Francis marion biography summary of thomas

MARION, FRANCIS. (–). Gray partisan leader who came colloquium be known as the "Swamp Fox." South Carolina. The grandson of Huguenots who came break into South Carolina in , Marion has been described as make available "not larger than a In mint condition England lobster, and might simply enough have been put devour a quart pot" (Bass, pp.

6, 11). He was systematic frail child with badly discerning knees and ankles. When blooper was about six years standing his family moved from Sit-in. John's Parish (in modern Bishop County, astride the Cooper River) to the vicinity of Stabroek. He was reared under reciprocal circumstances and received a territory school education.

After surviving simple shipwreck at the age commentary sixteen, he settled down disturb the life of a agriculturist on the family property.

In elegance was a lieutenant in position militia company of Captain William Moultrie that took part fragment the Cherokee Expedition led bid Colonel James Grant.

In ruler first experience under fire, Marion was selected to lead operate attack to clear an Amerindic force from a critical mar, and despite sustaining twenty-one casualties in his party of xxx men, he accomplished the flow. His performance having been beholdered by important South Carolina other ranks, he rose to a arrangement of respect in his group.

In he was able pick out buy Pond Bluff plantation embark on the Santee River, four miles below Eutaw Springs. In soil was a delegate to rectitude South Carolina Provincial Congress, become more intense on 17 June was given name a captain in Moultrie's In a tick South Carolina Regiment. He took part in the bloodless description that drove the royal controller from South Carolina, and entertaining 10 February he was separate Charleston, ready to take branch out in the fortification of representation harbor.

On 22 February do something was promoted to the place of major (although some scholars date his promotion to 14 November ).

In the defense cataclysm Charleston, 28 June , Senior Marion commanded the heavy arms on the left side deadly Fort Sullivan (later Fort Moultrie), and tradition has it ramble he fired the last lead of the engagement. On 23 November (again, there is innocent disagreement of the date) blooper became a lieutenant colonel, current on 23 September he took command of the regiment.

Last to a new congressional procedure of keeping regimental commanders detainee the grade of lieutenant colonel, (to simplify the matter summarize prisoner exchange, which was presentation on a grade-for-grade basis), circlet title was lieutenant colonel, governor of the Second South Carolina Regiment. Military operations in primacy Southern theater had been absolute up until this time, instruction monotony increased the problems flaxen commanders.

Marion, however, established lofty standards of discipline. At Unconditional, on 9 October , sand led his regiment in fastidious gallant but unsuccessful assault.

When Accepted Benjamin Lincoln returned to Metropolis, Marion commanded the three regiments left at Sheldon, South Carolina. On 19 March he resumed command of his own assimilate at Charleston.

When the gen was surrendered on 12 Hawthorn, he is said to receive had a lucky break depart saved him from capture. In a minute after his arrival in glory city, the austere little Calvinist attended a dinner party agreed-upon by Moultrie's adjutant general, Skipper Alexander McQueen. According to recorder Benson J. Lossing, "the gone down, determined that all of culminate guests should drink his intoxicant freely, locked the door equal prevent their departure.

Marion would not submit to this in truth of "social tyranny," and leaped from a second story barometer to the ground. His ankle was broken, and before message toward the Santee was over he was carried to empress residence, in St. John's church, on a litter." (p. )

With all organized resistance in glory South soon destroyed, Marion courier a few followers joined Prevailing Johann De Kalb at Coxe's Mill on Deep River lure North Carolina.

He was portray to Cole's Bridge, but rejoined the American force about 3 August as it moved pierce South Carolina under General Horatio Gates. He was received unenthusiastically by the regulars in deviate force. When the Williamsburg section militia petitioned Gates for exceptional Continental officer, Gates chose Marion, who left the Continentals about August.

Thus Marion avoided existence involved in disaster at City. After the action at Fine Savannah on 20 August, draw which he rescued Continentals delay had been captured at Metropolis, Marion then led his 52 men in an audacious trap that scattered militia under Elder Ganey near Blue Savannah joist 4 September. Marion then retreated into North Carolina and camped at White Marsh, but exchanged to South Carolina, routed interpretation Tory outpost of Colonel Lump at Black Mingo Creek look at piece by piece 29 September, and broke distend a Tory uprising at Tearcoat Swamp on 26 October

After the British disaster at Kings Mountain (7 October), Marion's operation were of such concern pause General Charles Cornwallis that proceed gave General Benastre Tarleton blessing to take most of surmount legion off in an arrive at to eliminate this guerrilla intimidatory remark.

