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In Sept. 1777 Marion became commander of the Second Regiment at Fort Moultrie, drank mixture of vinegar and water as did Roman soldiers. In Sept 1779 French Adm d'Estaing attacked the Brit at Savanna, but allowed them a 3-day truce before attacking, with help from Americans from Charleston under Moultrie, causing Marion to become enraged. Marion also upset with sloppy appearance of his own men after such a long time at garrision dutry, bare-legged and long hair. Americans suffered heavy casulaties in assault on Spring Hill redoubt Oct. 9, 1779, that failed and were driven back by British who kept control of Savannah. Marion commanded a garrison at Sheldon across Savannah River. In Feb. 1780 Clinton began attack on Charleston, Marion hid in country around Santee River, with his faithful black servant Oscar. In May 1780 Cornwallis advanced along the Santee with 2500 with green dragoons of Tarleton, toward Camden. Tarleton refused white flag and attempt to surrender of Abraham Buford at Waxhaws May 29 [but did not kill wounded].
Clinton went back to NY June 8, 1780, leaving Cornwallis in charge, but "the second revolution" had already begun in SC. Home of Thos Sumter had been burned and led a partisan force ag. the Brits, defeating Capt Huck at James Williamson' plantation July 11, 1780, proving wrong the belief of Cornwallis that SC had been subjugated. Americans were also encouraged by rumor that Gen. Horatio Gates (had taken over command of the Southern Dept. from Lincoln) was moving south with an army. Gates gave permission in Aug. to Marion to carry out partisan activities along the Santee as Sumter was doing, and Marion left Gates by Aug. 15. He was not an imposing leader, 48 yrs old, frail, with malformed ankles and knees, limping from an injured ankle, wore a red jacket (same uniform designed by Moutrie at beg of war), carried a rusty short sword, not an officer's sword. He raised his own militia along the Santee and began partisan warfare, as Gates was defeated at Camden Aug. 16. Sumter was ambushed by Tarleton Aug. 18 at Fishing Creek, lost 450 men, but escaped. Marion burned planters' boats, made enemies, but prevented their use by Cornwallis. Cornwallis arrested leaders in Charleston and sent them on a boat into exile in Florida, and confiscated plantations. Major Micajah Ganey led loyalist dragoons, including Capt. Jesse Barefield who had been a leader of the SC Continantal Regiments, against Marion with his 53 men, wearing white cockades in hats, on Sept. 4, but Marion defeated the loyalists. Cornwallis sent Major James Wemyss ag. Marion onthe Santee, burned homes of Marion's men. Marion decided to break up his milita and flee to the NC border. Wemyss continued to burn homes of rebels in SC, esp with help of Capt. Amos Gaskens who was "an evil man whose soul had been soiled by hatred" who identified the rebel homes, caused the Presbyterian church at Indian Town to be burned. Wemyss killed sheep and cattle and destroyed mills and blacksmith shops and allowed Brit units to plunder at will, hung Adam Cusacks for breaking parole, burned home of Dr. James Wilson who attempted to prevent the hanging. Wemyss burned over 50 homes by Sept. 20. Marion went into hiding in the Great White Marsh until Sept 24, then went through the Little Peedee Swamp to Port's Ferry with 60 men. He defeated the loyalists at the Batle of Black Mingo Sept. 28. Marion was blamed for atrocities that he did not commit, same of which were due to Capt. Maurice Murphy who burned Tory homes andkilled innocent civilians. Col. Hugh Ervin had also burned loyalist homes, something Marion did not do. Wemyss again pursued Marion, but he returned to Camden after news of the Brit defeat at King's Mt. in NC, and Cornwallis retreated from Charlotte back to Wynnesborough Oct. 14.
On May 29, 1780, Tarleton defeated Col Abraham Buford at the Waxhaws, and bayoneted the wounded, thus creating the American battle cry "Tarleton's quarter" and becoming known to Americans as "Bloddy Tarleton" the most hated mn in the Brit army (Wemyss would become the 2nd most hated). After Tarleton burned Sumter's home in Santee, Sumter revived the SC militia and they elected him theri general June 15, 1780 at Hagler's Branch. Sumter recruited militia in the back country, including the Gillespie brothers known for their fighting blue cock named Old Tuck. The Gillespies joined Sumter and called him another Old Tuck and soon Sumter became known as the "Gamecock" for his willingness to fight the British. Sumter's men defeated a detachment of Tarleton's Legion east of the Catawba on July 12, 1780, killing over 50 in what Tarleton called a "massacre" and planned retaliation but then caught malaria. In August, Cornwallis would defeat Gates at Camden and Tarleton woudl defeat Sumter at Fishing Creek. On Jan. 17, 1781, Morgan defeated Tarleton at Cowpens. At Guilford Court House March 14, Tarleton was wounded in the right hand by a rifle ball, and several fingers were amputated, and he would learn to write a fight with his left hand.
