marion and lee learned that lord rawdon was retreating towards fort motte in the aftermath of the battle of hobkirk's hill. the americans forces invested the place on may 8 and wanted to capture the fort before rawdon arrived. two days later, marion called for the british to surrender and mcpherson refused. the next day, colonel lee informed mrs. motte that he intended to burn the mansion down to force the british out. on may 12, 1781, the american forces had entrenched themselves close enough to the mansion they were able to hit the roof with flaming arrows. mrs motte, a patriot, accepted lee's plan, and offered her own arrows for it. the mansion was set on fire. marion's artillery fire added to the desperation of the british and, by one o'clock that afternoon, lt. mcpherson surrendered the garrison to the patriots.