Francis Marion Trail Commission
The Swamp Fox, General Francis Marion, and his engagements with the British in Eastern South Carolina, Eastern SC Heritage Region & St. Mark’s Parish.
Historic U.S. 301 – “Highway to Southern Living” Named Swamp Fox Trail in 1925
Berkeley County Tour and Map — Brochure (with Historic Markers db links)
Clarendon County Tour and Map (& below)
New Free App: Fort Watson AR
Pee Dee Tour and Map — Brochure
(above painting) Swamp Fox at Ox Swamp Mural, Manning, SC. ©2001
In the American Revolution, November 8, 1780, Gen. Francis Marion and his militia lured British Col. Tarleton and his Green Dragoons about 26 miles from Jacks Creek through the swamps to Ox Swamp. After spending 6 hours in this pursuit, Tarleton gave up the chase saying “as for the old fox (Marion), the devil himself could not catch him.” Thus, Gen. Marion became known as the “Swamp Fox”. This mural is made possible by the citizens of Clarendon County and Manning to promote heritage tourism throughout the county.
Come to Manning for more Swamp Fox murals. Every mural tells a story of the events of the American Revolution in South Carolina. Summary of Murals & Historic Sites with GPS.
View the Map of Mural Locations
Statues of General Francis Marion
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Marion Sculpture by Robert G. Barinowski ©2006
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Manning Town Map of Murals
History Tour Apps
For Android or Apple with Chrome or on your computer with Chrome, Touch a historical marker, hear the text of the marker. Touch “View” under the marker, for the Google street view of that location.
The Liberty Trail App, SC Battlefield Trust. (Free at your App store)
An unexpected journey through place and time.
Download Fort Watson AR (Augmented Reality).
Download, for Apple or Android, the Clarendon County Tour App!
Revolutionary War Patriots & Clarendon County Tour, SC
| Francis Marion’s Grave and Elusive Francis Marion, Pineville |
| Wadboo Barony: Francis Marion’s Last Headquarters , Moncks Corner
Quinby Bridge & Shubrick’s Plantation , Huger Fort Fair Lawn: An Archeaological Treasure , Moncks Corner Colleton House: “Unmanly Practices” or Legitimate Target? Moncks Corner |
Clarendon County Tour: (with Historic Markers db links)
# 1 Ox Swamp: The Swamp Fox Earns His Name -» 33° 42.941′ N, 80° 11.875′ W
# 2 Wyboo Swamp: The Beginning of the Bridges Campaign -» 33° 32.368′ N, 80° 13′ W
# 3 Halfway Swamp: “… In pursuit of a Brother to Kill Him” -» 33° 39.066′ N, 80° 29.766′ W
# 4 Fort Watson: Disrupting British Supply Lines -» 33° 31.819′ N, 80° 25.591′ W
Beginning on April 15, 1871, and continuing to April 23, 1781, Lt. McCoy surrendered Fort Watson, its garrison and supplies to General Marion, the “Swamp Fox” and Light Horse Harry Lee. This was the first British fort to fall in South Carolina. (Located west of I-95, Exit 102, US 301/15 to County Road 803, 9 miles SW of Summerton 33.539° N 80.438° W). Download Fort Watson AR, for a visual of this engagement.
Burch’s Mill, Mill Branch: South Carolina’s First Civil War Nears It’s End , Pamplico, Florence County
Dunham’s Bluff, Britton’s Neck: Control of the Rivers, Marion County
Snow’s Island: Den of the Swamp Fox, Britton’s Neck, Marion County
Witherspoon’s Ferry: Francis Marion Takes Command , Johnsonville, Florence County
Black Mingo Creek: Fighting Among Neighbors , Rhems, Georgetown County
Indiantown Presbyterian Church: “Disarm in the Most Rigid Manner” , Williamsburg County
Kingstree: Gathering Vital Intelligence , Williamsburg County
Battle of Lower Bridge: Take the Low Ground! , Williamsburg County
Historic U.S. 301 – “Highway to Southern Living” – Named Swamp Fox Trail in 1925
Current I-95 and older US 301 bridges were named in 1925, The Francis Marion Bridge.
Historic Marker at Santee Indian Mound
- In 1950 SC DAR erected this Historic stone at Santee Indian Mound for Marion taking Fort Watson, 1781.
- Historic Markers database includes SF murals and Francis Marion Trail Commission markers.
Palmetto Trail
From the mountains to the sea
“See wildlife at its best”
The Lake Marion Passage of the Palmetto Trail is officially designated, August, 2000, in Clarendon County. By the end of 2006, the total mileage of the Trail across SC to more than 225 miles. This over 30 mile passage of the Palmetto Trail skirts along the high-water mark of the north side of Lake Marion. After crossing Lake Marion on Historic 301 bridge, the Lake Marion Passage winds along the high water mark of the lake, along Old River Road, between Fludd’s Mill and the ‘hauntingly beautiful cypress lagoon’ Elliott’s Mill Pond and behind SC Waterfowl Association. Commercial campsites along the trail include Jack’s Creek Marina & Carolina King Resort, so hikers and bikers can stay on the trail for extended periods. Trail users will enjoy some of the most magnificent vistas in the Lowcountry with opportunity to spot abundant wildlife and colorful flora. Users have the possibility of encountering poisonous snakes and/or large alligators along the lake’s edge. Only hikers and bikers may use this section of trail. The Lake Marion Passage is marked by yellow blazes in Clarendon County. Hikers and bikers should wear bright colors during big game hunting season, which is from the middle of August through January. Old 301 Bridge for walking (parallel to I-95) re-open 2023.
“The Swamp Fox Song”
My name is Francis Marion. I fought the British redcoats in ’76,
Hiding in the Carolina swamps by day and surprising them with swift strikes at night.
They called me a tricky swamp fox, so a swamp fox I became.
Swamp Fox, Swamp Fox
Tail on his hat. Nobody knows Where the Swamp Fox at.
Swamp Fox, Swamp Fox
Hiding in the glen. He runs away to fight again.
I fire a gun, the birds take wing.
Their startled cry’s a signal clear.
My men march forth to fight the King.
And leave behind their loved ones dear.
Swamp Fox, Swamp Fox, Tail on his hat. Nobody knows Where the Swamp Fox at.
Swamp Fox, Swamp Fox, Hiding in the glen. He runs away to fight again.
We had no lead, we had no powder.
Always fought with an empty gun.
Only made us shout the louder.
We are the men of Marion.
We had no cornpone, had no honey,
all we had was continental money.
Couldn’t buy nothing worth beans in a pot
Roastin’ ears and possum was all we ever got.
Swamp Fox, Swamp Fox, Tail on his hat. Nobody knows Where the Swamp Fox at.
Swamp Fox, Swamp Fox, Hiding in the glen. He runs away to fight again.
We had no blankets, had no beds.
Had no roof above our heads.
We get no shelter when it rains.
All we got was Yankee brains.
The Redcoats rise in a foreign land
Their hearts are far across the sea,
They never try to understand
We fight for home and liberty.
Swamp Fox, Swamp Fox, Tail on his hat. Nobody knows Where the Swamp Fox at.
Swamp Fox, Swamp Fox, Hiding in the glen. He runs away to fight again.
Swamp Fox, Swamp Fox, Tail on his hat. Nobody knows Where the Swamp Fox at.
Swamp Fox, Swamp Fox, Hiding in the glen. He runs away to fight again.
