Pineville in Berkeley County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
The Elusive Francis Marion: The Stuff of Legend
Photographed By Anna Inbody, March 24, 2012
1. The Elusive Francis Marion: The Stuff of Legend Marker
Inscription.
The Elusive Francis Marion: The Stuff of Legend. . For what he did in less than three years during the Revolutionary War, Francis Marion won enduring fame. By the nineteenth century he was remembered as the Swamp Fox, the partisan commander who always eluded the British and their Loyalist allies., Marion's achievements are significant and real, but some of his fame rests upon exaggerated stories in a biography by Mason Weems, the biographer of George Washington who fabricated the famous story of Washington chopping down a cherry tree. Much about Marion remains unknown, and the Swamp Fox, obscured by legend, is almost as elusive to history as he was to the British.
For what he did in less than three years during the Revolutionary War, Francis Marion won enduring fame. By the nineteenth century he was remembered as the Swamp Fox, the partisan commander who always eluded the British and their Loyalist allies.
Marion's achievements are significant and real, but some of his fame rests upon exaggerated stories in a biography by Mason Weems, the biographer of George Washington who fabricated the famous story of Washington chopping down a cherry tree. Much about Marion remains unknown, and the Swamp Fox, obscured by legend, is almost as elusive to history as he was to the British.
Location. 33° 27.231′ N, 80° 5.202′ W. Marker is in Pineville, South Carolina, in Berkeley County. Marker is on General Francis Marion Avenue, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Pineville SC 29468, United States of America. Touch for directions.
One of Weems' most enduring stories tells of a British officer in Marion's camp under a flag of truce. After Marion fed him his troops' usual fare of sweet potatoes, according to Weems, the officer concluded that such men could not be beaten and resigned his commission.
Photographed By Anna Inbody, March 24, 2012
4. Picture on the marker
Falling trees destroyed Marion's marble tombstone, pictured at right, prompting calls for funds to replace it. In 1893 the state responded by erecting the existing granite monument over the remains of the original marker. Courtesy of Cornell University Library, Making of America Digital Collection
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on March 28, 2012, by Anna Inbody of Columbia, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,306 times since then and 95 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 28, 2012, by Anna Inbody of Columbia, South Carolina. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.