Enacted by the state of South Carolina May 2, 2007: The twenty-seventh day of February annually is designated
as 'General Francis Marion Memorial Day' in honor of this South Carolina Revolutionary War hero."
Come and Celebrate Rev. War Living History Encampment to honor General Francis Marion.
Francis Marion Living History Encampment Days: Feb 26-28, 2009 at Camp Bob Cooper.
Visit the Swamp Fox Murals Trail. ©2002
of his 2nd SC Regiment after he occupied Georgetown, June 6, 1781.
Marion Sculpture by Robert G. Barinowski ©2006 (http://baronsstudio.com ).
Marion is sponsored by the Swamp Fox Murals Trial Society.
Come to Manning to see Marion at the corner of Mill and Boyce, Courthouse Square.
The American
Revolution was deadlocked in the north, after
the battle at Monmouth Courthouse, NJ in 1778. These
Swamp Fox engagements were after Charleston
fell and the British occupied it starting on May
12, 1780. Marion had escaped capture and was the
only senior Regimental or Continental Officer free to
lead the local militia.
Directions: Southeast of Summerton,
I-95 Exit 102, take Dingle Pond Road
(SR 400) east about 4.5 miles. Unmarked
site is on Santee Wildlife Refuge, Pine Island Unit,
and requires walking. The stage for this battle was set when the British Lord Cornwallis defeated General Gates in a battle near Camden. De Kalb was killed and about 150 Marylanders were taken prisoner by the British. General Marion was ordered by Gates to roam the Santee burning boats so as to isolate Camden from Charleston. He was successfully engaged in this task when he learned of the defeat at Camden August 16, 1780. He withheld this information from his sixty troops and continued to burn boats. He learned from a deserter that a British Capt. Roberts with an escort of ninety troops was holding the 150 Maryland prisoners at General Sumter’s home, on the north savannah of the Santee River near Nelson’s Ferry. He attacked after dark and killed or captured twenty-three of the escorts and released all the prisoners, most of whom elected not to join Marion's Militia. This is thought to be the first time Cornwallis heard of General Marion.
General Thomas Sumter's vast land holdings and home were located on a bluff overlooking the Santee Basin about six miles from Nelson's Ferry. This was the 2nd location he lived in and the one used during the Revolution and it was burned by Tarleton. Sumter's first home was 1 mile NW of Eutaw Springs, SW of Nelson's Ferry, and his last holdings were at Stateburg.
Capt. William Henry Mouzon II was educated in France and spoke the language fluently. He became a surveyor and civil engineer. Henry Mouzon had a warm friendship with Banastre Tarleton from their boyhood days at school; yet so callous had Tarleton grown from a sense of duty to his King that he burned the Mouzon Plantation House, on August 7, 1780. His daughter Ann recounted the day the British arrived. She was eleven years old and was on top of the smoke house at the time, helping to spread the bacon in the sun. Ann was the first to see the British coming and sounded the alarm to the rest of the family. The Mouzon home was at Mouzon's Landing, located at Puddin' Swamp on the Black River where Mouzon escaped into the swamp. His home was on the edge of St Marks Parish, when Tarleton’s Green Dragoons burned it. Following this, British Major James Wemyss burned out Patriots & Loyalists alike in a swathe 15 miles wide of the 70 miles route from Kingstree to Cheraw along the Black River in 1780.
Following Marion's victories at Nelson's Ferry and the Blue Savannah the British were angry. Cornwallis ordered available forces, over 1500 men,
to go after Marion and his 60 men.
Marion, who was guarding Port's Ferry on the
Pee Dee expected such a move and sent Major James
with a cavalry detachment to snatch a British
soldier so they could question him. Thus, Marion
learned he was greatly out numbered so he broke
camp and moved to the Great White Marsh of North Carolina.
On his return he gathered his followers and his
first action resulted in the victory over
Col. Ball at Black Mingo on September
28th. The Citizen Soldier mural
depicts Marion gathering men as he returns
from NC.
Citizen
Soldier Mural at SW corner of Sunset Dr. (US
301) and Mill St. (SC 260), Manning, SC.
Mural ©2003Sept. 28-29, 1780 Marion, back in SC, attacked Col. Ball at Black Mingo, Mouzon was wounded.