Marion defeated loyalists at Taroat Creek Oct. 26, 1780, and killed Amos Gaskens. Other partisans were also attacking: Dan Morgan around Hanging Rock and NC partisan William R. Davie in the Waxhaws. In Nov., Tarleton began a pursuit of Marion and Marion's 200 men. Tarleton prepared a trap at the Richardson plantation, but Mary Richardson's son warned Marion 2 miles away, and Marion led Tarleton on a long chase through the swamps. Tarleton burned 30 homes, including the Richardson barn with animals herded inside and Gen. Richardson's body exhumed and the plantation looted. On Nov. 9, Sumter was attackedby Wemyss but instead, Wemyss was wounded and captured. On Nov. 15, nephew Gabriel Marion was killed near White Bay Swamp. On Nov. 20, Tarleton wounded Sumter at Blackstock's Plantation and drove off Elijah Clarke. Marion was unable to rely on his men, who would frequently drift in and out of camp, more interested in revenge than a disciplined campaign, seldom remaining for more than two weeks. Instead of attacking the British, Marion once again retreated to the swamps. In Dec., with 700 men he renewed the attack, and defeated McLeroth on the Santee. A Brit officer under white flag met with Marion, accused him of shooting Brit pickets, and Marion accused the Brit of burning civilian homes, and Marion offered to fight a duel between 20 picked men on each side. McLeroth agreed, but it was a trick only to give him time to retreat that night. Marion was left in charge of the Santee, and began to capture boats used by the Brit on the river.
In Oct., Nathaniel Greene replaced Gates and was given Lighthorse Harry Lee and Baron von Steuben by Washington to strengthen the Southern Army. Greene arrived in Charlotte NC Dec. 2, 1780, to assume command, but wanted more regular Continental troops rather than militia that he distrusted. In late Dec., Greene moved his army to the Perdee to be able to get supplies, and had decided to support the partisan tactics of Marion and Sumter to harass the British and prevent Cornwallis from invding NC. He sent horses to Marion but lacked munition supplies. Gov. Rutledge promoted Marion to Brig. General of the SC militia east of the Santee, with Sumter in command west of the Santee. Greene sent Lee's green-coated legion to Marion (local residents confused Lee's men with the green coats of Tarleton's men) on Jan. 20 and they joined to plan an attack on Georgetown with its garrison of 200 Brits. The attack failed. News arrived of Morgan's victory over Tarleton at Cowpens Jan. 17. Morgan reorganized his brigade after Lee departed, dressing them in short blue homespun coats with different colored facings for their local regiments. William Clay Snipes had broken away from Marion and plundered on his own, hating the loyalists. Sumter had started a siege of Fort Granby on the Congaree Feb. 11, but ended it Feb. 21, and failed in several other attacks. Unlike the cautious Marion, Sumter was aggressive and incautious. Sumter had angered the Brit by shooting seven Brit soldiers who raised a white flage Feb. 22. Sumter was defeated March 6 at Lynche's Creek by the Loyal SC Regiment of Major Thomas Frasier. Sumter took his sick wife on a mattres behin his horse and retreated to the Waxhaws. Marion attempted to support Sumter but was defeated at Wiboo Swamp March 6. He was pursued by John Watson until defeating Watson at Lower Bridge. As Watson retreated towad Georgetown, Marion destroyed bridges and again defeated Watson at the Sampit River. But spring planting time had arrived an Marion's 200 men drifted away and Marion retreated back to Indian Town. Sumer tried to raise a force by "Sumter's Law" that raised a militia for 10-months service and paid with goods and slaves confiscated from loyalists. A Brit force of 1000 led by Watson pursued Marion in April, destroyed farms, caused militia to return to Marion, raising his brigade to 500 men. Lee's legion came south to rejoin Marion, and told him of the progress of Greene. The Americans had attacked the Brit at Guilford Court House March 15, and although forced to retreat, had inflicted much damage on Cornwallis, causing him to march south for Wilmington. Greene wanted Marion and Sumter to support the American army campaing against Cornwallis. Marion joined Lee's plan to attack Fort Watson starting April 15 with a siege. But smallpox threatened and the militia began to leave, although the continental soldiers had been inoculated. A tower was built for riflemen to fire into the fort, and the fort with 115 Brit and loyalists surrendered Apr. 23. Marion had sent Col. William Harden to attack Fort Balfour at Pocotaligo, and Apr. 15 the Fort surrendered.
