313F Spring 2025 The Swamp Fox: How Francis Marion Saved the American Revolution

We will examine the life and exploits of Francis Marion, better known to those of us who watched Disney’s 1950’s TV show as “The Swamp Fox.” In the Revolution’s darkest days, Marion and his band of militia fighters, employing guerrilla tactics, kept hope alive for the patriot cause during the critical British “southern campaign.” We will discuss both the legend, as depicted in popular media, and the actual exploits of Marion’s brigade, which were no less heroic. He succeeded, against all odds, in repeatedly foiling the highly trained, better equipped British regular and Loyalist forces sent against him.

Jim Anderson spent 30 years with the Air Force and CIA, followed by 11 years conducting corporate leadership seminars on Civil War battlefields. He holds an MA in History from the University of Memphis. Since 2009, he has taught courses and conducted tours at OLLI on the Civil War and the American Frontier.