how did francis marion help win the war

What did Marion do in the war?

Marion used irregular methods of warfare and is considered one of the fathers of modern guerrilla warfare and maneuver warfare, and is credited in the lineage of the United States Army Rangers and the other American military Special Forces such as the "Green Berets". He was known as The Swamp Fox.

Was Francis Marion a good general?

No general during the war was better at these sorts of tactics than Francis Marion. Popularly known as the “Swamp Fox,” Marion spent the war showing the British just how uncomfortable he could make their time in the Colonies with nothing but a few dozen rifles and a refusal to “fight fairly.”

What did Francis Marion do for South Carolina?

Francis Marion, a commander of rebel forces in South Carolina after the Crown’s capture of Charleston, famously led a small band of militiamen on a two-year backwoods campaign against the British and Loyalist forces across the region – one that was marked by hit-and-run raids, surprise attacks and ambushes.

What happened to Francis Marion after the French and Indian War?

After the French and Indian War, Francis Marion went back to farming and bought his own plantation. He was elected to the South Carolina Provincial Congress which commissioned Marion as captain of his own regiment after battles of Lexington and Concord.

See more

What did Francis Marion do to defeat the British?

Marion took command of a militia and had his first military success that August, when he led 50 men in a raid against the British. Hiding in dense foliage, the unit attacked an enemy encampment from behind and rescued 150 American prisoners.

What wars did Francis Marion win?

Francis MarionYears of service1757–1782RankLieutenant colonel Brigadier generalBattles/warsFrench and Indian War American Revolutionary WarRelationsJulia Rush Cutler Ward (great-niece), Julia Ward Howe (great-great-niece), Samuel Ward (great-great-nephew)7 more rows

Did Francis Marion fight in the Revolutionary War?

Francis Marion, byname the Swamp Fox, (born c. 1732, Winyah, South Carolina [U.S.]—died February 26, 1795, Berkeley county, South Carolina, U.S.), colonial American soldier in the American Revolution (1775–83), nicknamed the “Swamp Fox” by the British for his elusive tactics.

Who is Francis Marion and why is he important?

General Brigadier Francis Marion, known as the "Swamp Fox," was one of the fathers of modern guerilla warfare. The Patriot, a film by Mel Gibson, was influenced by Marion's military exploits. A Georgetown native, Marion was famous for his uncanny ability to elude and outsmart British forces.

What are 3 important facts about Francis Marion?

Marion was one of the first to employ guerrilla tactics against the British and became one of the founders of guerrilla warfare. Marion is considered to be the father of modern guerrilla warfare and maneuver warfare. He is also considered to be the father of the United States Army Rangers.

Was Francis Marion a loyalist or a patriot?

The Patriot Leaders in South Carolina - Brigadier General Francis Marion. Francis Marion was an American revolutionary war hero, nicknamed the "Swamp Fox" by the British because of his elusive tactics.

What role did Francis Marion play in the Revolutionary War?

Francis Marion (1732-1795) was one of the most successful partisan military leaders of the American Revolutionary War. He led bands of guerrillas in several victories against British and Britain-allied Colonists, from whom he received the name “Swamp Fox” for his craftiness in eluding pursuit in the Carolina swamps.

What style of fighting was Francis Marion most known for?

Francis Marion was a soldier in the French and Indian War who built up a militia whose undercover tactics and sneaky guerrilla warfare were so effective, he became known as “the swamp fox.”

How was Francis Marion connected to the American Revolution?

Marion is best known for his role in the American Revolution. He was appointed a captain in the 2nd South Carolina Regiment. He served with Moultrie again in the Battle of Fort Sullivan in June 1776 outside Charleston which successfully repulsed a British invasion.

What happened to Francis Marion after the war?

Following victory over the British, Marion returned to his plantation and pursued a career in politics. He served several terms in the South Carolina State Senate and also received the honorary position of commander of Fort Johnson in 1784, for which he received a stipend of $500 annually.

What is a quote from Francis Marion?

“They fell, but o'er their glorious grave floats free the banner of the cause they died to save.” “To expect defeat is nine-tenths of defeat itself.” “What a strange pattern the shuttle of life can weave.” “Who can doubt that God created us to be happy, and thereto made us to love one another?

How did France help the Patriots?

Between 1778 and 1782 the French provided supplies, arms and ammunition, uniforms, and, most importantly, troops and naval support to the beleaguered Continental Army. The French navy transported reinforcements, fought off a British fleet, and protected Washington's forces in Virginia.

What is Francis Marion best known for?

