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author who invented the anecdote about George Washington and the
Cherry Tree。 William Gilmore Simms was a prominent South Carolina
author； who wrote many books of history； fiction； and poetry。 His 1844
biography of Marion is the broadest in scope of the three； and probably the
best for the casual reader。 Of course； the interested reader should read all
three biographies。
（The information on Web pages； etc。 is correct as of 21 May 1997。）
（2） A。 S。 Salley's Introduction from the 1948 edition。
A。 S。 Salley wrote several works of genealogy and S。 C。 local history。
He also wrote this short introduction to the 1948 edition； which we have
checked； and IS in the public domain。
Introduction to New Edition。
By A。 S。 Salley。
But for an accident General Francis Marion probably would not have
been the hero of the Revolution that he became。
In June； 1775； the Provincial Congress of South Carolina； the extra…
legal body of the revolting people of the province； organized three
regiments of regular troops in preparation against any attempt at coercion
by the British government。 The first and second regiments were
constituted as infantry； or foot； the third regiment as rangers； or horse。
The Congress elected twenty captains to man the first and second
regiments； and they took seniority according to their standing in the vote。
Francis Marion was elected one of the twenty captains and stood third in
the balloting and was assigned to the Second Regiment； ranking second to
Capt。 Barnard Elliott。
In November； 1775； an artillery regiment was organized and Capt。
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Life of Marion。
Elliott was promoted to major thereof。 In February； 1776； a regiment of
rifles was organized and Major McIntosh of the Second was promoted to
be lieutenant…colonel thereof； which advanced Captain Marion to the
majority of the Second Regiment。
On September 16； 1776； the six regular regiments of South Carolina
were taken on the Continental Establishment and Colonel William
Moultrie； of the Second Regiment； was promoted to brigadier general；
Lieutenant…Colonel Motte was promoted to colonel and Major Marion
became the lieutenant…colonel。 Colonel Motte resigned September 23；
1778； and Marion became commander of the regiment。
As British regiments were commanded by lieutenant…colonels； British
authorities refused to exchange a captured Continental colonel for one of
their lieutenant…colonels in the hands of the Americans。 This complication
caused the Continental Congress to cease promoting lieutenant…colonels to
colonels； and so Marion remained as lieutenant…colonel of the Second
Regiment； South Carolina Line； Continental Establishment； until mustered
out of the service in February； 1783。
While a British fleet and army were besieging Charles Town March 28
… May 12； 1780； Lieutenant Colonel Marion sprained an ankle； which
rendered him unfit for active duty。 Soon after General Lincoln published
an order furloughing him to his plantation until able to resume active duty；
but Charles Town was captured before Marion was able to return。
When General Gates was sent down to Hillsboro； North Carolina； to
take command of the Southern Army he published an order directing all
Continental officers and men not on parole to report to him at Hillsboro。
Marion was the senior officer of South Carolina to report。 His regiment
having been captured with the garrison of Charles Town Marion was
without a command。 He was directed by Gates to go down to the Santee
River and assemble a militia force and destroy the ferry boats on the river
to prevent the British from retreating to Charles Town or receiving aid
therefrom。 Marion found a willing force of militia at hand on the Santee
with which he speedily drove off the guard at Murray's Ferry and captured
the guard at Nelson's Ferry and also captured a convoy from Cornwallis's
army taking American prisoners to Charles Town。 From then on he was
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Life of Marion。
very active。 In November； 1780； Governor Rutledge appointed him
brigadier general of the Lower Brigade of the State militia and his activity
knew no bounds from then to the end of the war。
This history of Marion's career thereafter； accurately and authentically
tells the story； for Judge James； its author； was one of Marion's active
officers。
Perhaps Marion's highly meritorious services would never have
received the widespread attention that has been accorded them had it not
been for a fictitious publication issued in 1809 by Matthew Carey； a well
known publisher； of Philadelphia； entitled： ~The / Life / of / Gen。 Francis
Marion； / a Celebrated / Partizan Officer； / in / The Revolutionary War； /
against the / British and Tories； in South…Carolina and Georgia。~ From
documents furnished by his brother in arms； Brigadier…General P。 Horry：
and his nephew； the Hon。 Robert Marion； Esq。 of Congress。
General Peter Horry； who had been one of Marion's most active
colonels； had written a history of Marion's brigade； but had not readily
found a publisher when he encountered Rev。 Mason L。 Weems； an
itinerant book agent and preacher。 Weems persuaded Horry to let him have
the manuscript； assuring him that he would secure a publisher。 Horry
agreed； but admonished Weems 〃not to alter the sense or meaning of my
work； least when it came out I might not know it； and； perverted； it might
convey a very different meaning from the truth。〃 Those were Horry's own
words to Weems； as recalled by Horry to Weems in a letter dated at
Georgetown； S。C。； February 4； 1811。
In the same letter he reminded Weems： 〃I requested you would （if
necessary） so far alter the work as to make it read grammatically； and I
gave you leave to embellish the work； but entertained not the least idea of
what has happened though several of my friends were under such
apprehensions； which caused my being urgent on you not to alter a