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Located near the Congaree River, Fort Motte was “the principal depot
and strongpoint on the British line of communications between Charleston
and the interior” (Rankin 201). It was a mansion originally inhabited
by Rebecca Brewton Motte. When British soldiers occupied the house, she
relocated to an overseer’s house (201).
The overseer’s house became Lieutenant Colonel Henry Lee’s
station for the Revolutionaries “while Marion and his men pitched
camp on the side of the hill below the fort and beyond range of its muskets”
(Williams and Epstein 142). On May 10, Marion and Lee gave British Lieutenant
Donald McPherson several opportunities to surrender the fort, but he refused
(Bass 188-89). As these opportunities were given, Patriot soldiers began
to dig trenches towards Fort Motte.
The appeals were given again
on May 11, but McPherson still refused. By this time, more British troops
under Lord Rawdon were fast approaching Fort Motte. Marion and Lee knew
their only option was setting fire to the mansion to force the enemy out.
Their only concern was Rebecca Motte, the original owner of the mansion.
To their surprise, however, she willingly agreed and even supplied Marion
and Lee with an arrow and bows to light the house on fire (Williams and
Epstein 142-44).
At noon on May 11, 1781, “either by an incendiary arrow, or by some
other means, the roof of the mansion was set afire” (144). With
the roof on fire, British Lieutenant McPherson sent his men to “rip
loose the burning shingles,” but they were faced with “a charge
of grapeshot” from Marion’s six-pound cannon, so the British
quickly surrendered (144).
Interestingly, both the British and American soldiers worked to recover
the mansion and contain the fires on the roof. Afterwards, Rebecca Motte
offered the British and American soldiers dinner at her house. Both American
and British commanders sat together and shared a meal (144).
However, the evening did not end as expected. Marion received word that
some of Lee’s men, who had become unruly in their celebration, attacked
three Tory prisoners and hung them. Enraged, Marion rushed through the
revelers with his sword drawn, slashed the ropes from the victims, and
“then turned the cold fire of his anger on the soldiers who had
chosen to mark their own triumph with the cruel death of three helpless
enemies” (145). Angry at his men, Marion warned them never to abuse
a prisoner unless they wanted to die by his sword (145).
Works Cited
Bass, Robert D. Swamp Fox: The Life and Campaigns of General Francis
Marion. 1959. Columbia: Sandlapper Press, 1972.
Rankin, Hugh F. Francis Marion: The Swamp Fox. Leaders of the
American Revolution Series. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell, 1973.
Williams, Beryl, and Samuel Epstein. Francis Marion: Swamp Fox of
the Revolution. New York: Julian Messner, Inc., 1956.
