Andrew Davis> An authentic handwritten letter from the "Swamp Fox" himself can be found at the Georgetown County Museum!

Paige Sawyer> Around 2004-2005, the Georgetown County Museum became reality and it was at that time that the people working for the museum discovered this letter, and the letter was given to a historical member sometime back in the 1950's by a former owner of Windsor Plantation.

So we're lucky to have it.

Davis> In the year 1780 at the height of the American Revolutionary War British strategy shifted from the north to the southern colonies.

Although the British were successful in most conventional battles, southern patriots turned towards guerrilla or hit and run warfare, which proved effective in hindering British plans to conquer the South.

A few South Carolinians even managed to cement their names into history books with their command prowess and guerrilla warfare.

One of these individuals was the "Swamp Fox": Francis Marion.

Communication in any war is crucial.

Unlike the instant messaging we have today in the 1700's, commanders who were miles apart from one another had to rely on handwritten letters delivered on foot or on horseback.

Old mail mostly ends up in trash bins.

But what if I told you that an actual handwritten letter from Francis Marion himself has miraculously survived to the 21st century?

My name is Andrew Davis, and I am your host in this episode of Curiosity Trek!.

Today's trek takes us down to Georgetown, South Carolina, about a 2.5 hour drive from Columbia.

This letter from Francis Marion is one of the Georgetown County Museum's most prized artifacts in its collection.

Paige Sawyer of the Georgetown County Museum joins us to broaden our minds on this priceless piece of Revolutionary War history.

Paige Sawyer> My name is Paige.

I'm a board member of the Georgetown County Historical Society and the chairman for the Francis Marion Interpretive Center here at the Georgetown County Museum.

Davis> Thank you for joining us today, Paige!

Sawyer> Well, we thank you all for coming to Georgetown.

And, you know, for, coming here and discovering the Francis Marion letter that we have on display here at the Georgetown County Museum.

Davis> Speaking of which, who was Francis Marion?

Sawyer> Francis Marion he was the sixth child born to Gabriel and Esther Marion in 1732, in neighboring Berkeley County.

When he was around 4 or 5 years old, Francis Marion and his family moved to Georgetown.

He was here for about 20 years, so he claimed Georgetown as his home, and we like to claim him as a local also.

Francis Marion fought in the Cherokee War, and he later became the partisan militia leader for the group from the Santee River to the Pee Dee River here, encompassing Georgetown.

General Greene, he was the commander for the southern forces here in the Southern Strategy, and that was Francis Marion's direct commander.

He was involved with the Battle of Sullivan's Island which later became Fort Moultrie.

He was involved with Fort Watson Fort Motte Eutaw Springs... Those were some of the statewide battles that he fought in, but he was more significant with the small hit and run tactics against the British.

That is how he is mostly remembered by his strategy that he used against the British.

When he was fighting the Cherokee Indians in 1759-1760, he noticed the strategy that the Indians would use small bands of Indians they would attack the British at night before daylight, and he would use the hit and run tactics that he saw the Indians used against the British.

They proved effective against the British, and he knew they would prove effective against the British while he was fighting them.

Davis> Marion and his militiamen took advantage of South Carolina's swamps to hide from British forces.

The British sent one of their most brutal and cunning commanders to hunt down and put an end to Marion's shenanigans.

Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton.

Marion's rivalry with Tarleton was legendary.

And through this rivalry is how Francis Marion earned the nickname "The Swamp Fox".

Sawyer> The most hated member of the British military was Colonel Banastre Tarleton, and Tarleton was well-known for his evil activities.

He would torture, he would burn He would indiscriminately antagonize the local people here and around Georgetown.

And that made him a very bad enemy of the people here and around Georgetown.

Tarleton, he was given orders from his commander: "Get that man."

He chased Francis Marion for seven hours over a 26-mile course trying to catch him.

And after 26 miles, he told his men: "Come on, boys, we'll never catch this damned old fox!"

Let's go see if we can get "The Gamecock"."

meaning Thomas Sumter.

So that's how the "Swamp Fox" earned his name.

Thankfully, too, Colonel Tarleton.

Davis> Throughout the Southern Campaign, Marion corresponded regularly with General Nathanael Greene to coordinate battle plans.

Miraculously, one of these letters between Marion and General Greene has managed to survive for centuries.

This particular letter now permanently resides at the Georgetown County Museum.

Sawyer> The letter we have on display is a response to General Nathanael Greene.

General Greene had written a letter to Francis Marion indicating that he wanted Francis Marion to get back to Georgetown, because there were some supplies here that he might could use.

Francis Marion and all of his tactics he moved around every 2 or 3 days.

He never stayed in one place longer than two days.

So the letter was actually late getting to Francis Marion and Francis Marion at that time, he was in a camp down near to Moncks Corner.

He read the letter, he responded to the letter.

And this is the letter that we have that, he would be glad to respond, but he may be late and it's signed by Francis Marion it's signed by General Nathanael Greene also.

And we are lucky to have that letter on display because there are very few signed documents by Francis Marion.

Davis> Now, the question on everybody's minds: How did the Georgetown Museum obtain this letter?

Good question.

It was really, by a stroke of luck.

The Georgetown County Historical Society, for so many years, they didn't have a place to meet to display the artifacts, the articles that they have, on display here in this museum.

So individual members of the historical family kept the historical documents, the artifacts, anything they could in boxes in their homes or in other safe places.

Finally, around 2004-2005, the Georgetown County Museum became reality and it was at that time that the people working for the Georgetown County Museum discovered this letter, and the letter was given to a historical member sometime back in the 1950's by a former owner of Windsor Plantation.

Luckily, history was on our side.

You know, I'm sure it wasn't put in an archival box or an archival container, and we're just blessed to have it because it had been kept in somebody's home for so many years before it exposed itself to members of the Georgetown County Historical Society.

So we're lucky to have it.

Davis> The Georgetown County Museum hopes that when visitors come and see this letter for themselves, that it will highlight Georgetown's significance in South Carolina's role in the American Revolution.

Sawyer> I'm hoping after they read the letter and understand its significance, they will understand the personal relationship between General Francis Marion and General Greene, and also Francis Marion's association with Georgetown and how vital Georgetown was to winning the war here in the southern states.

Actually, South Carolina had more than 200 skirmishes and battles in the colonies.

And, 20% of all the deaths the last two years of the war were right here in South Carolina.

So I'm hoping people will become more aware of the significance that South Carolina played in defeating the British.

Davis> Thank you for taking the time to meet with us today, Paige!

Sawyer> Well we thank you, sir.

Again we appreciate you coming to Georgetown.

I think you will find Georgetown loaded with history and anything else we can do for you.

Please let us know.

Davis> This Francis Marion letter is a definite must-see for Revolutionary War enthusiasts.

It's not every day that documents like this survive for so long, but if you were able to go and see it for yourself, I highly recommend it.

I'm Andrew Davis.

Where will our curiosity take us next on Curiosity Trek!

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