MARION COUNTY. 413 



of their rights, and raised three regiments. Marion was ap- 

 pointed Captain in the second regiment. Until the attack 

 upon Fort Moultrie he was engaged in the recruiting service. 

 In the attack made by the British on Sullivan's Island and 

 Savannah, his bravery was the theme of admiration. He was 

 not present at the siege and capture of Charleston, Major 

 Garden, in his Revolutionary Anecdotes, relates the following 

 incident as explanatory of the reasons why Marion was not 

 present with his regiment in the defence of the capital : — 

 " Lieut. Colonel Marion had dined, a few days previously to 

 the siege of Charleston, with a friend in the house next to 

 Roupel's, in Tradd-street. A mistaken idea of hospitality 

 had occasioned his entertainer, according to the universal 

 practice of the day, to turn the key upon his guests, to pre- 

 vent escape until each individual should be gorged to a surfeit 

 with wine. Marion attempting to escape by a window, fell 

 into the street and dislocated his ankle in a shocking manner. 

 This accident saved him from captivity. After he had partially 

 recovered from this injury, he was again in the field, and joined 

 the continental army under Gates, and was despatched by 

 him to watch the motions of the enemy, and furnish intelli- 

 gence. After he had collected a small band of patriots, he 

 rendered various important services by his attacks upon the 

 enemy. In 1780 he was appointed Brigadier General, and in- 

 vested with the command of a military district, the duties of 

 which he continued to perform until the 8th of September, when 

 he commanded the front line of Greene's army in the battle at 

 Eutaw Springs. Congress returned him their thanks for his gal- 

 lant conduct on this occasion. He was in active service until 

 the close of the Revolution, when he returned to his farm. 

 "In the decline of life, in the modest condition of a farmer, 

 Marion seems to have lived among his neighbours very 

 much like the ancient patriarch, surrounded by his flock. 

 He was honoured and beloved by all. His dwelling was 

 the abode of content and cheerful hospitality. He died 

 peaceful and assured on the 27th day of February, 1795, 

 and was buried in St. Stephen's Parish. The marble slab 

 which covers his remains, bears the following inscription : — 

 ' Sacred to the memory of Brigadier General Francis Ma- 

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