Ranney’s large history painting of a Revolutionary War southern military campaign shows a wooden barge crossing a river in a wooded area, hangs in an ornately carved, gold frame, and takes up a large spot on the gallery wall. The shape of the artwork is mostly rectangular, but the top edge of the canvas is subtly arched. The main action in the scene is colorful, while the natural surroundings are muted earthtones. Between the shape of the canvas and the bright color palette of the main details, the viewer is immediately drawn to the middle of the painting.

The central focal point of the canvas is the large wooden barge carrying a big crowd of both Black and White men layered in hats, coats, and scarves, accompanied by six horses and three dogs; the vessel is crossing the river from right to left. Starting from the left side of the barge, there are two White men holding rifles sitting on the edge with two seated dogs at their feet. Next to them are three horses standing side by side ridden by White men in military uniforms; two horses have a single rider on each and the third horse holds two men. The central figure on horseback, General Francis Marion, wears a military hat and coat and is wrapped in a plum-colored blanket. A standing Black man holds the reins on Marion’s chestnut-brown horse. A group of three White men dressed in civilian clothing, one holding a long rifle upright and another with a brass horn across his back, stand around the soldiers on horseback. A man in a green coat sits on the edge of the boat with his back to the viewer. Next to him stands an enslaved Black man, Oscar Marion, actively rowing the oar of the barge; he is also a central figure in the scene. He wears a white, torn shirt and blue pants. Alongside his stretched leg sits another dog. Above Oscar is a light brown horse with no rider but with colorful fabric draped on its back. More White men in civilian clothing with rifles and two more riderless horses with packs on their backs stand close by. On the far right side of the barge are four more White soldiers in civilian clothing who are squatting or sitting along the edges. They hold on to reins attached to three horses that are swimming beside the barge in the water; only the horses’ snouts, eyes, and ears are visible above the waterline.

Setback in the distance, off the stern of the central barge, is another barge. While its colors are muted and details are difficult to fully make out, it is apparent that this barge is carrying another group of people and at least two horses.

The barges move across a brown river lined with lush, green trees. Gray, heavy clouds fill the sky, with only a few peeks of blue skies behind them. The scene gives the viewer a sense of loudness and a lot of commotion, despite its natural setting.