The annual Swamp Fox Symposium has attracted history buffs interested in the life of Gen. Francis “Swamp” Fox Marion and the times in which he lived for more than a decade.
They have come from as far north as Canada and as far west as Texas. Organizers George and Carole Summers expect nothing less in the event’s 15th year.
“They come from all over the place, honestly,” Carole said.
The event, which will be held Friday and Saturday at the F.E. DuBose Center on U.S. 521 in Manning, features a dinner theater and also live presentations pertaining to the Revolutionary War period.
“Most of this year’s speakers are new, and we’ve had a lot of registrations from people who haven’t attended before,” said George.
The couple noted that the symposium began as a fundraising opportunity for the Swamp Fox Murals Trails Society .
“We needed funds for the murals, and we rapidly got tired of doing chicken dinners to raise money,” Carole said. “We looked around for other things, and one of our friends who has written six books on the American Revolution said what we really needed was a Francis Marion Symposium.”
In its history, the symposium has led to further study of the war period, and has also led a few authors to pen other books on the era.
“One of the speakers coming is from Pennsylvania,” Carole said. “He got interested in doing research on Marion as a result of being at a symposium. With all the contacts he’s made, he’s also researched all of the papers he could find, including messages, letters, everything involving Francis Marion during the 1780s. He’s now working on a book.”
The cost to attend is $95 per person or $170 per couple. For more information, visit www.francismarionsymposium.com.
SCHEDULE
FRIDAY
2:30 p.m. - Welcome and Introductions
2:40 p.m. - Erick Nason - “A Warm Summer’s Day, the Battle of Fort Sullivan,” 1776.
3:45 p.m. - Christopher Hendricks: Battle of Savannah from the American perspective, 1779
6 p.m. - An Evening in Revolutionary History Dinner Theater
6:45 p.m. - Peggy Pickett as Rebecca Motte reminisces about the War for American Independence
SATURDAY
9 a.m. - Coffee and snacks
9:30 a.m. - Welcome
9:35 a.m. - Al Truesdale: “When France Opened its Veins: the Influence of the French Huguenots.”
10:35 a.m. - Sheila Ingle: “Patriots in Petticoats”
11:35 a.m. - Wade Kolb: “Captured at Kings Mountain, the Journal of Uzal Johnson, a loyalist surgeon,” 1780
12:30 p.m. - Lunch and sharing
2 p.m. - Karen MacNutt: “The Arms of Marion’s Brigade, Turning Saws to Swords.”
3 p.m. - Joe Epley: Isaac Hayne, a martyr for Independence, 1781
4 p.m. - David Neilan: The post-war life of Francis Marion
6:15 p.m. - An Evening in Revolutionary History Dinner Theater
7 p.m. - Charles B. Baxley: New research on the Battle of Eutaw Springs, 1781
