Improvised Siege Warfare: The Swamp Fox Takes the Forts

In this episode of the Dead Warrior Society Podcast, we break down one of the most impressive—and least conventional—campaigns of the American Revolution: Francis Marion’s siege operations alongside Light Horse Harry Lee.

Following up on the last episode, we pick up as Marion and Lee reunite after Cornwallis abandons South Carolina, leaving British forces stretched thin and increasingly defensive. What follows is a rapid series of assaults on British strongpoints—Fort Watson, Fort Motte, and ultimately Georgetown—that demonstrate how a partisan commander adapted siege warfare to the realities of guerrilla conflict.

We explore how Marion, a leader who openly disliked sieges and lacked proper artillery, still managed to crack fortified positions through creativity, discipline, and relentless pressure. From the construction of Maham’s Tower at Fort Watson to the decision to burn Fort Motte before British reinforcements could arrive, this episode highlights problem-solving under extreme constraints—limited manpower, low ammunition, sickness, collapsing morale, and constant time pressure.

Along the way, we examine the broader operational picture: why occupying armies rely on forts and garrisons, how their loss signals a collapsing hold on territory, and why Greene’s strategy of targeting British outposts marked a turning point in the Southern Campaign. We also cover Marion’s fixation on Georgetown, the psychological impact of these victories, and how the fall of inland forts effectively severed Britain’s ability to sustain operations in South Carolina.

This is not just a story about militia and swamps—it’s a case study in adaptive warfare, leadership under stress, and unconventional thinkers solving conventional problems.