The Life of Francis Marion

The Life of Francis Marion is a biography of the Brigadier General Francis Marion written by historian William Gilmore Simms and first published in New York in 1833. Marion, also known as the "Swamp Fox," served in the British Army during the French and Indian War and the Continental Army during Revolutionary War.

Contents (full text)

Preface.

Chapter 1. Introduction—The Huguenots in South Carolina.

Chapter 2. The Marion Family—Birth of Francis Marion—His Youth—Shipwreck.

Chapter 3. Marion a Farmer—Volunteers in the Cherokee Campaign.

Chapter 4. Cherokee War continues—Marion leads the Forlorn Hope at the Battle of Etchoee.

Chapter 5. Marion is returned for the Provincial Congress from St. John's, Berkeley—Made Captain in the Second Regiment—Fort Johnson taken—Battle of Fort Moultrie.

Chapter 6. From the Battle of Fort Moultrie to that of Savannah—Anecdote of Jasper—His Death.

Chapter 7. From the Battle of Savannah to the Defeat of Gates at Camden.

Chapter 8. Organization of "Marion's Brigade"—Surprise of Tories under Gainey—Defeat of Barfield—Capture of British Guard with Prisoners at Nelson's Ferry.

Chapter 9. Marion retreats before a superior Force—Defeats the Tories at Black Mingo—Surprises and disperses the Force of Colonel Tynes at Tarcote—Is pursued by Tarleton.

Chapter 10. Marion attempts Georgetown—Horry defeats Merritt—Melton defeated by Barfield—Gabriel Marion taken by the Tories and murdered—Marion retires to Snow's Island.

Chapter 11. Marion's Camp at Snow's Island—The Character of his Warfare—Of his Men—Anecdotes of Conyers and Horry— He feasts a British Officer on Potatoes—Quells a Mutiny.

Chapter 12. General Greene assumes Command of the Southern Army—His Correspondence with Marion—Condition of the Country—Marion and Lee surprise Georgetown—Col. Horry defeats Gainey—Marion pursues McIlraith—Proposed Pitched Battle between Picked Men.

Chapter 13. Watson and Doyle pursue Marion—He baffles and harasses them—Pursues Doyle—His Despondency and final Resolution.

Chapter 14. Marion renews his Pursuit of Doyle—Confronts Watson—Is joined by Col. Lee—Invests and takes Fort Watson—Fort Motte taken—Anecdote of Horry and Marion.

Chapter 15. Correspondence of Marion and Greene—Anecdote of Colonel Snipes—Marion takes Georgetown—Attempt of Sumter and Marion on Col. Coates—Battle of Quinby Bridge.

Chapter 16. Marion moves secretly to Pon-Pon—Rescues Col. Harden—Defeats Major Frazier at Parker's Ferry—Joins the main Army under Greene—Battle of Eutaw.

Chapter 17. Retreat of the British from Eutaw—Pursuit of them by Marion and Lee—Close of the Year.

Chapter 18. Marion summoned to the Camp of Greene—Defeats the British Horse at St. Thomas—Leaves his Command to Horry, and takes his Seat in the Assembly at Jacksonborough, as Senator from St. John's, Berkeley—Proceedings of the Assembly—Confiscation Act—Dispute between Cols. Mayham and Horry—The Brigade of Marion surprised, during his absence, by a Detachment from Charleston—Marion's Encounter with the British Horse—Conspiracy in the Camp of Greene.

Chapter 19. Marion summoned with his Force to that of Greene—Insurrection of the Loyalists on the Pedee—Marches against them—Subdues them—Treats with Gainey—Fanning—Protects the Tory, Butler, from his Men—Returns to the Country between the Santee and the Cooper—Moves to protect Georgetown from the British Fleet—Takes post at Watboo, on Cooper River—Defeats the British Cavalry under Major Frasier.

Chapter 20. The British propose Terms of Pacification—Rejected by the Civil Authorities—They penetrate the Combahee with their Fleet—Death of Col. Laurens—Anecdote of Marion—Death of Wilmot—The British evacuate Charleston—Marion separates from his Brigade at Watboo—His Military Genius.

Chapter 21. Marion retires to his Farm, which he finds in Ruins—Is returned to the Senate from St. John—His Course on the Confiscation Act—Anecdotes—Is made Commandant at Fort Johnson—His Marriage—A Member of the State Convention in 1794—Withdraws from Public Life—His Death.

Appendix A. Notes on the electronic text.

Appendix B. Song of Marion's Men.