Francis Marion: Rediscovering the Revolutionary War Battle at Parker's Ferry

This statue of General Francis Marion at Venters Landing commemorates the spot where Marion took control of the Williamsburg Militia in 1780 on the site formerly known as Witherspoon's Ferry. Marion also used nearby Snow's Island as a camp site during the revolution, earning him the nickname "The Swampfox."(JobyD2000 / Wikimedia Commons)

(Originally released 09/24/21) - In March of 2021, the South Carolina Battlefield Preservation Trust purchased 31 acres in Colleton County to preserve the site of a Revolutionary War victory by Francis Marion and his men over the British in what became known as the battle of Parker’s Ferry. The site will soon become part of the Liberty Trail, which will be a unified path of preservation and interpretation across South Carolina. The Trail will tell the story of the events of 1779-1782 in the Carolinas, which directly led to an American victory in the war.

Charles Baxley of the SC Battlefield Trust and archaeologist Steve Smith join Walter Edgar to talk about efforts to find the historical boundaries of the site, purchase the land, and establish the Liberty Trail.