The picture on the top shows Francis Marion and Buddy, his manservant.
Now, look at the picture of Buddy on the bottom.
Francis Marion owned 20 enslaved persons and he believed in slavery. He also had a reputation for paternalism and freed 3 of his enslaved persons at his death.
Buddy was Marion’s slave for life. On the day Francis Marion was born, the infant Buddy was bequeathed to him. Buddy’s parents also became the property of Francis Marion on that very same day. As an infant, Francis Marion was the owner of a family of three.
Buddy’s father was named June. June was an extremely talented man, and as Marion reached maturity and owned a plantation, June became his plantation manager. There was no overbearing overseer on Francis Marion’s Pond Bluff Plantation, June kept things running on an even keel.
In his 1773 will, upon his death Marion freed June. In addition, June was given an annual “pension”of 20 pounds sterling and a new suit of clothes.
Marion’s will also freed his nurse Willoughby and a young half African-American “Mustee” named Peggy.
Neither Buddy nor his mother were freed.
Buddy and Francis were childhood friends and played together as babies. Buddy was always by Marion’s side, and that relationship continued when war came. Buddy was one of the original ragtag group of 18 men who volunteered for service to Horacio Gates just before the Battle of Camden.
Manservants for officers were common during the Revolutionary War. In fact, Andrew Pickens and Thomas Sumter both had manservants.
It was in a manservant’s best interest to be fully loyal to his owner. If a manservant was ever captured – or if he sought British protection – he would face an unknown fate. He would be whisked from his family, never to see them again. Enslaved people were the most valuable assets of all things in Revolutionary War times, more valuable than land or homes. The enslaved were always the first prize of plunderers.
It is not surprising to see Buddy riding side by side with Francis Marion in the picture on top. It is also not surprising to see Buddy groveling in abject subservience in the picture on the bottom.
The picture on the bottom is a depiction of the famous “Sweet Potato Supper”. In this scene a British officer is in Marion’s camp for a negotiation. Marion invited him to supper and offered him a sweet potato served on a pine bark plate.
When the officer returned to his superiors he informed them that Marion and his men could never be defeated. Men who were tough enough to survive on sweet potatoes served on pine bark were too dedicated of foes to ever conquer.
Buddy’s cringing posture is a stark reminder of the master and slave relationship. The paternalism of slave owners can only go so far.
The facts expressed herein come from John Oller’s book “The Swamp Fox”. The opinions expressed herein are mine.
Posted to Facebook 4/27/2025