After finding a little-known Revolutionary War hero in her family tree, a genealogical researcher wants to restore his legacy.
BY TINA C. JONES
Legend has it
that Oscar and Francis Marion grew up on the same plantation in
Berkeley County, S.C., and that they played together as childhood
friends in the 1730s. Francis Marion's family owned the plantation.
Oscar was a slave. They were probably about the same age, or at
least of the same generation. In time, these childhood playmates
would mature and, as adults, find fame as patriotic heroes and
fierce guerrilla fighters in the Revolutionary War. Francis Marion
grew up to become the wily general known to his enemies as the
"Swamp Fox." Oscar Marion's place fighting alongside him has only
recently come into full focus, although his role in the war has
often been portrayed in art and literature over the past two
centuries.
I have a
personal interest in the life and legacy of Oscar
Marion. Over the past 15 years, I have engaged in
genealogical research documenting my lineage and
family's roots back to the Revolution and beyond. Using
primary and secondary sources alike, along with the
excellent memory of my mother, Mrs. Tiney R. Haynie, I
have discovered fascinating information about the lives
of my African-American ancestors and their extended
families, as well as their contributions to U.S.
history.
Members of my family have participated in every major
American war. One of my uncles, John C. Marion of
Atlanta, was honored in 2004 for his service during
World War II. He received a special card from President
and Mrs. George W. Bush, and a letter of thanks from
Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue. Tracing our line deeper into
history, I found three relatives who served in South
Carolina regiments during the Revolutionary War: my
African forefather Quamno, his son Peter - both servants
of John Marion (a close relative of Francis) - and Oscar
Marion, who, as a child, played with the general and, as
a man, fought alongside him.
In his analysis of William Cullen Bryant's poem "Song of
Marion's Men," Rupert S. Holland provides the following
context:
"The British had succeeded in defeating most of the
American troops in South Carolina by 1780, and had laid
waste much of that state, confiscating plantations,
burning houses, and hanging such as they termed traitors
without giving them any form of trial. The city of
Charleston surrendered to Sir Henry Clinton, the
American General Gates was defeated at the Battle of
Camden, August 16, 1780, and General Sumter at Fishing
Creek, August 18, 1780. After that there was only one
organized American force in South Carolina, ‘Marion's
Brigade,' as it was called. This was a band of troopers
led by General Francis Marion, a native of South
Carolina, whose ancestors were French Huguenot refugees.
At first his troop contained only twenty men, but more
joined his band, and for three years they carried on
irregular warfare, harassing the British forces more
than regular soldiers could have done.
"Marion's men defeated a large body of Tories at
Briton's Neck without losing a single man, and soon
after beat the enemy twice by sudden attacks when the
Tories were unaware of armed men being near. Marion
managed to escape General Tarleton by disappearing into
a swamp after a chase of twenty-five miles. Tarleton
complained, ‘As for this damned old fox, the Devil
himself could not catch him.' This won the daring leader
the name of ‘Swamp Fox,' by which he was known all
through the countryside."
The "Swamp Fox" was not alone while executing maneuvers
that bewildered the British and gave hope to patriots in
the South. Oscar Marion - described in early writings as
"one of his faithful Negro servants" - was at the
general's side so consistently during the war that he
was captured on canvas by several of the most famous
American artists of the time. John Blake White, William
Ranney and Alonzo Chapel all painted various images of
Revolutionary War events that included Oscar somewhere
near his master, Gen. Francis Marion. As I have
researched his life, I have identified my ancestor in
many other historical paintings located in fine museums
around the country.
A
soldier by day and sous chef by night, Oscar is shown
roasting sweet potatoes for a British officer in a
famous oil painting by John Blake White that later was
engraved and printed onto South Carolina's $10
Confederate notes and $5 postwar notes. In art and
literature, Oscar can be found hiding in the swamps with
Gen. Marion and his other men. He can be found rowing as
they travel up and down the Pee Dee River. He is
depicted handling Gen. Marion's horse while floating
down the river. In another painting, he is seen as a
soldier in full uniform, mounted on a horse and armed
with a rifle. There is also a provocative painting
showing both Marion men sharing a white horse. It
appears that Oscar has been wounded and is being
assisted by the general; they are crossing shallow water
along the Pee Dee River as their horses stop for a
drink, and Oscar is carrying a brass bugle around his
right shoulder, revealing another of his many duties as
one of Marion's Men.
Oscar fought in the siege of Savannah in 1779, the siege
of Charleston in 1780, and the Battle of Eutaw Springs
in 1781. His efforts alongside Gen. Francis Marion and
his militia helped set up the Continental Army's
eventual victory over forces led by British Gen. Charles
Cornwallis at Yorktown, Va.
More than 225 years later, Oscar's exploits were
portrayed by the character Occam in the 2000 movie "The
Patriot," which starred Mel Gibson. This role portrays
Oscar as a valiant soldier fighting and helping his
fellow militia men during the war.
During my research efforts, I identified Oscar in a
famous oil painting by John Blake White that has been on
exhibit at the U.S. Capitol building for more than a
century; his identity had been unknown. Unmasking the
identity of my collateral ancestor, I presented my
evidence to the U.S. Senate Curator's Office and, after
verification, the U.S. Senate curator agreed to update
their official records to reflect Oscar's
identification. After pressing government officials, I
also received permission to organize a special ceremony
to honor my relative's unique contribution to America's
military history. My goal and desire was to give this
African-American patriot his due place in U.S. history,
and reviving his little-known story.
On Dec. 15, 2006, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington,
Oscar Marion was finally given post-Revolutionary War
recognition for service to his country. His family
received a special proclamation and certificate from
President Bush and U.S. Rep. Albert Wynn, D-Md., on
behalf of a grateful nation. The program included a
musical prelude by the 257th Army Band, and remarks from
Senate Curator Diane K. Skvarla, NBC News correspondent
Tracie Potts and Smithsonian Institute historian
Margaret S. Vining, a consultant for "The Patriot."
Debra Newman Ham, historian and history professor at
Morgan State University, served as main speaker.
In addition, the program included excerpts from "The
Patriot" featuring the character Occam, played by actor
Jay Arlen Jones. It was a wonderful ceremony that had
media coverage, including a front-page story in The
Washington Post. After the story was published, I was
contacted by a distant nephew of Gen. Francis Marion:
Robert Simmons, who was an extra in "The Patriot." We
have since met, and I feel I have come full circle in
learning my family history.
I
am continuing to lead various efforts to restore the
Oscar Marion story, including contacting U.S.
municipalities named after Francis Marion and requesting
they update their records to include Oscar's name. These
municipalities began, or were named, about the same time
as famous artists were painting images that included
Oscar.
It is my hope that others will not only find Oscar's story interesting, but that they will be encouraged and motivated to start their own family history treasure hunts, as I did.
Tina C. Jones, an author and teacher, is founder and president of the American Historical Interpretation Foundation. www.americanhistorical.com