Directions: I-95,
exit 132, South of Turbeville, take Black
River Road (SC 527) East to Historic US 301. Go
South on US 301, West on N. Brewington Rd (SR
50). The battle area is about .5 mile East of I-95 (Follow the treasure
hunt
to find this mural. http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.asp?id=26102)
While billeted near Waccamaw, General Marion learned Colonel Tynes with a party of over ninety Tories passed through Camden where they drew supplies and new muskets. They were now camped at the edge of Tearcoat Swamp, between the two forks of the Black River.
Battle of Tearcoat Mural
at corner of Main St. (US 301) and Park St., Turbeville,
SC While billeted near Waccamaw, General Marion learned Colonel Tynes with a party of over ninety Tories passed through Camden where they drew supplies and new muskets. They were now camped at the edge of Tearcoat Swamp, between the two forks of the Black River.
Marion called a muster and with 150 men moved to Kingstree. He then turned west and moved swiftly toward Tearcoat. After scouting the encampment Marion split his force into three companies and attacked at midnight. The attackers killed six, wounded fourteen and captured twenty-three men. They also captured the food, baggage, ammunition, over eighty new muskets and horses with saddles. However, Tynes escaped, but was captured a few days later in the High Hills (near Stateburg). Tearcoat Mural ©2002
Confrontation
at Richbourg's Mill
(Tuesday, November 7, 1780)
*C-6 #8a
MapDirections: I-95 Exit 108, from junction of Historic US 301 and US 15 in Summerton go west on Gov. Richardson Road (SR 26). Site is on the Furse Branch just west of Jack’s Creek.
Ox Swamp Mural
©2001
General
Marion enticing British Col. Tarleton into
Ox Swamp Upon learning from a Tory spy that General Marion slipped back east of Jack’s Creek, Tarleton gave chase with the Green Dragoons. Marion, staying just ahead of the dragoons, and fighting a series of delaying actions with his rear guard, rode to the head of Jack’s Creek, then down the Pocotaligo and finally slipped away into Ox Swamp. Here Tarleton gave up the chase and said “as for the old fox, the devil himself could not catch him.” Thus, General Francis Marion became known as the “Swamp Fox”. Marion and his men continued east to Benbow's Ferry on the Black river where he had established the ambush for the British.
General Richardson Home Site *C-2 #54 Map
Directions: I-95 Exit 102, north on Historic US 301. At St. Paul turn left/west on Liberty Hill Road (SR 373), turn left on Old River Road (SR 76). Site is most likely on the right near the large tree, one-half mile west of St Phillips Church Road.
This is where Tarleton camped, started on the chase to Ox Swamp and returned to harass the Richardson family. He made Mrs. Richardson prepare dinner for him, then dug up Gen. Richardson’s body, burnt the house and the barn with all the animals in it and finally flogged Mrs. Richardson in front of her children.
Benbow's Ferry Site Directions: East of Manning on SC 261. Left, north, onto S-55 at Martine Crossroads. The ferry was located just east of where the bridge crosses the Black River.
Marion positioned his force in an ambush for Tarleton along the approach to the ferry.
Directions: South of Summerton,
I-95 Exit 102 north on Historic
US 301. At St. Paul turn west on Liberty Hill
Road (SR 373), then left onto Old River Road (SR 76).
Site is on the left just past Elliott’s Mill Pond and
Spring Grove Creek. Major McLeroth and his British Regular troops met at Nelson’s Ferry recruits for the Royal Fusiliers, who departed Charleston for Camden. McLeroth was to escort them to the High Hills. General Marion with 700 troops intercepted McLeroth’s group and began driving in the pickets. Under a flag of truce McLeroth complained and after they talked, it was decided each side would field twenty men to face off and fight. Major Vanderhorst and the picked twenty decided to wait until they were fifty yards away to fire their buckshot. As they closed to less than 100 yards, the Redcoats broke and ran. During the night the British stole away, leaving their equipment and supplies behind. Marion sent James and his cavalry after them. James fired on the British at Singleton’s Mill but quickly departed the mill area when he learned the Singletons had smallpox. Dec. 26, 1780, Lt. Col. John Watson Tadwell Watson and the British 64th Regiment of Foot troops started building Fort Watson on the Santee Indian Mound.
