Annual Francis Marion Symposium 2023, 2024, 2025
In Clarendon County, SC
The 23rd Annual Francis Marion Symposium!
October 17-18, 2025
The 22nd Annual Francis Marion Symposium!
October 18-19, 2024
Special Thank you to our Great Presenters, Sponsors and Participants.
2024 Gold Sponsors:
Dr. Elwood Owens, Photographer, Videographer, Florence, SC;
In Memory of Bob Swager, by his Family, Spartanburg, SC;
In Memory of Col. George Summers, Manning, SC;
Warren and Jay Graves, Hilton Head Island, SC;
American Revolution Round Table-SC, Hilton Head, SC;
Prothro Chevrolet, Buick and GMC Lannes P, Manning, SC;
Wright and Dorothy Turbeville, Manning, SC;
FTC, Kingstree. SC;
Allison Investment Management, LLC, Columbia, SC;
In Memory of Peter Reilly, by Gay K, Sound Beach, NY;
In Memory of Charles Bobby Hester, Manning, SC;
Rick Jackson, St. Matthews, SC;
Frank McLeod, St. Matthews, SC;
Berkeley North Historical and Cultural Association, Keith G, Pineville, SC;
Susan Risser and Family, NC and PA;
In Memory of Joshua Kline by Jeff, Charleston, SC;
Francis Marion Interpretive Center, Georgetown County Museum, Georgetown, SC;
EC Wallace, LLC, Mount Pleasant, SC;
Judy Latham, Manning, SC;
Jennie Lee, Manning, SC;
Karen MacNutt, Boston, MA;
Annie McIllhenny, Bishopville, SC;
SC 250th Revolutionary War Anniversary Commission, Columbia, SC.
Special Thanks to: Catering for All Occasions; D & H BBQ, Henry; Lily Cafe, Amber; Lucy’s Bakehouse; Sub Station II, Rick; Molly Fortune, Heather Hawkins, Tyler Clark, Mike Tyler, Elwood Owens, Bill Segars, Gus and Jim Dunlap, Gloria Joseph, Ron Barnes, Claire Burke, Susan Dominick, Judy Latham, Robert Pegram, and all the many helpers.
Thanks to all for participating. For FM Symposium 2024 we have attendees and sponsors from 12 states: FL, IL, MA, MI, NC, NY, PA, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI,
And 39 towns across SC: Alcolu, Awendaw, Beaufort, Bishopville, Bluffton, Bowman, Camden, Cameron, Charleston, Columbia, Conway, Florence, Gable, Georgetown, Goose Creek, Hartsville, Heath Springs, Hilton Head Island, Kingstree, Lake City, Lexington, Little River, Manning, Moncks Corner, Moore, Mt Pleasant, Murrells Inlet, Newberry, Pawleys Island, Pineville, Ridgeville, Rock Hill, Six Mille, Spartanburg, St Matthews, Sumter, Vance, Wando, Williston.
Immerse yourself in Francis Marion’s world and the significance of the Southern Campaigns of the American Revolution.
22nd Francis Marion Symposium October 18-19, 2024:
Friday, please, check in by 2 PM and Saturday by 9 AM.
Agenda for 2024
Friday, October 18:
1 – Tom Elmore: The Swamp Fox-A Bibliographical History
2 – Peggy Pickett: Dorothy Sinkler Richardson—the Woman Who Saved Francis Marion’s Life
3 – Rick Wise updated us on the Francis Marion Papers, Bill Segars updated us on the Rev. War Marker Ahead highway signs project
4 – Marti Mongiello: WOMEN IN WAR: A focus on an American Shero: Mary Patton, “Blackpowder Mary”
Saturday, October 19:
5 – Rick Wise: Influences on Marion’s Transition to Partisan Command
6 – Mark Motsinger: The Old Soldiers Reservation
7 – Christine Swager: Elijah Clarke: Almost Fatally Courageous
Lunch Briefings: Tom Persons updated us on SC-American Rev. Trust, Drew Ruddy told the history of the swivel gun we had on stage
8 – Mike Burgess: Wedded To My Sword: The Life, Legend, and Legacy of Henry “Lighthorse Harry” Lee
9 – Karen MacNutt: Georgetown During the Occupation 1780-1781
10 – Leon Harris: Francis Marion’s Attack at Tearcoat Swamp and Tarleton’s Revenge – October 25, 1780
11 – Dinner Theater: Erick Nason: The Young Fox: The Early Days of Francis Marion
Special briefings will include: The Liberty Trail, SCBPT/SC 250th Anniversary Commission, The Francis Marion Papers Project, SC American Revolution Trust.
