-
Period: to
Francis Marion in The Revolutionary War
Francis Marion's Lifetime Career -
The Battle of Sullivan's Island
On June 28, 1776 the British began firing on Fort Sullivan, a small fort that hadn't even been finished yet, and yet they couldn't get the fort to fall. When the cannons hit the palmetto logs the fort was made of, the cannon balls got stuck in the logs and didn't explode. The British, now frustrated, moved their ships closer to the fort and accidentally ran aground on a sandbar. Marion took his chance and directed all his force's firepower at the ships which eventually led to a patriot victory! -
Marion's Charleston Escape
Francis Marion and his militia had been stationed in the Charleston area in order to defend it from an suspected British siege. Marion himself had been invited to a house-party on the corner of Orange and Tradd street by a man named Captain Alexander McQueen. When McQueen locked all the doors to his house, Marion became suspicious and he realized that this was probably a loyalist trap! He snuck upstairs and then jumped out the second-floor window in which he broke his ankle. -
Battle of Nelson's Ferry
The stage for this battle was set when British Lord Cornwallis defeated General Gates in a battle near Camden. Francis Marion along with sixty other men were given the order to roam the Santee and burn boats in order to isolate Camden from Charleston. When Marion heard that Camden had been taken by the British he kept on burning boats. He eventually heard that 150 Marylanders were being held hostage at General Sumter's home so he and his militia freed them after dark! -
The Battle of Tearcoat
While in the Waccamaw area, General Marion learned British Colonel Tynes with a party of over 90 tories were passing through Camden with many fresh supplies for the British army. Tynes had decided to camp between two forks of The Black River and Marion saw his chance. Marion mustered 150 Patriots, split into three groups and attacked at midnight. After Marion's force killed six, wounded fourteen and captured twenty-three, the rest of the Tories fled and Marion's militia captured many supplies! -
Confrontation at Richbourg's Mill
British Colonel Banastre Tarleton left Charleston with his band of Green Dragoons to hunt down Francis Marion. They traveled to late General Richardson's home and lit several bonfires and prepared an ambush. General Marion, attracted by the light, began to investigate the area. However, before Marion was ambushed, Mrs. Richardson sent her own son to warn Marion of the ambush and upon learning of Tarleton's plans, Marion fled. -
Pursuit to Ox Swamp
Tying into The Confrontation at Richbourg's Mill, Marion slipped east of Jack's Creek after figuring out Tarleton's plans to ambush him. Tarleton, after learning of Marion's escape, gave chase with his Green Dragoons after Marion and his militia. Using a series of delaying tactics, Marion rode to the head of Jack's Creek, across Sammy Swamp and down to the Pocotaligo where he proceeded to escape into Ox Swamp. This is the first event where Francis Marion became known as "The Swamp Fox". -
Battle of Wyboo Swamp
British Lt. Col. John Watson Tadwell Watson and British Col. Welbore Ellis Doyle were sent to encircle and crush General Marion. Marion heard of the incoming forces from a patriot spy and decided that he would stand up and fight in order to protect the nearby houses and plantations. Marion and his militia set up an ambush on an old Santee Road near Nelson's Ferry. After a brief engagement, Marion was forced to retreat as the British had unexpectantly had grapeshot cannon! -
Mount Hope Harassment
British Colonel Watson was encamped at the Cantey Plantation on March 9th and planned to move down to Georgetown over the next few days. However, General Marion had different ideas for Watson. The first engagement occurred at Mount Hope Swamp and forced Watson back. Watson again met stiff resistance at the Lower Bridge over the Black River and couldn't move to Kingstree. After camping in Witherspoon, Watson was forced onwards to Georgetown but was soon ambushed by Marion at Ox Swamp. -
The Siege of Fort Watson
On April 16, 1781, Colonel Harry Lee's Continental Army and Francis Marion's Militia attempted to capture Fort Watson beside Scott's lake to get much-needed supplies. When they laid siege to the fort, the cannons never arrived. They decided to build a tower that was higher than the fort's walls so they could shoot down into it. Surprisingly, the fort's occupants quickly surrendered on the morning of April 23, 1781. -
The Battle of Eutaw Springs
The last major battle of the Revolutionary War that Marion participated in. Along with Nathanael Greene's Continental army, Marion and his militia faced off against a British army commanded by Lt. Col. Alexander Stewart. Over 4000 men fought for over 4 hours in stifling heat. This battle ended up being the most bloody battle of the war!