Francis Marion (1732-1795) was one of the most successful partisan military leaders of the American Revolutionary War. He led bands of guerrillas in several victories against British and Britain-allied Colonists, from whom he received the name “Swamp Fox” for his craftiness in eluding pursuit in the Carolina swamps.

Was Francis Marion at the Battle of Cowpens?

[30] Although it was not official policy in the South, it is known that African-Americans (or racially-mixed persons) fought for General Francis Marion and in battles such as Kings Mountain, Cowpens, and Eutaw Springs.

Who is the father of guerrilla warfare?

Two decades ago Carlos Marighela, the Brazilian revolutionary, was killed by Brazilian security forces.

What happened to Francis Marion after the war?

Following victory over the British, Marion returned to his plantation and pursued a career in politics. He served several terms in the South Carolina State Senate and also received the honorary position of commander of Fort Johnson in 1784, for which he received a stipend of $500 annually.

What was Marion's role in the Revolutionary War?

With the start of the Revolutionary War in 1776, Marion tried his hand at traditional European warfare. Commissioned as a captain, Marion led his force in a series of defeats as the British advanced into South Carolina. Deciding that maybe this wasn’t the best way to fight an Empire that had conquered much of the planet, Marion decided to try things a little differently.

Where was Francis Marion's army?

In fact, Francis Marion’s force was for a brief period the only viable rebel army in the entire colony of South Carolina. The real fight was up north in New England. So, the fact that they had to keep diverting troops to hunt Marion down was really starting to become a nuisance.

Why was Banastre Tarleton important to the British?

Finally, the British ordered one of their best commanders, Banastre Tarleton, to put a stop to Marion’s attacks. Tarleton was famous among on both sides. The British loyalists saw him as an outstanding cavalry commander, while to the Patriots, he was a butcher due to his role in the execution of troops who had already surrendered.

Why was Tarleton so famous?

Tarleton was famous among on both sides. The British loyalists saw him as an outstanding cavalry commander, while to the Patriots, he was a butcher due to his role in the execution of troops who had already surrendered. National Gallery/ Wikimedia Commons Banastre Tarleton. If anyone could catch Marion, it was Tarleton.

What did Marion's unit do to the Cherokee?

This campaign was brutal as Marion’s unit burned villages in an effort to starve the Cherokee into submission. But it did teach Marion some important lessons about how to fight a war. The Cherokee didn’t fight in the traditional manner either.

How many soldiers did Marion raise?

Marion raised a small force of around 50 experienced soldiers and lead them in a series of Cherokee-style attacks on the British.

What was Marion's nickname for the war?

Popularly known as the “Swamp Fox,” Marion spent the war showing the British just how uncomfortable he could make their time in the Colonies with nothing but a few dozen rifles and a refusal to “fight fairly.”. Like many leaders of the American Revolution, Marion had spent time as a young man fighting with the British during ...

How many men did Francis Marion fight for?

Although his injury left him unable to even walk, Francis Marion formed a unit of 50 men who opposed the British in the city of Charlestown and attacked an encampment. They were able to free 150 Americans. Charleston was won back later in The Battle of Sullivan’s Island.

What did Marion do after the negotiations?

After the negotiations, Marion invited the British to share breakfast. According to the legend, the British officer was impressed by the Patriots’ resourcefulness (Marion’s tactics) and the Americans’ dedication to their cause in spite of the conditions the troops were forced to endure.

Why was Marion called a swamp fox?

Marion himself earned the nickname “Swamp Fox” due to his stealth and cunning. Finally, the British troops in the area could take no more and sent Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton to track down Francis and his men. However, he despaired after chasing the militia 26 miles through swampy paths to no avail.

Why is Marion known as the father of guerrilla warfare?

Because of this, Marion is known as one of the fathers of modern guerrilla warfare. After his time in the service he returned home to find his plantation had been burned down during the fighting. He was receiving a salary of $500 per year and found himself a new home.

How old was Francis Marion when he married?

He finally married at 54 years old to his 49 year old cousin. He worked hard to protect the Tories who were being tortured and abused for their continued loyalty to the crown. Francis Marion died in his estate at the age of 63 in 1795.

What was Francis Marion's first assignment?

His first assignment was building Fort Sullivan in Charleston, SC where he and his regiment were posted.

How did Young Francis get his thrill?

Young Francis received his first thrill of adventure at the age of 15, when he set out as a crewman aboard a schooner headed for the West Indies. On the return voyage, a whale struck the schooner, and sank it. It took seven days for the crew to reach shore on the life boat, but two of the men died from the lack of food and water on the way. After that experience, he elected to stay on land.

Who was Francis Marion?