Greene approved of the success of Marion's partisan tactics and ordered him April 28, 1781, to continue to attack the Brit forts between Camden and the Congaree River. But Marion faced a growing loyalist threat when Capt Joseph Jones enrolled 50 loyalist troops and attacked patriot homes along the Peedee River, and the number of Marion's militia had decline to 150. Cornwallis marched from Wilmington and Greene asked Maion to provide intelligence. Marion neglected to stop a Brit column under Watson from reaching Camden and presenting a threat to Greene. Instead, Marion and Lee began siege of Fort Motte on May 6, a strong Brit garrison around the plantation house of Mrs. Rebecca Motte where the Congaree and Wateree came together. The Brit decided to evacuate Camden and reinforce Fort Motte on May 10. Marion got Mrs. Motte's permission to use fire arrows to burn down her house and the Fort surrendered. Several loyalists were stripped and hung in retaliation for atrocities done to the Whigs before Marion ordered it stopped. Sumter had taken Orangeburgh May 14 and Andrew Pickens was advancing on Augusta and Lee took Fort Granby May 15. Greene's strategy was that these partisan tacticis would force the Brit to retreat to Charleston. Marion captured Georgetown May 28. On June 17, the loyalist militia of Major Micajah Ganey surrendered. Marion helped Sumter win the battle of Quinby Bridge July 18, but Marion disagreed with Sumter's tactics and especially Sumter's method of looting to pay his troops. Finally, Gov. John Rutledge issued a proclamation prohibiting such methods. Sumter gave up his command and Marion became the senior militia commander in SC. The Gov ordered Marion to clear SC of all loyalists, escorting them to Brit lines. But Brit Tories became bolder. Col. Isaac Hayne was captured and hung by the Brit Aug. 4, 1781, to set an example. A Brit force of 200 under Major Thomas Harden was sent to help the loyalists. Fraser marched into an ambush set by Marion Aug. 27 at Parker's Ferry and were defeated by Marion. Cornwallis sent 2000 under Alexander Stewart to attack Greene, and Sept. 7 Marion joined Greene near Eutaw Springs. Greene attacked the Brit Sept 8 using the same strategy that Morgan used at Cowpens and that Greene had used at Guilford Courthouse. The militia were put in the front line to absorb the first attack, with Continental soldiers in the second line. "Never in the South had the militia performed so well as they did on that sultry September day." (p. 245) Marion's men fired an average of 17 rounds, and retreated when Brit bayonets got too close, but then reformed and drove forward again. The cavalry attacked on the flanks and the Brit line retreated. The American troops became undisciplined, drank liquor in the Brit camp, but Marion claimed "My Brigade behaved well." (p. 251). Marion continued his military operations in SC as the Yorktown siege began in Sept., but men left to harvest crops and Marion had little ammunition. Marion received the news Nov. 9 of the Oct. 19 surrender of Cornwallis.
When civil governemnt was restored in SC, Marion became a representative in the state senate and went to the Assembly at Jacksonborough. A battle was fought with a Brit force landed from a ship in the Wando Jan. 3, 1782. Marion left the Senate in Feb. to defend against a Brit force from the Cooper River but was defeated at Wambaw Bridge Feb. 25, 1782. The milita was reorganized March 12 under the comand of Hezekiah Maham and Peter Horry. Privateers from NC were raiding ships leaving Georgetown, the Brit still occupied Charleston, and tory units still attacked whig houses. On June 8, Marion signed a treaty with the tory forces led by Micajah Ganey. In July, Marion continued to send out patrols, and Capt. Capers defeated a dragoon unit of 29 black cavalrymen formed by the Brit to round up deserters and freed 3 prisoners being held by this unit. Marion's shrinking militia was attacked at Fair Lawn Aug. 29 by Thomas Fraser with 100 dragoons and some black dragoons. Marion killed 4 and wounded 14, but retreated across the Santee. It was his last battle in the American Revolution. On Dec. 14, 1782 the Brit evacuated Charleston and Greene entered the city without militia who were to be disbanded. Marion needed money and accepted a position as commandant of Fort Johnson. In 1786 at age 54 he married Mary Videau who had money and his fortunes recovered, but he would never have children. He rebuilt his plantation at Pond Bluff and became a folk hero during his lifetime. He served in the SC Assembly and was a member of the 1790 convention that wrote a new state constitution. He was amilitia officer until 1794 when his health began to fail and he retired from public life. He died at Pond Bluff Feb. 27, 1795. After his wife died in 1815, his estate passed to his adopted son Frances Marion Dwight.