General Thomas Sumter had attacked Fort Watson atop the Indian Mound on February 28, 1781, attempting to take it from the British.
The next sequence of events comprise the Bridges Campaign or Watson Pursuit:
Directions: I-95 Exit 115. Take Historic US 301 north. Turn south (right) onto SC 260. Turn right on Patriot Road (SR 410). The site is at the end of the road.
Lt. Col. John Watson Tadwell Watson and Colonel Welbore Ellis Doyle were sent to encircle and crush General Marion. Early on March 5, Watson and his Buffs marched from Fort Watson down the Santee Path and bivouacked near Nelson’s Ferry. Marion heard their location from his spy, Capt. Zach Cantey.
His men knew they must fight to prevent the enemy from continuing to overrun their homes and farms. Marion ordered his troops to advance and set up an ambush, at Wyboo Swamp, a difficult pass on the Santee Road.
The British marched into view and out rode
Watson to survey the scene. Out rode Marion
to face his opponent. The quarter mile
causeway spanned the muck and morass of Wyboo swamp.
Watson, towering and majestically uniformed, sitting
a splendid charger and backed by Britain's finest
soldiers, opposite the small Huguenot, sitting a
sorrel gelding and backed by farmers in homespun.
Watson opened the battle. He sent Col. H Richborg and his Loyalist horsemen thundering over the causeway. Anticipating this, Marion sent Peter Horry and his horsemen to meet them. After a brief skirmish on the narrow roadway, both sides recoiled. Marion again ordered Horry to charge. Watson’s regulars held. A fusillade of grapeshot sent Horry’s cavalry reeling backward. Battle of Wyboo Swamp Mural (1 of 3 panels), Manning. Wyboo Mural ©2006
Watson threw in the Troy dragoons. Gavin James, powerful of frame and fierce of courage, turned back to dispute Harrison’s passage. Mounted on a gray horse and armed only with musket and bayonet, he threw himself directly in the path of the dragoons. Their foremost man he dropped with buckshot. Before he could reload, a dragoon rushed him with his saber. James slew him with his bayonet, and a second with the same bayonet. In falling he seized the barrel of James’ gun and for 50 yards in his retreat Gavin James dragged the dying Tory. As the dragoons crossed the causeway, Marion’s militia charged, driving the Tories back across Wyboo. Watson ordered his Guards to clear the passage. Marion knew his men could not stop the veterans and called them to mount and retreat. Marion withdrew to a position near the Cantey Plantation.
Directions: South of Manning, south on SC 260, left on Kenwood Road (S-323). Large brick and metal gate on the right, south side, of the road mark John Cantey’s Plantation.
Colonel Watson encamped at the Cantey Plantation on March 9th. He then attempted to join Doyle who was moving from Camden down the Pee Dee north of the Black River. At Mount Hope Swamp Watson met severe harassment from the Swamp Fox and his men. He again met stiff resistance at the Lower Bridge over the Black River and was unable to cross the river to reach Kingstree. He then camped at the Witherspoon and the Blakely plantations but was forced to head for Georgetown. He was ambushed and stopped at Ox Swamp and then made a dash for Georgetown via the Old River Road. When the British reached the Sampit River, General Marion ambushed them. Watson had suffered many casualties at every encounter and leaving his dead where they fell, he arrived at Georgetown with two wagons filled with wounded soldiers.
Siege of Fort Watson
(Monday to Monday, April 16-23,
1781) *C-3 #37 MapDirections: I-95 Exit 102, South of Summerton. Historic US 301 north, turn west onto Fort Watson Road (S-803). Marker at the Visitors Center and the Indian Mound, site of Fort Watson, is at the end of the road.
Colonel
Harry Lee and Lee’s Legion from Virginia
had joined General Marion and Marion’s
Brigade on the Black River on April 14, 1781. Marion
and Lee elected to capture British, built in December
1780 and held, Fort Watson to secure the area
and to get badly needed supplies. They laid
siege to the fort. While waiting for a cannon to arrive
Major Maham suggested building a tower and having sharpshooters
pick off the Redcoats inside the fort. The tower
was erected over night after collecting saplings for
several days. The use of the tower by the McCottry riflemen
at sunrise led to the quick surrender of Fort Watson
by Lt. James McKay on the morning of April 23, 1781
and was the final Battle of Fort Watson.