1732, Winyah, South Carolina [U.S.]—died February 26, 1795, Berkeley county, South Carolina, U.S.), colonial American soldier in the American Revolution (1775–83), nicknamed the “Swamp Fox” by the British for his elusive tactics. Marion gained his first military experience fighting ...

What was Marion's first military experience?

Marion gained his first military experience fighting against the Cherokee Indians in 1759. Then, serving as a member of the South Carolina Provincial Congress (1775), he was commissioned a captain.

Where did Marion get the thanks of Congress?

For a daring rescue of Americans surrounded by the British at Parkers Ferry, South Carolina (August 1781), Marion received the thanks of Congress.

What led to the formation of the United States of America?

Spurred by Great Britain’s taxation without fair representation, this political uprising led to the formation of the United States of America. Test your knowledge of the thirteen colonies’ quest for independence in this quiz.

What was Marion's job?

Marion was also tasked with combating groups of freed slaves working or fighting alongside the British. He received an order from the Governor of South Carolina, to execute any blacks suspected of carrying provisions or gathering intelligence for the enemy “agreeable to the laws of this State.”

Why did Marion return to his plantation?

Marion returned to his plantation to find it had been burnt during the fighting. His slaves had run away to fight for the British and had later been evacuated from Charleston. He had to borrow money to restock his plantation with slaves.

Why did Marion not capture Charleston?

Marion was not captured with the rest of the garrison when Charleston fell on May 12, 1780, because he had broken an ankle in an accident and had left the city to recuperate.

How many men were in Marion's army?

After the loss in Charleston, the defeats of General Isaac Huger at Moncks Corner and Lieutenant Colonel Abraham Buford at the Waxhaw massacre , Marion organized a small unit, which at first consisted of between 20 and 70 men and was the only force then opposing the British Army in the state. At this point, Marion was still nearly crippled from the slowly healing ankle.

What did Marion's men do without pay?

Unlike the Continental troops, Marion’s Men, as they were known, served without pay, supplied their own horses, arms and often their food.

When was Marion recruited?

In 1757 Marion was recruited to become a soldier in the British Army against the French.

Where was Francis Marion born?

There is not a lot of information about Francis Marion in his former years, but we do know that was born in Berkeley, South Carolina in 1732

What was Marion's success?

Ultimately, as a result of Marion’s simpler, straightforward execution of innovative techniques, guerrilla tactics, interdiction and irregular warfare, liberty was slowly won blow by blow in South Carolina combat. The hand of fate was also in play for Marion’s success.

How many troops did Marion have?

Marion placed his 445 troops in the thick woods about the causeway leading to Parker’s Ferry, a mile away.

Why did Gates order Marion to go down the country?

Whatever the reason, by August 15, 1780, Gates ordered Marion to “go Down the Country to Destroy all boats & Craft of any kind” to prevent British troops from escaping Camden. The dismissal spared Marion being captured or killed in that devastating Patriot loss.

What is Marion's method of maneuvering?

Marion was a student of Major Robert Rogers’s 28 Rules of Ranging, and in his long military career, Marion formulated, practiced and executed his own particular modes of “maneuvering.” The United States Marine Corps’ modern doctrinal manual, Warfighting, defines maneuver warfare as “a state of mind bent on shattering the enemy morally and physically by paralyzing and confounding him, by avoiding his strength, by quickly and aggressively exploiting his vulnerabilities, and by striking him in a way that will hurt him most.” The sentiment certainly applies to Marion’s approach.

Why did Marion escape the surrender of Charleston?

First, he escaped the surrender of Charleston because he was recuperating from a broken ankle away from the city. Then, days before the Battle of Camden, Marion and two dozen men rode into General Horatio Gates ’s camp offering assistance. These men were scruffy, backcountry Williamsburg District militia.

Where did Tarleton pursue Marion?

On November 8, Tarleton vigorously pursued Marion from Jack’s Creek northwest of Nelson’s Ferry for 20-plus miles east to Ox Swamp. Marion’s men galloped through the swamp’s watery morass along trails that few could have followed.

How long did it take for Tarleton to drive the Legion?

Tarleton’s men swung around the swamp’s edge, hoping to again pick up Marion’s trail on its opposite side. For seven hours , the British officer drove Legion calvary, wagons and two artillery pieces at a pace that made his horses drop in their tracks. Riders who lost their mounts were left to trot along exhaustedly.

Who was Francis Marion?

Francis Marion (Image source: WikiMedia Commons) Acting with the Continental Army and South Carolina militia commissions, Marion was a persistent adversary of the British in their occupation of South Carolina and Charleston in 1780 and 1781 , even after the Continental Army was driven out of the state in the Battle of Camden.

Where is Marion buried?

