Buy new:
-32% $16.98
FREE delivery Saturday, May 11 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Ships from: Amazon.com
Sold by: Amazon.com
$16.98 with 32 percent savings
List Price: $24.99

The List Price is the suggested retail price of a new product as provided by a manufacturer, supplier, or seller. Except for books, Amazon will display a List Price if the product was purchased by customers on Amazon or offered by other retailers at or above the List Price in at least the past 90 days. List prices may not necessarily reflect the product's prevailing market price.
Learn more
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Saturday, May 11 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or fastest delivery Thursday, May 9. Order within 16 hrs 22 mins
Only 4 left in stock (more on the way).
$$16.98 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$16.98
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
$15.28
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Monday, May 13 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or fastest delivery Thursday, May 9. Order within 16 hrs 22 mins
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$16.98 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$16.98
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

David K. Wilson
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Southern Strategy: Britain's Conquest of South Carolina and Georgia, 1775-1780 Paperback – Illustrated, July 8, 2008

by David K. Wilson (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 21 ratings
See all formats and editions
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$16.98","priceAmount":16.98,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"16","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"98","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"%2By0N0H0AS2Fqbd18WXi%2B4MFH9chGnaG%2BRTHxW1v6K%2F650PVGupFxyJqgGEPpI3vsztqKDKvwDDJFtmObrlJ5xh4hqkfCN96QgltU7aTjOPWl1k8IRJIVfHr%2BEGfzFBHkxhEDadhkZ58%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$15.28","priceAmount":15.28,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"15","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"28","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"%2By0N0H0AS2Fqbd18WXi%2B4MFH9chGnaG%2BcSmrpk2H3YZJgppqT%2FAhEzzFZCbCPVLTSHwfNgMhYS%2B6AJCsuxBmIB1gNffJI1d57nr8XILsxnnAxqxaf9bXW4HmIuEZtCrpaVroCkskBR0%2B5aD48fN2OQ40BHKbqmhQ%2BGbyG1TJG9t6go%2FQcOrvtmABvQatoqmP","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

A reexamination of major Southern battles and tactics in the American War of Independence

A finalist for the 2005 Distinguished Writing Award of the Army Historical Foundation and the 2005 Thomas Fleming Book Award of the American Revolution Round Table of Philadelphia, The Southern Strategy shifts the traditional vantage point of the American Revolution from the Northern colonies to the South in this study of the critical period from 1775 to the spring of 1780. David K. Wilson suggests that the paradox of the British defeat in 1781―after Crown armies had crushed all organized resistance in South Carolina and Georgia―makes sense only if one understands the fundamental flaws in what modern historians label Britain's "Southern Strategy". In his assessment he closely examines battles and skirmishes to construct a comprehensive military history of the Revolution in the South through May 1780. A cartographer and student of battlefield geography, Wilson includes detailed, original battle maps and orders of battle for each engagement. Appraising the strategy and tactics of the most significant conflicts, he tests the thesis that the British could raise the manpower they needed to win in the South by tapping a vast reservoir of Southern Loyalists and finds their policy flawed in both conception and execution.

Previous page
  1. Print length
    341 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    University of South Carolina Press
  4. Publication date
    July 8, 2008
  5. Dimensions
    5.9 x 1 x 8.7 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1570037973
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1570037979
  8. See all details
Next page
The Amazon Book Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Frequently bought together

The Southern Strategy: Britain's Conquest of South Carolina and Georgia, 1775-1780
$16.98
Get it as soon as Saturday, May 11
Only 4 left in stock (more on the way).
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
South Carolina and the American Revolution: A Battlefield History
$24.99
Get it as soon as Saturday, May 11
Only 15 left in stock (more on the way).
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
Partisans and Redcoats: The Southern Conflict That Turned the Tide of the American Revolution
$12.79
Get it as soon as Saturday, May 11
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
Some of these items ship sooner than the others.
Show details Hide details
Choose items to buy together.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The Southern Strategy is an important contribution to the military literature on the American Revolution. In addition to highlighting the basic flaws in British strategy, David K. Wilson describes all the major military operations that occurred in the region between Great Bridge and the Siege of Charleston. He is particularly adept at reconstructing battles that usually get glossed over in general histories."―On Point, The Journal of Army History

