia, established outposts in the interior of both states to recruit Loyalists and to suppress Patriot dissent.

[2] On August 1, 1780, Sumter launched an attack on the British outpost at Rocky Mount, west of Hanging Rock on the Catawba River.

Early in the morning, the initial assault was made where Winn's and Davie's men completely routed Bryan's corps.

Part of the Prince of Wales Regt then came up and having cleverly deployed themselves in some woods, checked the rebel assault with a surprise crossfire.

This allowed the British to draw up in a hollow square in the center of the cleared ground and further protect themselves with a three-pound cannon left by some of Rugeley's Camden militia.