MARION, FRANCIS. 1732-1795.
Early Autograph Letter Signed ('Fran. Marion') from the Swamp Fox to General Benjamin Lincoln, from the field, 1 p, 4to (318 x 254 mm), ink on paper, 'Camp at Sheldon' [South Carolina], November 14, 1779, integral address leaf addressed to 'Honble Major Genl Lincoln,' and 'Favoured by Captn Hawkins Martin,' with Francis Marion autograph Free Frank: 'On Public Service,' small tear, minor chipping at edges.

THE 'SWAMP FOX' FRANCIS MARION WRITES TO GENERAL BENJAMIN LINCOLN AFTER THE UNSUCCESSFUL SIEGE AT SAVANNAH, WITH EARLY AND RARE FORM OF MARION'S AUTHOGRAPH FREE FRANK, 'ON PUBLIC SERVICE.' Francis Marion won fame during the Revolutionary War as the Swamp Fox, as he and his troops harassed the British armies through South Carolina. Considered to be one of the fathers of 'guerilla warfare,' he led militant bands of volunteers into deadly stealth attacks, before disappearing back into the South Carolina 'swamps.' As a soldier in the French-Indian War he had fought against the strategies of the Cherokees and learned from them. Here he writes to General Benjamin Lincoln, reminding him of the chain of command:

'I must observe that I am not commanding officer of this ground; the Command was given by Col. Beekman to Col. Garden of the Militia, with whom I am very happy, but shall with Pleasure Obey all your Orders respecting the Continental Troops which I command under him....'

Interestingly, Marion was not necessarily well-suited to the Continental Army. He was both direct and brash. Reportedly, when Admiral D'Estaing, commander of the French-American forces at Savannah had offered the British there more than 24 hours to consider a surrender before attacking, Marion had lashed out, 'My God! who ever heard of any thing like this before! First allow an enemy to entrench, and then fight him!' And he was likely right — many historians agree that had D'Estaing attacked immediately and not given the British time to entrench, he would have likely overrun them from the start. Instead, Savannah became a tragic weeks-long siege which cost countless American lives, including those under Marion's command. In 1780, after Lincoln's defeat at the Battle of Charleston, Marion began his covert attacks on the British forces, using stealth and surprise to his advantage.
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