Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 07.djvu/274

 MARION

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beciles. This last bequest was declined by the state in 1897, and was divided proportionately between tlie other objects named. Mr. Marett died in New Haven, Conn., March 22, 1869.

MARION, Francis, soldier, was born at Win- yah, near Georgetown, S.C., in 1732, youngest son of Gabriel and Esther (Cordes) Marion. He was brought up on his father's plantation and in 1748 shipped on a small vessel for the West

Indies, was wrecked, and with three com- panions rescued by a passing vessel. Upon the death of his father in 1756 he engaged with his brother Gabriel in planting on the Santee canal. He be- came owner of a plantation at Pond Bluff, St. John's par- ish, S.C., in 1759; en- gaged in the war with the Cherokees and in 1761 served as a lieutenant under Capt. William Moultrie, in the battle of Etchoee. He was a member of the Provincial congress of South Carolina in 1775 ; was appointed a captain in the 2d regiment of South Carolina infantry, June 21, 1775, and re- cruited two con^panies, consisting of fifty men each. He took part in the capture of Fort John- son in Charleston harbor, Sept. 14, 1775; and was placed in command of the military stores at Dorchester, S.C. He completed the defences of Fort Johnson ; was promoted major, and on June 20, 1776, took an important part in the de- feat of the British fleet in Charleston harbor. He was promoted lieutenant-colonel and was placed in command of Fort Moultrie. In the disastrous assault on Savannah by the allied forces of Count d'Estaing and General Lincoln, in Septem- ber, 1779, he was conspicuous for his bravery, and on Oct. 9, 1779, his regiment passed into the ditch of the Spring Hill redoubt and planted its colors on the parapet, but was obliged to retreat under a heavy fire. Lincoln retreated to Sheldon, S.C, and left Marion in temporary command of the army, while he was in Charleston to look after its defences. In February, 1780, Marion was sent home to recover from a sprained ankle, and this enforced absence saved him from being among the number surrendered to Sir Henry Clinton after the investment of Charleston. He set out to join the army sent by Washington under Baron de Kalb, to rescue Charleston, but upon finding General Gates in command he returned to his home where he was commissioned brigadier-

general and organized " Marion's brigade," which after Gates's defeat at Camden, Aug. 16, 1780, and Sumter's at Fishing Creek, Aug. 18,

1780, was the only organized American force in South Carolina. Most of his troopers were of Irish parentage. He advanced upon a large body of Tories under Major Garney at Briton's Neck and totally routed them without the loss of a single man, and subsequently defeated Captain Barfield. In August, 1780, he defeated a strong force of Tories at the Black Mingo river, and in September he dispersed a detachment of British regulars under Colonel Tynes at Tarcote. He escaped from General Tarleton after a chase for twenty-five miles, by disappearing in a swamp, and the exploit caused Tarleton to call him the " Swamp Fox." After the battle of King's Moun- tain recruits came to swell Marion's brigade and in December, 1780, he made his first attempt upon Georgetown, which was unsuccessful, and his nephew Gabriel Marion was taken prisoner, and as soon as his name was disclosed was put to death. Marion retired to Swan Island and es- tablished " Marion's Camp." The second attempt upon Georgetown was made in concert with the troops of Col. Henry Lee on Jan. 13, 1781, but was also unsuccessful, and when Lee was recalled by Greene, Marion organized four companies of cavalry, a proceeding necessitated by the scarcity of ammunition, and harassed the British and Tory posts on the Pedee river. In April, 1781, he co- operated with Lee in reducing Fort Waison and when the fort surrendered April 23, 1781, Rawdon was obliged to evacuate Camden. In conjunction with Leland Eaton he captured Fort Motte on the Congaree, and he made a third and successful attempt upon Georgetown. In August, 1781, Marion made a raid, covering 200 miles of coun- try, and at the battle of Eutaw Springs, Sept. 8,

1781, he commanded the right of the first line and joined Lee in the pursuit of the defeated enemy, taking many prisoners. On Oct. 9, 1781, he re- ceived the thanks of congress for his services in that battle. In January, 1782, he was elected to the state senate, serving continuously until 1790. He was appointed commandant of Fort Johnson in 1784, and was married the same year to Mary Videau who survived him but had no children. He was a member of the state constitu- tional convention in 1790, and in 1794 he resigned his commission in the state militia. While in the senate he advocated gentle usage of the Tories and bitterly condemned the confiscation act of

1782, The state senate voted him a letter of thanks and a gold medal for his patriotism. His last words were : "Thank God I can lay my hand on my heart and say that since I came to man's estate, I have never done, intentionally, wrong to any." He died at Pond Bluff, S.C, Feb. 27, 1795.