Re-enactment at Santee Indian Mound, Victory at Fort Watson
Encampment October, 2003
©2002
Richardson Cemetery and St Mark's Parish Church *C-2 #54 Map
Directions: I-95 Exit 102 north on Historic US 301. At St. Paul turn west on SR 373, then left onto SR 76. Site is on the left just past Richardson Branch.
In an effort to teach the Richardsons and other Patriots a lesson for helping General Marion, Colonel Tarleton had his troops dig up General Richardson who was buried six weeks earlier and forced his family to view the body. Two SC governors and the founder of the Citadel are also buried here at this historic site. St. Mark’s Parish Church was located here when the British burned it as they considered the church “a sedition shop”.
May 6, 1781 Marion and Lee were
successful at Fort Motte, another of the British outposts
guarding CharlesTown Eutaw Springs Battle was Saturday, September 8, 1781. #44 Map
Directions: I-95 Exit 98 east on SC 6 to Eutaw Springs.
The Battle of Eutaw Springs was the last large battle fought in the campaign to end British occupation of the Carolinas and Georgia. On September 8, 1781, Major General Nathanael Greene's Continental Army accompanied by militia attacked the British Army under the command of Lt. Col. Alexander Stewart at Eutaw Springs. Over 4000 men fought for more than 4 hours in the stifling heat. It was the bloodiest battle of the Revolutionary War and soldiers reported wading through puddles of blood on the field and men were standing, dead, impaled on each other's bayonets. When the carnage was over, the British evacuated the area and moved to Chaleston Neck. Five weeks later, when the British surrendered at Yorktown, they had no claim to the Carolinas and Georgia. The Battle of Eutaw Springs had ended British control. (from Christine Swager: "The Valiant Died")
Directions: South of Manning, I-95 Exit 119 east on SC 261, south on SC 260, east on Kenwood Road (S-323). Large brick and metal gate on the right, south side, of the road mark Plantation.
John Cantey’s home was about halfway between Nelson’s Ferry and Murray’s Ferry. Gen. Marion was staying here when he learned that General Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown on October 19, 1781. Joseph Cantey, John’s father, purchased the Mount Hope Plantation about 1739. It was located east of John’s near the present Cantey Cemetery.
Nov. 10, 1781, Saturday, Celebration party at John Cantey’s: “a fine party for the ladies of Santee”
Revolutionary War Locations in Clarendon
County Area
Swamp Fox Map| # On Map
(above) |
Date |
Location |
| 1 |
1780-08-17 |
Nelson’s
Ferry |
| 2 |
1780-08-25 |
Great Savannah |
| 7 |
1780-10-25 |
Tearcoat |
| 8a |
1780-11-08 |
Jack's
Creek |
| 8b |
1780-11-08 |
Ox Swamp |
| 13 |
1780-12-12 |
Halfway
Swamp |
| 14 |
1780-12-13 |
Singleton's
Mill |
| 16 |
1780-12-17 |
Santee River
Rd |
| 22 |
1781-03-06 |
Wiboo Swamp |
| 23 |
1781-03-06 |
Cantey Plantation |
| 24 |
1781-03-13 |
Mt. Hope
Swamp |
| 37 |
1781-04-15 |
Fort Watson |
| 41 |
1781-08-16 |
Santee River |
| 44 |
1781-09-08 |
Eutaw Springs |
| 54 |
Richardson
Cem'y |
|
| 55 |
1795-02-27 |
Marion's
Tomb |
** Battles or skirmishes Marion engaged in **
Winter 1732 Marion was born in the Low Country of South Carolina, youngest of six.
1738 (c) Family moved to Winyah Bay close to Georgetown.
1747 (c) Francis went to sea. Disaster changed his mind about a career at sea.
1750 (c) Francis Marion's father died and Francis, unmarried, managed farm.
**1756 Francis and brother, Gabriel, enlisted to fight Indians. Indian fighter to 1761
1773 Francis purchased land on the Santee, 4 miles below Eutaw Springs.
April 19, 1775 Battles at Lexington and Concord, MA
May 1775 Marion learned of the struggle in New England and went to Charleston to Enlist, Commissioned as Captain on June 21, 1775, in SC Regiment.