"Wilson's survey of operations is grounded in an impressive mass of data, which allows him not only to question the fine detail of previous accounts but also to challenge broader interpretations of the war itself. His book displays deep local knowledge, a strength apparent in his own excellent maps."―Journal of Southern History

"Wilson's descriptions of each campaign are rich with detail and include a complete order of battle for each battle or campaign. Overall, Wilson has put together a well-detailed overview of the Revolutionary War through 1780."―Military Collector and Historian

"The book is a valuable addition to the literature of the war in the South. The author provides much detail that is missing from other accounts and engages the reader in the exciting story of warfare."―South Carolina Historical Magazine

From the Inside Flap

A reexamination of major Southern battles and tactics in the war for independence

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ University of South Carolina Press (July 8, 2008)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 341 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1570037973
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1570037979
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.1 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.9 x 1 x 8.7 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 21 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
David K. Wilson

David K. Wilson

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
21 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Grant
5.0 out of 5 stars excellent information on a relatively forgotten chapter of the Revolutionary War
Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2024
Verified Purchase
Few learn that Georgia and South Carolina were almost detached from the United States by 1780 and had not General Greene and Morgan staged a successful counteroffensive the war could have ended with the new nation having 11 rather than 13 states. This book is an excellent and detailed analysis of the British success prior to US regaining the advantage.
Helpful
 Report
Just another coffee addict
5.0 out of 5 stars A Revolutionary War priimer.
Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2023
Verified Purchase
Plenty of detail and accurate maps.
Helpful
 Report
Dan
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2017
Verified Purchase
Pretty good account.
Helpful
 Report
John Orth
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome
Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2019
Verified Purchase
Great book breaking down the battles fought in the south during the revolutionary war
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Good
Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2019
Verified Purchase
Interesting book
Helpful
 Report
Scott Bowden
5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific book with great analysis
Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2019
Dave Wilson's treatise is a wonderful book that explains the British war strategy in the American Revolution and analyzes how and why it failed. Excellent tactical maps accompany the well-written text.

Highly recommended.
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Dave Nighswonger
5.0 out of 5 stars Remarkable Depth
Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2006
The Southern Strategy is a thorough and refreshing depiction of Britain's attempt to conquer the southern colonies between 1775 and 1780. The author explores the false assumptions of wide-spread loyalist support in the south that dictated British strategy. The book traces the combat operations that were undertaken from the early days of the Revolution through the controversial Battle at Waxhaws. Other authors have covered these events in superficial detail with most attention being paid to the latter campaigns that include Cowpens and Guilford Courthouse. Wilson's narrative ties these early engagements together to illustrate Britain's continuing failure to develop a sound and effective strategy in the south.

The author's research is impressive and the engagements are examined in great detail. One example is the Battle for the Great Bridge in 1775. Wilson provides an excellent map and remarkable order of battle. This event has received scant attention in other works. Likewise, the Battle of Sullivan's Island in 1776 is presented with exceptional detail. The reader can clearly deduce that this early American victory was not achieved through tactical skill, the strength of the island fort or superior patriot strategy but due to poor British planning and coordination. Such a perspective is difficult to grasp in other depictions due to shallow research. Wilson portrays the other engagements with similar exceptional depth.

The Southern Strategy is a serious historical work that begs for a sequel. The author should bring his talents to the latter portions of the war which completes the story in the south from 1780 to 1781. I heartily recommend this book to any serious student of the American Revolution.
12 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
D. Kennedy
4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyed. Very good book
Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2016
Verified Purchase
Enjoyed. Very good book. Will reread.
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

BLoB
5.0 out of 5 stars Detailed and even-handed account.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 26, 2017
Verified Purchase
Great book for anyone wanting details of all the actions, some very little-known, in what was a sideshow. It is even-handed account that recognises fault and daring on both sides. I strongly recommend this for wargamers wanting something different to the better known campaigns.
Report