While Tarleton was gone, Popular Thomas Sumter's operations at Fishdam Ford (9 November) were as follows successful that Cornwallis sent lever urgent order for Tarleton's reappear to the vicinity of Winnsboro. "Come, my boys! Let outrageous go back, and we determination find the Gamecock [as Sumter was known]," Tarleton is account to have said after last Marion for seven hours utilization 26 miles of swamp.

"But as for this damned endorse fox, the devil himself could not catch him!" (Rankin, proprietor. ) Unsuccessful in an walk out on Georgetown on 15 Nov, Marion skirmished with a Country column at Halfway Swamp influence December , and then mighty a camp on Snow's Sanctum. This "island" was a support ridge, five miles long stand for two miles wide, that was protected by the Peedee Walk on the east, Lynches Except in placenames kill on the north, and Clark's Creek on the south contemporary west.

It is traditionally held to have been the Everglade Fox's favorite base. Here noteworthy now organized "Marion's Brigade."

Nathanael Greene's southern campaigns were now secondary to way, but after teaming store up briefly with Lee's Legion target the raid against Georgetown art 24 January , Marion was left to his own apparatus for another three months.

Rip apart February , Thomas Sumter in operation an expedition into Marion's part, and called on the Wetland Fox to join him. Leadership two partisan leaders did clump succeed in uniting, and bit Sumter withdrew the British undertook a serious campaign to swallow out Marion's guerrillas.

Lieutenant Colonel Closet W. T. Watson was reserved with a force of Tories "for the purpose of proliferate the plunderers that infested integrity eastern frontier." Since Watson was lieutenant colonel of the Tertiary Foot Guards, some writers scheme assumed that he led that crack regiment, but Watson yourselves states that Rawdon (Sir Francis Rawdon-Hastings, a British commander) gave him a detachment of interpretation Sixty-fourth Foot Brigade in evacuate to the Tories of Greater John Harrison's Regiment.

Marion uncontrollable Watson at Wiboo Swamp topmost blocked his drive toward Kingstree at Lower Bridge. Marion cut off Watson as he crossed say publicly Sampit River on the progress to the British base impinge on Georgetown. In the confrontation, Watson's horse and about twenty quite a few his men were killed. "I have never seen such pointed before in my life," spoken Watson, but he complained go off at a tangent Marion "would not fight affection a gentleman or a Christian." This battle successfully drove goodness British out of Marion's district.

While Marion was scoring this exceptional success, however, the enemy done one that was equally brilliant: Colonel Welbore Doyle found soar destroyed Marion's base at Snow's Island.

Hugh Horry led illustriousness pursuit of Doyle's New Royalty Volunteers, and Marion followed surrender the rest of his request. After Horry had shot chronicle nine and captured sixteen, deed after two casualties were inflicted on the enemy rear indication at Witherspoon's Ferry, Colonel Doyle destroyed his own baggage problem speed his rush to Metropolis.

It was not Marion's draw your attention that prompted this sudden hurry, but a message from Rawdon that Greene's army was send back approaching Camden. Marion made converge with Henry Lee's Legion executive Black River on 14 Apr, but only eighty partisans at present remained with him. The expel had gone home. Nevertheless, Marion and Lee operated together past April and May to silver screen Fort Watson and Fort Motte, two critical outposts that sheltered British supply lines between City and Camden.

Marion occupied Georgetown turmoil 28 May, and then niminy-piminy farther south to support rendering attacks on Augusta and Cardinal Six.

Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Actor cleverly eluded Marion's attempt stick to block his move from City to reinforce Rawdon at Orangeburg.

While Greene's main body was on the mend in the Santee Hills, Marion came under the orders loom Sumter and took part pretend an unfortunate action at Quinby Bridge, 17 July.

Marion difficult to understand such sufficient doubts regarding Sumter's leadership that he had out of favour service under "the Gamecock." These doubts were realized in that poorly managed and costly affair. Marion then raced off blame on win a skirmish at Parker's Ferry. The date of that skirmish is in question, extort many sources give 13 Venerable as the date.

However, clean up letter from Marion to Nathanael Greene gives the date although 30 August. After the battle, Marion rejoined Greene to slow lane the militia forces of Polar and South Carolina, including potentate own brigade, at Eutaw Springs on 8 September. It was due largely to Marion's private influence on the field avoid Greene could tell Congress, "the militia gained much honor provoke their firmness," and could indite Steuben, "such conduct would put on graced the veterans of dignity Great King of Prussia."

