Recap #7 of the book:
The Swamp Fox - How Francis Marion Saved the American Revolution
So news of the destruction in the WIlliamsburg SC area was communicated by Major James with details on house burnings, church burnings and turning churches into British army depots.
1) Sep 24th 1780 after two weeks in the swamp, Marion heads back into SC traveling 60 miles in two days and finds much support as he arrives, even the Jenkins boys, locals from the PeeDee area guide the 60 man militia through three miles of swamp to avoid detection and with horses swim across the river so by Sep 27th they were positioned for another strike in the area. The next day they were on the move picking up units of 5,10,15 along the way finally arriving in the Black Mango area where word was that a force of Tories lead by a John Coming Ball (Marion had actually served as best man to John's half-brother Elias) was only 15 miles away ... the men were ready for a fight. Although he was being hunted by relatives and neighbors .. Marion took none of it personally. Amazing! He described the men of the Black Mango area as "men of family and fortune" and "good men" before this internal civil war broke out .. he had hoped to convert men like this but first would have to beat them.
2) Strategy: Keep your plans close-in .. leaning of the proximity of the enemy forces at twilight, Marion allowed his men to go to sleep and then wake them for a night attack arriving at midnight .. crossing a bridge they heard an alarm in the Tory camp and like at Nelson's Landing, they choose to go ahead and charge as soon as their attack was exposed. Three-prong attack .. dismounted cavalry at front of the Tavern where the Tories were HQ'd, another dismounted unit on the right flank and then cavalry in the rear for quick support as needed. Unlike in the movie The Patriot, because of his small size he commanded from a secure location almost every time. As it turned out, the commander Ball had moved his men onto open field in formation and shifted the center of the battle in the pitch black night. The two dismounted units used the flash from the Tory guns to focus their efforts and the 47 man Tory unit fled into the swamp after several volleys made it clear that they were taking hits from multiple sides. Marion's men totaled about 70 that night. Tories lost 3 men killed, 13 wounded/captured compared to Marion's 2 killed, 8 wounded. The real victory was the capture of all the guns, ammo and horses .. in fact, Marion took the Tory's commander's steed, named it "Ball" and rode it the rest of the war. Also gained was several captured who took an oath w/ Marion including the 2nd in command under the condition that Marion would not humiliate him ... there was an interview arranged, then Marion praised the bravery of the Tory unit that was under fire and then walked with the former Tory 2nd in command into camp in front of the rest of the men to squash bitterness toward this (now former) Tory neighbor. Also, Tory support in the region was at an all-time low after three straight Marion victories .. many refused to take up arms at this point. Those that still kept their arms actually moved off toward Georgia. In addition to this, the Tory militia losses also had the British officers saying "I told you so" as to the effectiveness of these militias, and part of the problem was that the loyalists leadership was sub-par to the patriot militia leadership (all property owners and people of character in the community).
3) Leadership: While there was common ground in the patriot leadership .. there were big differences as well .. Thomas Sumter (Gamecock) was combative, bold and rash in his approach whereas Francis Marion (Swamp Fox) was described as timid, cautious and would risk nothing YET Cornwallis would describe him as cautious and vigilant .. would not jeopardize his men's lives by relying on intel, careful planning and shrewd tactics.
4) Post-battle reflection: Twice now when Marion's men crossed bridges the enemy was alerted. THe early writer Weems in 1808 indicated that the horse hooves alerted the enemy yet comparing notes from those present it seems that Marion's militia would lay blankets on the wood before their horses crossed dispelling that myth. At least four pension applications indicate that this was indeed the case and that it was not an oversight. Turns out Ball (Tory leader) got intel on Marion's arrival .. a leak .. probably from Ball's half-brother Elias who had Marion as a best man at his wedding.
pg 74
dad
--
"This message has been intercepted by the NSA: the only branch of government that listens"
No comments:
Post a Comment