He died on his estate in 1795 and was buried at Belle Isle Plantation Cemetery in Berkeley County , South Carolina.

How long did Marion lead his band of irregulars?

After the capture of Charleston by the British, Marion led his small band of irregulars on a two-year guerrilla campaign. (Image source: WikiMedia Commons)

Why did Marion jump out of a second story window?

Fortunately for the patriot cause, Marion was recovering at his estate from an injury, incurred from jumping out of a second-story window to leave a party in which the series of toasts had led to distasteful drunkenness, when Charleston fell to the British in May 1780.

What was Thomas Sumter's first military service?

His first military service, like Thomas Sumter ’s, came in the Cherokee War (1759-1761), part of the larger French and Indian War. His experience in frontier warfare against the Cherokees likely influenced his partisan warfare tactics against the British and loyalists from 1780 to 1782 in South Carolina.

Who was the leader of the swamp fox?

The Swamp Fox – Inside Francis Marion ’s Guerrilla War Against the British Redcoats. South Carolina militia leader Francis Marion invites a British officer visiting the rebel encampment to share in their meagre rations of sweet potatoes. According to the legend upon which the painting is based, the redcoat commander, ...

Who led the Continental Army in the Battle of Eutaw Springs?

Marion, unlike Thomas Sumter, coordinated effectively in the field with the Continental Army, led by Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene. Together with “Light Horse” Harry Lee’s Legion, Marion captured Fort Watson on the Santee River in April 1781 and then Fort Motte in May, forcing the British to evacuate Camden. Marion commanded South Carolina militia in advance lines along with Brig. Gen. Andrew Pickens at the Battle of Eutaw Springs in September 1781, the last major battle in the Carolinas, in which the British suffered so many casualties they ceased further inland campaigning.

Why was Marion given command of Fort Sullivan?

For his service and leadership, Marion was rewarded with a promotion to Lieutenant-Colonel and was given command of Fort Sullivan, a prestigious honor, because the fort was the presumed focal point of any future British attack. When the British returned to the South in 1778, however, they first attacked Savannah, Georgia.

What happened to Marion in 1780?

Everyone presumed the British would next attempt to take Charleston, and in 1780 Marion marched into the city with his men to prepare for its defense. Fate intervened. Marion was invited to a dinner party with friends, and when the host locked them in until all the wine was finished, the temperate and sober Marion decided to leave by jumping from a second-story window. The fall broke his ankle, and Marion was forced to retire to his home in St. John’s Parish.

Where did Marion die?

Marion died at his home in St. John’s in 1795 at the age of 63. His tombstone read: “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 HONOUR AND INDEPENDENCE, AND Secured to her the blessings of LIBERTY AND PEACE. . . . ”

Who was the commander of the Fabian army in 1781?

Newly appointed commander Nathanael Greene recognized Marion’s success and adopted a Fabian strategy during 1781 to keep the British out of North Carolina. He summarized it this way, “We fight, get beat, rise, and fight again.” Marion’s motto would have been, “We fight only the battles we should win, and we win; if not, we disappear, and fight again.”

Did Marion have more battles?

Marion had no more battles to fight. His heroic efforts had not only made him a household name in South Carolina, but might have provided the turning point of the war, tying up British troops that would otherwise have advanced North and possibly captured George Washington in a vise.

Who was the governor of South Carolina in 1781?

Marion’s fame grew. South Carolina Governor John Rutledge, leading the state “from the saddle” in exile, heard of his exploits and commissioned him a brigadier-general. Marion was ordered to take Georgetown, South Carolina, in January 1781, but failed. In the same month, however, American forces in the region won a stunning victory over the British at the Battle of Cowpens.

Was Marion a slave?

He never served in the Continental Army and considered South Carolina to be his native “country.” When duty called, he served with honor, and like Washington, the more famous “citizen-soldier,” returned to his plantation when the fighting was over. He owned slaves, but fought alongside blacks for much of the war. John Blake White, in an 1830s painting, portrayed Marion as a gentleman offering an “enemy” officer supper, a depiction that also included Marion’s body servant, Oscar, the man who fought side-by-side with him during the darkest days of the Revolution. Washington is often chastised for his refusal to allow black soldiers to fight in the Revolution—he later changed course—but they did fight in the Southern theater. Marion proved that.

Early Life

The French and Indian War

• Shortly before his 25th birthday, he was recruited to the military to fight in the French and Indian War. He worked hard in the military and rose through the ranks. His time in service during The French and Indian War gave Marion a lot of battle experience and also inspired his later actions. Fighting the Cherokee Indians, he couldn’t help but noti...

See more on revolutionary-war.net

The Revolutionary War

The Swamp Fox

Legends