Johnsonville in Florence County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Witherspoon’s Ferry: Francis Marion Takes Command
Photographed By Anna Inbody, March 18, 2012
1. Witherspoon’s Ferry: Francis Marion Takes Command Marker
Inscription.
Witherspoon’s Ferry: Francis Marion Takes Command. . Late in the summer of 1780, Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates led a Continental army toward South Carolina to attempt to roll back the British conquest of the province. As Gates prepared to meet the British at Camden, he sent Col. Francis Marion ~ a Continental officer who had only escaped the fall of Charleston because of a broken ankle ~ south towards the Santee River to gather the local militia forces and prevent a British retreat., On August 17, 1780, leading a ragtag band of fewer than twenty men, “some white, some black, and all mounted, but most of them miserably equipped,” Col. Marion entered the camp of the Williamsburg Militia here at Witherspoon’s Ferry (probably at a site a few yards downstream, just ahead of you) and took command. William Dobein James, then a fifteen-year-old militiaman, recalled his first sight of Marion:, He was below the middle stature of men. His body was well set, but his knees and ankles were badly formed; and he still limped upon one leg. He had a countenance remarkably steady; his nose was aquiline, his chin projecting; his forehead was large and high. And his eyes black and piercing…. He was dressed in a close round-bodied crimson jacket, of a coarse texture, and wore a leather cap, part of the uniform of the second regiment, with a silver crescent in front, inscribed with the words, “Liberty or Death.”
Late in the summer of 1780, Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates led a Continental army toward South Carolina to attempt to roll back the British conquest of the province. As Gates prepared to meet the British at Camden, he sent Col. Francis Marion ~ a Continental officer who had only escaped the fall of Charleston because of a broken ankle ~ south towards the Santee River to gather the local militia forces and prevent a British retreat.
On August 17, 1780, leading a ragtag band of fewer than twenty men, “some white, some black, and all mounted, but most of them miserably equipped,” Col. Marion entered the camp of the Williamsburg Militia here at Witherspoon’s Ferry (probably at a site a few yards downstream, just ahead of you) and took command. William Dobein James, then a fifteen-year-old militiaman, recalled his first sight of Marion:
He was below the middle stature of men. His body was well set, but his knees and ankles were badly formed; and he still limped upon one leg. He had a countenance remarkably steady; his nose was aquiline, his chin projecting; his forehead was large and high. And his eyes black and piercing…. He was dressed in a close round-bodied crimson jacket, of a coarse texture, and wore a leather cap, part of the uniform of the second regiment, with a silver crescent in front, inscribed with the words, “Liberty
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or Death.”
Erected 2012 by Francis Marion Trail Commission of Francis Marion University.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Francis Marion Trail series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1780.
Location. 33° 50.316′ N, 79° 26.896′ W. Marker is in Johnsonville, South Carolina, in Florence County. Marker is on Odell Venters Landing east of Kingsbury Highway (State Route 41), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 714 Odell Venters Landing, Johnsonville SC 29555, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Reflecting much of the ethnic and religious diversity of colonial South Carolina, the Patriot militiamen who fought with Francis Marion included people of African, English, Huguenot, Native American, Ulster Scots, and mixed-race origins.Courtesy Jim Palmer, Jr.
Photographed By Anna Inbody, March 18, 2012
4. Picture on the marker
Militia soldier riding through a swamp. Courtesy Jim Palmer, Jr.
Photographed By Anna Inbody, March 18, 2012
5. Map on the marker
Witherspoon’s Ferry across Lynches Creek (now Lynches River), an important crossing on the area’s main highway into North Carolina, depicted in Mills‘ Atlas(1825)
Credits. This page was last revised on May 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 25, 2012, by Anna Inbody of Columbia, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,351 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on March 25, 2012, by Anna Inbody of Columbia, South Carolina. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.