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During the Revolutionary War against the British Francis
Marion employed irregular methods of warfare to confront the
enemy. Marion was born in 1732 and died in 1795. He fought with
the Continental Army and South Carolina militias during the
Revolutionary War which lasted from 1775 to 1783 primarily in
South Carolina.
Marion is considered to be one of the fathers of modern
guerrilla warfare. He served in the French and Indian War. It
was his experience in this conflict, principally against the
Cherokee Indians, that guided his use of irregular tactics
against the British.
Marion's small band of men, initially numbering less than a
hundred, was locally recruited. His band served without pay and
supplied their own horses and weapons. For a time his band of
men were the only opposition to the British in South Carolina.
Although small in number, his troops would conduct surprise
raids that usually ended in a rapid withdrawal to avoid
excessive caualties. He was extremely effective in interdicting
the British lines of communicaton and supply. His band proved to
be elusive and operated in the swamps of South Carolina -
earning him the name of "Swamp Fox".
Due to his success in fighting the British Marion was
commissioned a brigadier general. After the Revolutionary War he
returned to his plantation and continued to engage in politics
in South Carolina.
References
Francis Marion - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Marion
The Swamp Fox - Smithsonian Magazine
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-swamp-fox-157330429/
Francis Marion "The Swamp Fox" - American Battlefield Trust
https://www.battlefields.org/learn/biographies/francis-marion
Francis Marion - National Park Service
https://www.nps.gov/people/francis-marion.htm
The Swamp Fox - Museum of the American Revolution
https://www.amrevmuseum.org/read-the-revolution/the-swamp-fox
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