Thanks to all the helpers, attendees, presenters and sponsors.
Sad to share with you, for anyone who is unaware: From: Caroline Chambers As most of you are aware, my father, Charles Baxley, passed away on March 30, 2024. His passing was a great loss for many different communities across the state, from his clients to students, to pilots, and to the history community. While I expect most of you know who to turn to for your various needs as dad had been stepping back from his public life for a few years, I did want to share some resources to make sure everyone is aware. Baxley, Wells & Benson continues their services in Lugoff, SC and can refer you to other attorneys if needed. The history research, including the online magazine Southern Campaigns of the American Revolution, is now part of the South Carolina American Revolutionary War Trust. There were a handful of articles still in the works at the time of his passing that will be published on the site. If you want to stay in the loop about this and other Revolutionary War history research, sign up for SCART’s newsletter on their website. The Kershaw County Education Foundation does not have a website, but if you are looking for information about their scholarships, please reach out to Wesley Herndon and the KCEF at PO Box 10, Lugoff, SC 29078. Charles’ email account is unmonitored, so if you have any other questions, please feel free to email me at bonniec.chambers@gmail.com. The family wishes to thank everyone again for their love, support and help during Charles’ illness and passing. Caroline Chambers
Special Thank you to our Great Presenters, Sponsors and Participants.
2023 Gold Sponsors:
American Revolution Round Table-SC, Hilton Head, SC;
Dr. Elwood Owens, Photographer, Videographer, Florence, SC;
Warren and Jay Graves, Hilton Head Island, SC;
In Memory of Bob Swager, His Family, Spartanburg, SC;
In Memory of Peter Reilly, Gay K, Sound Beach, NY;
Frank McLeod, St. Matthews, SC;
Berkeley North Historical and Cultural Assoc., Keith Gourdin, Pineville, SC;
Francis Marion Interpretive Center, Georgetown County Museum, Georgetown, SC;
Bank of Clarendon, Manning, SC;
In Memory of Col. George Summers, Manning, SC.
Rick Jackson, St. Matthews, SC;
Prothro Chevrolet, Buick and GMC Lannes Prothro, Manning, SC;
Wright and Dorothy Turbeville, Manning, SC;
Barbara and Norbie Walsh, Mantoloking, NJ;
EC Wallace, LLC, Mount Pleasant, SC;
FTC, Kingstree. SC;
Friend of the Francis Marion Symposium, Manning, SC;
Friend of the Francis Marion Symposium, Bluffton, SC;
Friend of the Francis Marion Symposium, Gable, SC;
Friend of the Francis Marion Symposium, Camden, SC;
Friend of the Francis Marion Symposium, Greenville, SC;
Friend of the Francis Marion Symposium, Bethel Park, PA;
South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust, Charleston, SC.
Anderson Pharmacy, Rock, Manning, SC;
Edward Jones, Whit, Manning, SC;
SC 250th Revolutionary War Anniversary Commission, Columbia, SC;
Special Thanks to: D & H BBQ, Henry, Manning; Mill Street Grill, Brandi, Manning; Sub Station II, Rick, Manning; Molly Fortune, Heather Hawkins, Aimee Hood, Mike Tyler, Bill Segars, Gus and Jim Dunlap, Doug and Sue Butterfield, Gloria Joseph, Ron Barnes, Sue Adair and Jean Powell, Claire Burke, Susan Dominick, Judy Latham, Elwood Owens, Robert Pegram and all the many helpers.
