I did have this amazing post about the Declaration of Independence. But then I started thinking about Heros of the Revolution.
We recently watched the movie " The Patriot" and while it is an awesome film, it is also historically incorrect in many places.
the Real Patriot was Francis Marion nicknamed the "swamp fox" by the British for his elusive tactics. You could probably say he and his militia was the original special forces.
It was in South Carolina in 1780, that he gained notoriety by slipping in to the swamps of the low country with his band of guerillas to launch attacks against the British.
Cornwallis observed "Colonel Marion had so wrought the minds of the people, partly by the terror of his threats and cruelty of his punishments, and partly by the promise of plunder, that there was scarcely an inhabitant between the Santee and the Peedee that was not in arms against us".
In 1780 Colonel Tarlton was sent to find and capture Marion. The British followed Marion and his troops for over 26 miles through the Carolina swamps but Marion eluded them. Tarlton swore that even the Devil himself could not capture the him and they gave up.
Marion later on would serve in the South Carolina State Senate, and then serve as Commander of Fort Johnson in South Carolina. It as basically a courtesy title with a promise payment of 500 English pounds per year, but that was changed with the economy and changed to 500 continental dollars per year.
He died on his Estate in 1795 at the age of 63.
Francis Marions legacy lives on though throughout the low country of South Carolina, ever been up
I-95 and crossed "Lake Marion" ? yes, it is named after the swamp fox. There is also Marion National Forest near Charleston, Marion County, South Carolina, Francis Marion University. Across the United States there are also many municipalities named after him.
He is buried at Belle Island Plantation Cemetary in Berkely County, SC. His gravestone reads the following:
Sacred to the memory
of
GEN. FRANCIS MARION,
who departed this life on the 27th February 1795
in the sixty-third year of his age
deeply regretted by all his fellow-citizens.
History will record his worth and rising generations
embalm his memory as one of the most distinguished
PATRIOTS AND HEROES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
which elevated his native country to honor and independence
and secured to her the blessings of liberty and peace.
This tribute of veneration and gratitude is erected in
commemoration of the noble and disinterested virtues
of the citizen and the gallant exploits of the soldier
who lived without fear and died without reproach.
of
GEN. FRANCIS MARION,
who departed this life on the 27th February 1795
in the sixty-third year of his age
deeply regretted by all his fellow-citizens.
History will record his worth and rising generations
embalm his memory as one of the most distinguished
PATRIOTS AND HEROES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
which elevated his native country to honor and independence
and secured to her the blessings of liberty and peace.
This tribute of veneration and gratitude is erected in
commemoration of the noble and disinterested virtues
of the citizen and the gallant exploits of the soldier
who lived without fear and died without reproach.

Yep, he was quite the character!!! :-)
ReplyDeleteMel Gibsons' character was an amalgamation of Marion with a little Daniel Morgan and Harry Lee thrown in as well.
ReplyDeletePretty much the best parts of all the Junior Leaders of the Revolution. All of which are my favorite personalities from that era. The Southern campaign is my favorite as well.
NFO: I have read more about Marion, and yes he was a real character. He gave the Brits a real fit.
DeletePP: I like reading about the junior leaders as well, because history classes rarely talk about them. You ask a college student who is Francis Marion is and I bet 9 out of 10 don't know. I believe that with the way our country is going, reading about folks like Marion and learning his tactics could actually be useful, as once again one day our country might be dependent on true Patriots such as Francis Marion to defend it .
JuGM - I would bet the number would be more like 9999 out of 10,000 on not knowing who he was and I think I am being generous at that.
DeleteAs a side note my all my grandfathers down one branch of my mothers family that came from that area were all named Francis because of Marion. The last one told me it was because one of them down the line served with him but I have never traced it out to find out. When I joined SoAR years ago my direct ancestor who served at Yorktown under Muhlenberg was easily documented so I didn't bother any further.
Gurlie - excellent post! and i just want to wish you and yours a Happy Independence Day - get out there and shoot something!
ReplyDeleteyour friend,
kymber
PP: Wow that is awesome. I love reading about the revolution..Our SC estate is surrounded by all kinds of battlefields and monuments. So its no wonder with all this history that I want to move here...
ReplyDeleteLumber: we all have our compound bows now, so yes we will be shooting at something. Independence day was great..spending this weekend at our country estate
Sorry Kymber.... on my cell phone and that darn auto spell check! Lol.
Delete