mk26gmls
Sergeant
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2007
- Messages
- 766
I just finished an excellent book on the southern campaign during the American War of Independence. It is titled "The Road to Guilford Courthouse - The American Revolution in the Carolinas" by John Buchanan. If your interest is in the AWI, then this book is a must. The southern campaign was where the war was ultimately won.
The war in the south was absolutely brutal. The burnings of houses, churches, barns, and killing of the livestock just scratches the surface. Tories and Whigs alike killed each other in about every imaginable way. Some were shot or stabbed to death in the beds as they slept. In some ways, it reminds me of the Sunni/Shia fighting in Iraq.
After reading the book, I can see where Tarleton was the most hated man in America. He was really a piece of work. Major James Wemyss of the 63rd Foot was a close second. Wemyss filled in for Tarleton when Tarleton became ill. Both would burn and destroy property belonging to the Whigs. Unlike the portrayal in the movie "The Patriot", Tarleton and Wemyss burnt down churches, but never with their members inside. Wemyss on one occasion did burn down a barn after he placed the livestock in it. Tarleton became notorious for allowing his troops to perform atrocities. Francis Marion did not marry until he was 54 years old and never had children. He did have a brother named Gabriel, not a son as in the movie. After reading the book, Marion was really a remarkable man. So were Daniel Morgan, Nathaniel Greene, John Eager Howard, William Richardson Davie, William Lee Davidson, Otho Holland Williams, Robert Kirkwood, Henry Lee, etc... The book goes into great detail on the role of the militias for each side. Just yesterday while going to an appointment at work, I drove by the place where the Battle at Cowan's Ford took place. General William Lee Davidson was killed there. It was a huge loss for the Americans. Many brave British soldiers were killed or drowned crossing the ford under fire by American riflemen.
Cornwallis was a very interesting man. I was not aware that he lost his wife and came to America to fight in a war he didn't believe in. He was very brave and cool under fire.
At the end of the book, it does list the main characters and what happened to them after the war. That was excellent.
If anyone else has read this book, what were your thoughts?
I would like to see Andy make some of the units that fought in the southern campaign. I know the 16th & 17th Light Dragoons are available. Tarleton is a must plus his Legion. I could go through a whole list of units and characters that would be great.
The war in the south was absolutely brutal. The burnings of houses, churches, barns, and killing of the livestock just scratches the surface. Tories and Whigs alike killed each other in about every imaginable way. Some were shot or stabbed to death in the beds as they slept. In some ways, it reminds me of the Sunni/Shia fighting in Iraq.
After reading the book, I can see where Tarleton was the most hated man in America. He was really a piece of work. Major James Wemyss of the 63rd Foot was a close second. Wemyss filled in for Tarleton when Tarleton became ill. Both would burn and destroy property belonging to the Whigs. Unlike the portrayal in the movie "The Patriot", Tarleton and Wemyss burnt down churches, but never with their members inside. Wemyss on one occasion did burn down a barn after he placed the livestock in it. Tarleton became notorious for allowing his troops to perform atrocities. Francis Marion did not marry until he was 54 years old and never had children. He did have a brother named Gabriel, not a son as in the movie. After reading the book, Marion was really a remarkable man. So were Daniel Morgan, Nathaniel Greene, John Eager Howard, William Richardson Davie, William Lee Davidson, Otho Holland Williams, Robert Kirkwood, Henry Lee, etc... The book goes into great detail on the role of the militias for each side. Just yesterday while going to an appointment at work, I drove by the place where the Battle at Cowan's Ford took place. General William Lee Davidson was killed there. It was a huge loss for the Americans. Many brave British soldiers were killed or drowned crossing the ford under fire by American riflemen.
Cornwallis was a very interesting man. I was not aware that he lost his wife and came to America to fight in a war he didn't believe in. He was very brave and cool under fire.
At the end of the book, it does list the main characters and what happened to them after the war. That was excellent.
If anyone else has read this book, what were your thoughts?
I would like to see Andy make some of the units that fought in the southern campaign. I know the 16th & 17th Light Dragoons are available. Tarleton is a must plus his Legion. I could go through a whole list of units and characters that would be great.
