The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-12-23
LOCAL HISTORY
WHAT HAPPENED DECEMBER %
Birthday OF the swamp Fox"


Today is the birthday of the swamp
Fox as Francis Marion was nicknamed
Marion. who was one OF the most inter
estIng characters in American history at
tho close OF the eighteenth century. II
was on December 49, 1882, that this abb
stemlous, God fearing man was born in
Georgetown. ). G. He won recognition
In the fact that he was II daring and as
tonisbingIy swift and an equally crafty
military leader He succeeded In exciting
the rage OF the British as no other OF
the American commanders could do. In
utter disgust the British cavalry leader.
after long and fruitless chase Of Mari
on called the American general a
Swamp loX," whom the devil himself
could not catch"
Bryant in one OF his st-knoNn
poems has described the character OF
the operations that Marion conducted
Marion's Men" ii is related how the
British soldiers tremhled when Marion 5
name was told There also are dc =
scribed the retreats In the forest that
sheltered Marion's troops. the life among
those sylvan fas,nesscs and the terror
that was inspired In the British by the
fierce and sudden raids OF Marion's gilt
tcring band.
Marions life was adventurous one
ever since his carly youth. when he went
10 sea and was ship~recked. As child
he was puny ard sickiy and although he
became strong and active, he was always
short and slight. Long before the EcVo-
luton began he had had an extended
military experience. serving in the South
Carolina state troops against the In
dlans.
At the outbreak OF the Revolution.
Marion received a captains commission,
was made a ma ior and then a licuten-
a -rOuppl Toward he g.
took part in tho disastrous expedition Of
The American General Lincoln and the
French Admiral D'Estang against Sa
vannah, II was in 1880 that Marion be-
gan that career in which he exhibited
his peculiar talents a partisan war
rior. Organizing in South Carolina the
brigade" he was commissioned brigadier
general and began his memorable opera
tions against the British.
This brigade IVES equipped and armed
as the fortune OF war permitted. Some
Of the soldiers carried blades that had
been forged in a country smthv out Of
old avs, and many Of the bullets were
cast from melted pewter mugs and
dishes. Toward the end or August. Mar
ION attacked two regiments of British
regulars on their way from Camden TO
Charleston viii $50 prisoners. Marion
set free all the prisoners. killed and
wounded twenty seven OF tho British.
ana himself lost only one man killed and
one wounded.
ms was cndrdCtGTlSllC OF MS SUbSc-
puout operations. Moving with the most
astonishing cclerity he would cut of Brit
ish companies destroy provisions and in
'li"t a. much injury as possible. while the
enemy were made TO believe that they
were always Just about 10 catch him. He
did so much damage TO the British by
these tactics that they made the most
elaborate and desperate attempts 10 cap
turc him. but he was secure in the for
cStS. to which Inc retrcatcd. and up 10 the
close Of the war he continued his bril-
liant raids.
Marion personally was a man Of the
gentlest and most humane nature In
VariablY courteous and kind. he was gen
orons to his men. but never would allow
them Ia burn plumber houses and his
enemies never charged him with single
instance OF cruelty or rapacity through
out his whole career.
On December %, 1888, Washington re-
signed as commander chief OF the
army; in 1858 James II abdicated the
throne Of England. and i'm 1883 Maryland
voted 10 .ccdc the District of Columbia to
the national government. Today is the
birthday OF Alexander !. of Russia ono: 4:
the we'll known naval officer, Thomas
tic or Lake Champlain G7SSl: Joseph
Smith. founder Of the Mormon church
Gso5) the wcl-known American dentist
Thomas w. Evans t1S23l and Amos x.
Wells. the American author GS62). To-
day in 1858 occurred the assaSSina ton Of
the Duke OF Cuisc al Blois; Michael Dray-
ton. the poet, died I62D, and James Sar-
gent Storer, the English engraycr. died
GS56.