Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XI.djvu/182

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170 MARION 7,722 bushels of wheat, 20,827 of Indian corn, 1,879 of oats, 1,814 of potatoes, 12,745 Ibs. of butter, and 3,555 tons of hay. There were 407 horses, 537 milch cows, 2,831 other cattle, 485 sheep, and 291 swine. Capital, Marion Centre. XVII. A N". W. county of Oregon, bounded W. by the Willamette river, and wa- tered by the N. Santiam and other streams; area, 2,900 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 9,965, of whom 127 were Chinese. The E. part is mountainous, bordering on the Cascade range, and here are extensive forests and deposits of gold, silver, coal, and iron ; further W. the surface is hilly, while the S. W. portion is a broad and level prairie, with a fertile soil. It is traversed by the Oregon and California railroad. The chief productions in 1870 were 232,091 bushels of wheat, 164,087 of oats, 37,464 of potatoes, 51,169 Ibs. of wool, 70,838 of butter, and 3,405 tons of hay. There were 1,707 horses, 1,830 milch cows, 2,133 other cattle, 12,760 sheep, and 6,458 swine; 3 manu- factories of f drniture, 1 of linseed oil, 2 of sash, doors, and blinds, 2 of woollen goods, 6 flour mills, and 5 saw mills. Capital, Salem, which is also the capital of the state. MARION, a town and the capital of Perry co., Alabama, on the Selma, Marion, and Mem- phis railroad, 60 m. "W. by K of Montgomery ; pop. in 1870, 2,646, of whom 1,455 were col- ored. It has a savings, insurance, and trust com- pany, two weekly newspapers, and a monthly periodical published by the college students, and is the seat of three institutions of learn- ing: Howard college (Baptist), founded in 1837 ; Judson female institute (Baptist), and Marion female seminary, institutions of colle- giate grade founded in 1836. The college has a theological department, and in 1873-'4 had 6 professors, 148 students. (40 preparatory, 96 collegiate, and 12 theological), and a library of 1,000 volumes ; Judson institute, 12 instruc- tors, 133 students (24 preparatory and 109 col- legiate), and a library of 3,000 volumes; Ma- rion seminary, 8 instructors, 127 students (25 preparatory and 102 collegiate), and a library of 1,000 volumes. MARION, Francis, an American revolutionary officer, born in Winy aw, near Georgetown, S. C., in 1732, died near Eutaw, S. 0., Feb. 28, 1795. He was of a Huguenot family which emigrated from France to South Carolina about 1690. He received little education, for which the facilities in his native district were then very slight. In 1759 he was a volunteer in, an expedition against the Cherokees, and i in a cavalry troop commanded by one of his six brothers. In 1760 and 1761 he was

I_M'HI in the field on similar expeditions. He

K-d the forlorn hope in the battle of Etchoee, and was one of the few who escaped. In 1775, at the outbreak of the revolution, 'he was rleoh'd to the provincial congress of South Carolina from St. John's parish, Berkeley. In the iiiilitjiry organization which ensued, he was made (June 21, 1775) a captain -in the regiment of which William Moultrie was col- onel. Marion's company was one of those de- spatched from Charleston for the capture of the British fort Johnson. The place was taken, and the guns were directed upon the men-of- war in the harbor. The British shipping was completely expelled from the harbor by the cannon from another fort established by Moul- trie on Haddrell's point. A fortification at Dorchester was confided to Marion, who was promoted in his regiment. He was soon sum- moned thence to the defence of the fort begun on Sullivan's island, menaced by a powerful British fleet. It was assailed before it was fin- ished, but the hostile fleet was repelled with great loss. In February, 1777, Marion was despatched with 600 men to the defence of Georgia, where he served at intervals until the British with overwhelming forces had gained possession of the state. Fort Moultrie (Sulli- van) was again confided to his charge, and he held this post during Gen. Prevost's attempt at a coup de main on Charleston (1779). Sub- sequently he joined the united French and American forces in the fruitless attack on Sa- vannah. During the siege of Charleston he accidentally broke his leg, and was therefore conveyed with all other invalids out of the city. As he grew able for service, the Caro- linas being left almost defenceless, he gath- ered his neighbors about him and laid the foundation of that brigade which finally be- came famous for its partisan successes. Mean- time Gen. Gates had been despatched by con- gress to take command of the southern army. At the approach of the continental forces, Marion, then a colonel, joined them in North Carolina; but so wretched were his equip- ments, and so paltry his numbers, that Gates remarked only the ridicule which they pro- voked in the camp, and failed to appreciate their patriotism and ability. He despatched Marion on an idle mission to cut up the boats on the rivers to prevent the escape of the British. A few days later Gates was defeat- ed in the battle of Camden (Aug. 16, 1780), while Marion, waylaying the British guards, dispersed them and rescued their continental prisoners. From this period dates the series of adventurous flights, forages, marches, coun- termarches, and surprises which distinguished the brigade of Marion until the establish- ment of peace. He kept alive the spirit of patriotism, taught the inexperienced frontier- man to be both bold and vigilant, how to dis- cipline himself, and how to arm and support himself, at a time when the country had no resources for him. In 1780 Marion was pro- moted to a brigadiership, and his command was termed a brigade whether it numbered 20 or 1,200 men. It is impossible to pursue in detail the progress of so restless and eager a chieftain in a career marked by so great a va- riety of action and resource. Even popular tradition fails to follow him. His camp at Snow's island, his potato feast to the British