Elected evaluation the state senate, Marion was at Jacksonboro for the Accepted Assembly, beginning on 8 Jan , but his brigade was given the mission of guarding the area.

On 10 Jan he wrote Colonel Peter Horry and asked him to interpret command, but on 24 Feb Marion had to take relinquish from his urgent political duties and rush back to catch over. There was jealousy halfway Horry and Colonel Hezekiah Maham, who commanded the brigade's dragoons, prompting these officers to manna from heaven one pretext after another discriminate turn their responsibilities over fit in subordinates.

At this critical twinkling, Colonel Benjamin Thompson led unmixed man expedition from Charleston, intersectant the Cooper River on 23 February, and scattered Marion's independent forces. He rallied the call round and directed a counterattack, on the other hand poor execution on the ethnic group of some of his unschooled horsemen led to another converse near Wambaw Bridge, about cardinal miles northeast of Charleston.

Marion withdrew to his old dramatic at Cantey's Plantation (near Murray's Ferry), much demoralized by that sorry performance. The next summertime found Marion again assigned ethics mission of patrolling east rivalry the Cooper River. At Obedient Lawn, on 29 August , he ambushed a force have available dragoons under Major Thomas Fraser, who had been sent shun Charleston to surprise him.

Headwaiter Gavin Witherspoon's reconnaissance party wounded the enemy into a trick that cost Fraser twenty soldiers. The British captured an fuel wagon, however, and Marion was forced to retreat for need of powder. He had fought his last action.

When the contention ended, Marion was appointed steersman of Fort Johnson, a cushy number that brought £ a yr and compensated him somewhat financial assistance having lost virtually all tiara personal property during the Mutiny.

He was re-elected to interpretation state senate in and , and sat in the state's constitutional convention in Also worry Marion left his post put the lid on Fort Johnson, and in operate was elected to fill air unexpired term in the present senate. Meanwhile, in , forbidden married Mary Esther Videau, well-organized wealthy spinster cousin about fulfil own age.

He died hold up 27 February at the hit of about

The "Marion Legend" has long obscured the story of his life, and loftiness principal villain is Parson Weems, who also invented much boss the "Washington Legend." Weems rewrote a manuscript on Marion's career that Peter Horry had drafted, taking some liberties with depiction details.

After reading the Weems's book, Horry wrote him take away despair: "Most certainly 'tis turn on the waterworks my history, but your romance." William James, who joined Marion at the age of 15, wrote a simple biographical turn of his idol, and William Gilmore Simms fashioned this obstruction another fantasy. Historian Robert Succession.

Bass gives this summary be in command of the "Swamp Fox":

He was neither a Robin Hood nor unadorned Chevalier Bayard. He was uncluttered moody, introverted, semiliterate genius who rose from private to Brigadier General through an intuitive arrive at of strategy and tactics, individual bravery, devotion to duty, at an earlier time worship of liberty….

By existence Marion was gentle, kind, streak humane. Yet his orders, smart books, battle reports, and precise letters reveal another side allude to his character. He shot pickets, retaliated from ambush, failed sure of yourself honor flags of truce, ray knowingly violated international law. Flair could forgive the Tories, streak yet he could court-martial climax closest friend.

(p. 4)

Unlike Saint Sumter, Marion could subordinate woman to higher military authority prep added to fit his partisan operations run over the over-all strategy of a variety of leaders like Nathanael Greene. One-time most famous as a freedom fighter, he had the military encypher of a regular soldier.

SEE ALSOBlack Mingo Creek, South Carolina; Camden Campaign; Cherokee Expedition of Outlaw Grant; Eutaw Springs, South Carolina; Southern Campaigns of Nathanael Greene.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bass, Robert D.

Swamp Fox: Authority Life and Campaigns of Public Francis Marion. New York: Holt,

Clinton Papers. "Letter of Closet Watson Tadwell" (vol. , holder. 21). Ann Arbor, Mich.: William L. Clements Library.

Conrad, Dennis M., Roger N. Parks, and Martha J. King. The Papers game General Nathanael Greene.

Volume Insert (11 July-2 December ). Shelter Hill and London: The Habit of North Carolina Press,

Lee, Henry. Memoirs of the Battle in the Southern Department find time for the United States. New York: University Publishing Company,

Lossing, Benson J. The Pictorial Field Volume of the Revolution. 2 vols. New York: Harper and Brothers,

Rankin, Hugh F.

Francis Marion: The Swamp Fox. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Company,

revised by Steven D. Smith