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While General Lincoln, leader of Patriot forces in South Carolina, has permitted his officers to attend a Tory-organized party, the British prepare an attack on the unsuspecting garrison in Charleston. Colonel Francis Marion, becoming aware of the eminent attack, rides into the garrison and awakens Lincoln. The General instructs Marion to go to the party and summon the officers back to the fort. However, the officers are too drunk and otherwise incapacitated to return to duty. Colonel Marion returns to the fort and is assigned the task of taking Governor Rutledge, along with Lincoln's wife and the Governor's spouse, to safety while Lincoln remains behind in an attempt to defend the garrison. With Rutledge in safety, Francis is forced into hiding in the swamps around Snow Island. After his brother is taken prisoner by the British, he devises and leads a scheme to free all of the captives. Colonel Tarleton, the leader of the British Dragoons, dubs him the ""Swamp Fox"", and the legend

The episode opens with the Swamp Fox and his men breaking up a Tory raid on a local farm. The Tory leader is a man named Amos Briggs--played in this episode by Denver Pyle--and the man having his barn burned is Ceton Briggs; the two adversaries are brothers. In the aftermath of the assault, Francis learns that his brother's place has also been torched. When he arrives at the home of Gabriel, his brother, it is obvious that the rumor was true. Gabriel rides off in disgust and anger. Fran's nephew, Young Gabe, later returns to report that the Swamp Fox's brother has joined with other patriots and are on their way to burn the Videaux home, residence of known Tory sympathizers and Colonel Marion's fiancee. The Colonel leaves to head off the attack. When the band proves reluctant to listen to reason, Francis vows that he will go get Mary Videaux--his fiancee--and bring her back so that she can speak to the mob herself. Arriving at the Videaux plantation, he is surprised to see a party

This story begins with Marion taking Toby, a servant boy, home after finding him dead. They stop at a schoolhouse to learn of Mary Videaux's whereabouts. He learns that Mary is taking tea at the home of Colonel Townes, a Tory leader. The Freedom Fighters storm the home to avoid a connection being made between Mary Videaux and Francis Marion. In secret, the Swamp Fox tells his fiancee of Toby's death, and tries to determine if Tarleton now knows of her scheme of espionage. Reaching no definite decision, Fran tells her to meet him at his brother's place later. Colonel Tarleton, arriving at the Townes plantation, insists he be allowed to take Mary home. On the trip, he accuses her of sending a message to Marion, but she stands her ground. Tarleton obviously lacks proof, but before the matter is resolved, Marion arrives, disarms Tarleton, and orders ""the lady"" to continue on her way. A band of Tories arrives, and Marion is forced to run, releasing Tarleton. After Mary arrives at Gab