In the backcountry, battle lines were constantly shifting. Property, including forts and farms, changed hands often between Patriots and Loyalists. For example, the Patriots occupied Fort Lindley at the time of this battle, but the land was owned by Loyalist James Lindley. Lindley was even present during the July 15 battle, attacking his own homeplace! The fort had been built as part of British defensive activities in the French and Indian War, and it was included in property that James Lindley received as a land grant from the Crown.

During the brisk, 2-hour gunfight at Fort Lindley, the defenders of the fort realized that when they charged the Cherokee, they retreated. That is one of the Cherokee methods of fighting, as one of their leading goals in battle was to live to fight another day. The Cherokee also had poor unit cohesion, as they were the epitome of a free society: One person could not tell another what to do - even in battle. This knowledge helped the Patriots break the attack at Fort Lindley.

The Little River Regiment was formed in February 1775 with militia from what is present-day Laurens County. It was one of the most active and most successful militia regiments in the Revolution, fighting in at least 35 battles. It was commanded by Major Jonathan Downs until he was wounded at the Ring Fight, one month after he led the Little River Regiment to victory at Fort Lindley. Later, the Little River Regiment would be commanded by Colonels James Williams and Joseph Hayes.

Major Jonathan Downs: Major Jonathan Downs was the first commander of the Little River Regiment, a Patriot militia formed in present-day Laurens County. When the county was created, many locals wanted to name it after Major Downs, but he insisted it be named after Henry Laurens, his commander-in-chief. In addition to serving as a Justice of the Peace in Laurens County, Jonathan Downs was a member of South Carolina's 1st & 2nd Provincial Congresses, and he served in the South Carolina General Assembly. His Revolutionary War service included the Laurens County battles of Lindley's Fort (1776), where he was commander, and Hayes' Station (1781). He died in 1818.