June 18, 1776 South Carolina Regiments incorporated into Continental Army.
**June 28, 1776 British attack Sullivan's Island from the sea. Marion commanded the guns at the fort. (Now Fort Moultrie)
--- South Carolina troops serve in SC and GA. Most action is in New England
Summer 1779 Lord Cornwallis has orders from London for the Southern Campaign.
**October 9, 1779 Attempt to retake Savannah from British. Marion was involved
January 20, 1780 Marion, now a Lt. Col., commands the 2nd SC Regt.
March 19, 1780 Marion at a party at Tradd St. Jumped out window and broke leg or ankle. Evacuated from the besieged Charleston which fell May 12, 1780.
August 16, 1780 Camden fell, Cornwallis defeated Gates
**August 17, 1780 Marion (age 48) assumed command of the Williamsburg Militia; controlled Santee River traffic, boats destroyed
**August 24, 1780 Nelson's Ferry (Great Savannah), Santee River, Marion attacked British Soldiers conveying prisoners to Charleston.
**September 4, 1780 Blue Savannah, Marion ambushed Tories under Micah Ganey. Wemyss's Campaign of Terror. Marion at Great White Swamp (Waccamaw) in NC.
**Sept 7, 1780 Kingstree – Marion's Militia snatched Brit for interrogation
**Sept. 28-29, 1780 Marion, back in SC, attacked Col. Ball at Black Mingo, Mouzon wounded.
October 7, 1780 Battle at King's Mountain.
**October 25, 1780 Marion attacked Brits at Tearcoat Swamp, Black River, during the night.
**November 7, 1780 Confrontation at Richbourg’s Mill & Gen.Richardson’s Plantation/Big Home
**November 8, 1780 Jack’s Creek to Ox Swamp Chase, Marion became known as the “Swamp Fox”
**Nov. 15, 1780 Marion at White’s Plantation & Pen’s Plantation
Dec. 2, 1780 Greene took command from Gates
**Dec. 5, 1780 Tory Tavern
**Dec. 12, 13, 1780 Marion at Halfway Swamp near Santee River, and Singleton's Mill.
Dec. 16, 17, 1780 Reconnoitered Camden Outposts, Santee Road Recon/Interdiction
Dec. 28, 30, 1780 Camp near Georgetown, Chased Rangers from Williamsburg to Georgetown
January 14, 1781 Waccamaw
January 17, 1781 Battle of Cowpens, Morgan defeated Tarleton. (Marion not involved)
**January 25, 1781 Marion at Georgetown with Lee.
**January 29, 1781 Raided Moncks Corner & Congaree
**March 6-28, 1781 Marion at Wiboo Swamp, Mount Hope Swamp, Lower Bridge of the Black River at Kingstree and Sampit Bridge.
**April 15-23, 1781 Marion and Lee Siege of Fort Watson, Ft. fell with Maham Tower, Santee River
**May 6, 1781 Marion and Lee at Fort Motte
May 28, 1781 Georgetown
June 6, 1781 British evacuate Georgetown.
July 8, 1781 Moncks Corner & Orangeburg
**July 17, 1781 Marion and Lee at Quinby Bridge & Shubrick’s Plantation
August 4, 1781 Col. Isaac Hayne is hanged in Charleston.
**August 13, 1781 Marion ambushes Fraser and his Loyal SC Dragoons at Parker's Ferry Causeway
**Sept. 8, 1781 Battle of Eutaw Springs on Santee River
Sept. 20, 1781 Port’s Ferry on Pee Dee River
October 19, 1781 Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown
Nov. 9, 1781 Marion learns of Cornwallis surrendered
Nov. 10, 1781 Celebration party at John Cantey’s: “a fine party for the ladies of Santee”
February 24, 1782 Two encounters with Loyalist cavalry. Tydiman Plantation Skirmish w/foragers
August 29, 1782 Fair Lawn Skirmish, Marion encounters Fraser and is forced to retreat
December 14, 1782 British evacuated Charleston. Militia not allowed to participate and had been disbanded. Marion has returned to his home at Pond Bluff
April 20, 1786 Marion (age 53) married to Mary Esther Videau
Feb. 27, 1795 Marion died at his home at Pond Bluff, area presently under Lake Marion
Paper from Francis Marion: Stranger Than Fiction
Compiled by Christine
Swager & George Summers
Choke points on the Santee River & Black River where Marion cut the British supply lines.
