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After the fall of Charleston during the American Revolution, South
Carolina was devoid of any organized resistance to the British
army. It was under these circumstances that Francis Marion
organized his famous band of partisans. They resorted to
hit-and-run tactics, operating out of the impenetrable swamps of
the region. Every man and boy who joined Marion's force was a
volunteer. Everyone furnished his own clothing and weapons. When
Marion issued a call, his men left their farms and reported with
arms in hand. Under Marion's clever direction, the band eluded
British general Banastre Tarleton so frequently that he was
recalled by Cornwallis. As Tarleton left, he remarked, "As for this
damned old fox, the devil himself could not catch him." The
nickname "Swamp Fox" stuck with Marion from then on. After the war,
those who knew of Marion's exploits pressured Peter Horry, one of
Marion's closest friends and an officer in his brigade, to write a
biography of the hero. Horry later sent his manuscript to Mason L.
"Parson" Weems, who had gained fame for his publication
of The Life of Washington. Just as he had evoked poetic
license with the story of young Washington chopping down a cherry
tree, Weems took liberties to spice up Marion's story. Horry
therefore disassociated himself from the book when it was published
in 1824. William Gilmore Simms, who wrote a later biography of
Marion, described Weems's efforts: "Weems had rather loose notions
of the privileges of the biographer, though in reality, he has
transgressed much less in his Life of Marion than I
generally supposed. But the untamed, and sometimes extravagant
exuberance, of his style might well subject his narrative to
suspicion." Recently, Hollywood has shown renewed interest in the
life of the Swamp Fox, so it seems only appropriate that the first
biography of this true American hero be made easily accessible once
again. Marion's daring, cunning, and adventuresome spirit still
inspire admiration over 200 years later. And although Weems may
have taken some liberties with the facts, he sure tells a whopping
good story.
The Life Of General Francis Marion, A Celebrated Partisan Officer,
In The Revolutionary War. Many of the earliest books, particularly
those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce
and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works
in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original
text and artwork.
This biography, first published in 1824, was written by Peter Horry
who served in Marion's brigade as one of his most trusted officers
during his guerilla campaigns. Horry gave his manuscript to Parson
Weems who fictionalized the account into a romantic biography.
Weems and Horry together tell a tale of the man whose real life was
as exciting as any adventure story.
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