FE DuBose Campus, Central Carolina Technical College I-95, Exit 122, US 521, FE DuBose Campus, CCTC, 3351 Sumter Highway, Manning, SC 29102
Saturday, coffee at 9 AM:
JD Lewis: “South Carolina and the Continental Congress”, Continental Congress, contributions, 1774 to 1789
Patrick O’Kelley: “Creating Cool and Do Mischief, Francis Marion’s Orderly Book.“
Christine Swager: “Why the British Turned South”
12:30 PM Lunch and mini–presentations: The Liberty Trail, SCBPT/SC 250th Anniversary Commission, SCART, Francis Marion Papers, and more.
Damon L. Fordham: Blacks in the American Revolution – What is known about blacks during the American Rev.
Jim Piecuch: John Harrison’s provincial Rangers. South Carolina Rangers.
6 PM Saturday Dinner Theater: featuring
Erick Nason: “Silver Fox and Wolf, the Final Partisan Campaign of 1782.”
Special Thank you to our Great Presenters, Sponsors and Participants.
Thanks to all attendees, speakers, sponsors, and helpers. Wrapped up the 21st Francis Marion Symposium, 2023, great reviews, and participants from FL, MA, NJ, NY, NC, PA, WI, and all over SC: Alcolu. Atlantic Beach, Beaufort, Bishopville. Bluffton, Blythewood, Bowman, Camden, Cameron, Charleston, Columbia, Edisto Beach, Florence, Fort Motte, Gable, Georgetown, Green Sea, Greenville, Hartsville, Heath Springs, Hemingway, Hilton Head Island, Kingstree, Laurens, Little River, Lugoff, Manning, Moore, Moncks Corner, Mount Pleasant, Myrtle Beach, Newberry, North Charleston. Pauleys Island, Pineville, Ridgeland, Ridge Spring, Rock Hill, St. Matthews, Six Mile, Spartanburg, Summerton, Summerville, Sumter, West Columbia.
Links to Earlier FM Symposium pages and to the presentations on YouTube:
2003-2007, 2008-2012,
2013-2017, 2018-2022 . Photos from our past:
Ed reminds of this quote by John Adams, who on the first anniversary of the document he helped to edit – The Declaration of Independence, wrote the following: Posterity! You will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom! I hope you will make good use of it.. If you do not, I shall repent it in heaven that I ever took half the pains to preserve it.
Another favorite quote comes from Ben Franklin as he was being carried by prisoners in his sedan chair back to his home after the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention of 1787. Enroute he was stopped on the street by a female passerby who asked “so Dr Franklin what have you given us?” The good Dr simply replied “A republic if you can keep it.“
A few photos from 2020:
Tributes to Francis Marion on-line:
Karen MacNutt reminds us: Why we admire General Francis Marion at his tomb
Professor Joe Stukes recounts: A brief Francis Marion History
Professor Joe Stukes recounts: A horse for Francis Marion
Francis Marion Foils the British By Jefferson M. Gray
Motel and RV Accommodations near Exits on I-95 in South Carolina
Motels at exit 119 are closest to FM Symposium site CCTC at exit 122.
Baymont Inn – Exit 119 Manning (Pet-friendly)
2284 Raccoon Rd., Manning, SC 29102
803-473-5333 / 803-473-5334 / 877-229-6668
Days Inn of Manning – Exit 119 Manning (Pet-friendly)
2825 Paxville Rd., Manning, SC
803-473-4021
Hampton Inn – Exit 119 Manning
2822 Paxville Rd., Manning, SC
803-505-4800
Quality Inn – Exit 119 Manning
3031 Paxville Rd., Manning, SC
803-473-7550
Sure Stay by Best Western – Exit 119 Manning (Pet-friendly)
2816 Paxville Rd., Manning, SC
803-473-5135
Palmetto Shores RV Resort – Exit 102 N. Santee, Lake Marion
5215 Dingle Pond Rd., Summerton, SC 803-478-6336