Battle of Nelson's Ferry or Battle of Great Savannah (August 20, 1780) *C-7 SF
Battle of Tearcoat (October 25, 1780) *C-27 SF
Confrontation at Richbourg's Mill (November 7, 1780) *C-6 SF
Chase to Ox Swamp (November 8, 1780) *C-25 SF
Battle of Half Way Swamp (December 17, 1780) *C-1 SF
Battle of Wyboo Swamp (March 6, 1781) *C-28 SF
Mount Hope Harassment (March 10-28, 1781) *C-29 SF
Siege of Fort Watson (April 16, 1781) *C-3 SF
Richardson Home Site & Cemetery (November 8, 1780) *C-2 SF
General Thomas Sumter's Plantation (November, 1780) *C-7 SF
John Cantey Plantation Site ( 1781) SF
(Maps available at Clarendon County Archives)
John R. Alden, A History of the American
Revolution, 1969
David G. Anderson & Judith A. Carter, Archeological Survey…SNWR, 1979
David G. Anderson & Judith A. Carter, Archeological Survey…SNWR, 1979
Lawrence E. Babits, Southern Campaigns, 2002
D.W. Barefoot, Touring SC's Revolutionary War Sites, 1999
Robert D. Bass, Gamecock, 1961
Robert D. Bass, Swamp Fox, 1974
Mark M. Boatner III, Encyclopedia of the American Revolution, 1966
Melissa L. Bohrer, Glory,
Passion and Principle, 2003
Michael R. Bradley, It Happened In The Revolutionary War, 2003
Michael R. Bradley, It Happened In The Revolutionary War, 2003
Edward J. Cashin, William Bartram and the American Revolution on the Southern Frontier, 2000
Henry Clinton, The American Rebellion,
1954
H. S. Commager & R. B. Morris, The
Spirit of Seventy-Six, 1995
William P. Cumming, North Carolina in Maps, 2001
Sidney W. Dean, Knight of the Revolution, 1941
Walter J. Fraser, Jr., Patriots, Pistols
and Petticoats, 1976
John W. Gordon, South Carolina and the American Revolution, 2003
P. G. Gourdin, Life Along the Santee, 19??
John Grafton, The American Revolution,
1975
William T. Graves, James Williams, An American Patriot, 2002
Francis Vinton Greene, General Greene, 1897
William T. Graves, James Williams, An American Patriot, 2002
Francis Vinton Greene, General Greene, 1897
Don Higginbotham, The War of American Independence, 1971
Historical Documents, Revolutionary War Battlefield Map, 1962
John Milton Hutchins, Bull’s Ferry Roundup, 2007
John Jakes, Kent Family Chronicles, Vol I, II, III
Gordon Bubber Jenkinson, Williamsburgh District, 2007
and a History of His Brigade, Three Rivers Historical Society, 1821
F. M. Kirk, Pond Bluff, 2000
Roger Lamb/Dan N. Hagist, A British
Soldier’s Story, 1811/2004
Robert Lagemann and Albert C. Manuey, The Long Rifle, 1993
Robert Lagemann and Albert C. Manuey, The Long Rifle, 1993
Robert Leckie, George Washington’s War, 1993
Benson J. Lossing, Hours with the Living Men and Women, 1889, Scoggins, 2005
Silas E. Lucas, Jr., Mills' Atlas Of South Carolina, 1980 (1825)
Henry Lumpkin, From Savannah to Yorktown, 1981
David B. Mattern, Benjamin Lincoln
and the American Revolution, 1995
Horatio Newton Moore, Francis Marion, 1845
Robert Morgan, Brave Enemies, 2003
of the American Revolution, 2004
Cassie Nicholes, Historical Sketches
of Sumter County, 1975
Patrick O’Kelley, Nothing but Blood & Slaughter-Rev. War in the Carolinas, Vols. 3 & 4, 2005
Patrick O’Kelley, Unwaried
Patience and Fortitude, Francis Marion's Orderly Books, 2007
John S. Pancake, This
Destructive War, 1985