Southern Gambit: Cornwallis and the British March to Yorktown (Volume 65)

Campaigns and Commanders Series

By: Stanley D. M. Carpenter

Narrated by: Jonathan Salkoff

Length: 12 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

In a world rife with conflict and tension, how does a great power prosecute an irregular war at a great distance within the context of a regional struggle, all within a global competitive environment? The question, so pertinent today, was confronted by the British nearly 250 years ago during the American War for Independence. And the answer, as this book makes plain, is: not the way the British, under Lieutenant General Charles, Earl Cornwallis, went about it in the American South in the years 1778-81. Southern Gambit presents a closely observed, comprehensive account of this failed strategy. Approaching the campaign from the British perspective, this book restores a critical but little-studied chapter to the narrative of the Revolutionary War - and in doing so, it adds detail and depth to our picture of Cornwallis, an outsize figure in the history of the British Empire.

Distinguished scholar of military strategy Stanley D. M. Carpenter outlines the British strategic and operational objectives, devoting particular attention to the strategy of employing Southern Loyalists to help defeat Patriot forces. Ultimately, strategic incoherence, ineffective command and control, and a misreading of the situation contributed to the series of cascading failures of the British effort. Carpenter’s analysis of how and why this happened expands our understanding of British decision-making and operations in the Southern Campaign and their fateful consequences in the War for Independence.

The book is published by University of Oklahoma Press. The audiobook is published by University Press Audiobooks.

"A fresh and original reexamination of British operations during the Southern Campaign.” (Ricardo Herrera, author of For Liberty and the Republic)

“A marvelous account not only for military history devotees, but also for general Revolutionary War readers.” (The Virginia Gazette)

©2019 University of Oklahoma Pres (P)2021 Redwood Audiobooks

Southern Engagements that had been lost to most.

Outstanding details covering the war in the South in 1779 to 81 of the American Revolution.

Well written and narrated history.

I live in the Waxhaws, close to many of the battle sites in this book. I also have a large number of books that I have read on the Southern Campaign during the Revolutionary War. This is a well written book and read by a great narrator. I give them both five stars. The only fault I could find was the pronunciation of some names. I had to laugh at them, especially Huger. It is not pronounced as it looks. I would like to see more books on the Revolution by the writer and narrator.