Revolutionary War ghost stories are often bloody, but there’s one fateful killing that resulted in a haunting that lasted more than 100 years. Have you heard the South Carolina legend of the headless sentry? It might just be one of the weirdest, creepiest South Carolina ghost stories that you’ll ever hear.

During the Revolutionary War, General Francis Marion was an unlikely hero.
Public Domain/Wikimedia
Known as "The Swamp Fox," Marion used some pretty unconventional tactics to help defeat the British. He was also involved in an operation to retrieve a prisoner of war that resulted in a haunting that plagued the Georgetown, South Carolina area for more than 100 years.

General Marion had many spies, including one young girl whose wealthy father was a Tory. After the British had captured some of Marion's men, the young girl wrote the General a note, telling him that the men were being held at her home - the Wedgefield Plantation. The entire family was going to a party at the nearby Mansfield Plantation, and the prisoners would be left alone with only a sentry.
General Marion and his men rode up to Wedgefield, and sure enough, there was only one sentry posted to guard the prisoners.
Lee Wright/flickr
The young sentry called out, "Who goes there?" and one of Marion's men swiftly beheaded the man, who never even saw the sword that killed him. The rescue mission was successful, but the young soldier's death wasn't the end of his story.

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Just a few nights later, a servant at Wedgefield Plantation saw a headless man staggering up the drive.
Wedgefield Plantation Golf Club/Facebook
He was dressed in his uniform, blood dripping from his neck. The servant fled, and at first, no one believed what she had seen. But just a few nights later, the plantation owner's daughter heard hoofbeats in the drive. She looked out her window to see the headless sentry climbing off his horse. He stumbled toward the veranda and disappeared. Over the years, many other sightings of the ghost were reported.
Wedgefield Plantation burned to the ground in the 1930s. It was later rebuilt and serves as a country club and golf course today.
Wedgefield Plantation Golf Club/Facebook
While no recent sightings of the headless sentry have been reported, his body is supposedly buried somewhere on the property. If you visit this area, stay alert for the sound of hoofbeats...and watch out for the headless sentry.

Ready to explore some haunted places around South Carolina? Take a look at this list of the 13 most disturbing places in the state.

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Ghost Stories About South Carolina

Tori Jane | December 04, 2021

What are some genuinely haunted places in South Carolina?  

Here are some of the most haunted places in South Carolina:

 

South Carolina is a beautiful place to visit and live, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a little spooky in some places, too. In fact, South Carolina’s history is steeped in ghosts and the paranormal, and it seems like no matter where you go, you’re sure to find a haunted place or two. Some of the most notoriously haunted places in South Carolina include the old Baynard Plantation, in Hilton Head, where they say you can sometimes see a ghostly funeral procession belonging to William Baynard as it passes by the remains of the property. Then, there’s the incredibly creepy Oakwood Cemetery, which is in Spartanburg; this spot is thought to be the single most haunted location in all of South Carolina! People have reported everything from orbs to bizarre mists to full-body apparitions of people who were laid to rest a long time ago. For more of our favorite haunted places in South Carolina, check this article out! You’ll definitely find no shortage of creepy, eerie, or otherwise haunted locations ‘round these parts. South Carolina is as haunted as it is beautiful if you ask us!  

What is the legend of the Swamp Fox?  

The legendary Swamp Fox of South Carolina was a man by the name of Francis Marion. He was born in Winyah in 1732 and fought as an American soldier during the American Revolution. He was remarkably cunning and highly resourceful, earning himself the nickname of “the Swamp Fox”. He led bands of guerilla fighters to several remarkable victories during the war, and his life has been made of something into a folk legend in the centuries since. He was remarkably excellent at evading capture and outsmarting British soldiers at every turn, ensuring that his men – known as the Marion Militia – became hated and feared by their enemies.  

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