June 18, 1861
Page 1
MARION MEN—The most effective fighters in a war of defence are guerrillas, after the fashion of the “Marion Men” of the South Carolina revolutionary era and the Texas Rangers of the present day. In every rural district in every part of the South, companies of these “free fighters” should be organized and trained. One hundred bold and dashing brave men, well-mounted and trained, and skilled to use their arms on foot or horseback, at rest or at speed, hovering on the rear or flanks of an invading army, would be a greater terror to the enemy and a greater help to the Southern cause than five times their number in regular army organization.
We are glad to learn that the spirit of the Marion lives among and his example is being imitated by the South Carolinians in the present war. Capt. G. B. Lartigue is raising a force in this place, and four companies have already applied for the service. The force will be variously armed, some with the Navy Colt pistols and a saber-pike, some with rifle and saber bayonet, and one company with double-barrelled guns as most effective fighting in the dark.
“The general duties of the command will be to act as scouts, as advance guards, to attack and drive in outposts, to harass the camps, to attack an advancing army in the flank, to make ambuscades, and to annoy the enemy in every manner consistent with the usages of war.
The field of action would be the one assigned us by the Commander-in-Chief of the Confederate forces. That field being sought by them always where the foe could be found—whether on the border, in our own State, or in the enemy’s country.”
We commend this example to the imitation of the young men in the interior. Every youth who owns and rides a horse could join such a company. We are engaged in a war in which there must be no such word as “fail.” Every rider of sound mind and body must make ready to join the fight.
[Transcribed by Sharon Strout]