Given the ongoing celebrations of America’s semiquincentennial, the commemoration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on 4 July 1776, this book is both timely and useful. In The Revolutionary War in South Carolina: Profiles in Leadership, Steven D. Smith (research professor with the South Carolina Institute of Archeology and Anthropology at the University of South Carolina and author) and Kevin Doughty (retired US Army officer, former assistant commandant for Leadership Programs at the Citadel, and author) skillfully combine the disciplines of history and applied leadership to examine select political, religious, business, and military leaders instrumental in the ultimate success of patriot efforts against the British using South Carolina during the Revolutionary War as a case study.
The book begins with an overview of the American Revolution in South Carolina and the Southern Campaign 1775–1783 to provide the reader requisite background and context for the actions of the leaders examined in more detail in subsequent chapters. The narrative provides a succinct and accurate explanation of the British strategy in the Southern colonies when operations in the Northern colonies bogged down, focusing on three operational objectives: seize southern ports to enable the buildup of forces and supplies and to secure sea lines of communication, influence and enable Tory (Loyalist) forces in the backcountry against Whig (Patriot) forces, and secure interior lines of communication by establishing forts and garrisons along critical ground routes from the coast to the backcountry. This section also discusses the challenges experienced by the leaders of the South Carolina Provincial Congress and Council of Safety in husbanding resources and the challenges and victories of the Continental Army and militia forces against British forces in major engagements and battles.
The remaining chapters of the book profile the leadership of fifteen different leaders, many of them prominent in South Carolina history, in the crucible of crisis and combat. Each chapter organized sequentially provides a brief biography of the leader, their role in supporting the patriot cause, and an examination of their behaviors, actions and decision making linked to a specific trait or process-based leadership theory. The discussion and analysis of the selected leaders using the various leadership concepts (charismatic, heroic, crisis, transactional, strategic, and servant leadership, emotional intelligence, cooperation, team building, and change) is very good. My only criticism of this section of the book involves the chapters discussing Hezekiah Maham and Henry Lee. Leaders enable learning and innovation by setting the conditions for the organization and subordinates. Aligning the discussion on Maham and innovation with adaptive leadership theory (Alexander Grashow, Ronald Heifetz, and Marty Linsky) would add strength to the argument in this chapter. Additionally, the examination of Lee and negotiation would benefit from more discussion on the core elements of negotiation (Bruce Patton) to provide more depth on this critical leadership skill linked to extending influence. Collectively these leader profiles do a good job of reinforcing and illustrating the human dimension and dynamics of leadership (anchored in relevant leadership theory) where influence, power, and choice can enable or inhibit attainment of desired goals.
The Revolutionary War in South Carolina: Profiles in Leadership, makes an important contribution on two levels. First, it provides an historical overview of the Southern Campaign and the American Revolution in South Carolina. Second, it contributes to the ever-evolving discourse on leadership by examining select Revolutionary War leaders from the strategic to tactical level. Smith and Dougherty compliment their narrative with multiple maps showing the major engagements in South and North Carolina, pictures of select battles, and of each leader that not only aid in the visualization of where these events took place but also enable the reader to associate the names with the faces of these leaders. I highly recommend this book to the general reader, military historians, and leaders at all levels interested in applied leadership.