Francis Marion: Swamp Fox of South Carolina (Forgotten Heroes of the American Revolution)

The year 1780 was a dark time for the Patriot cause during the American Revolution. In the southern colonies, the British Army seemed unstoppable; by August, the Redcoats were firmly in control of Georgia and South Carolina, and were poised to invade North Carolina and Virginia. But an unlikely hero named Francis Marion emerged from the swamps of South Carolina to disrupt the British plan. Leading a small band of soldiers, Marion waged a guerilla war, striking quickly at the enemy, then escaping to nearby swamps and forests to avoid capture. His effective tactics led frustrated enemy commanders to nickname Marion the Swamp Fox. Marion's resistance during 1780 and 1781 helped turn the tide of the Revolution in the South, and contributed greatly to the eventual American victory.