I prefer the term Ulster Scots, because it avoids any confusion with the ethnic Irish, which I had to have a huge argument with my cousin about. Anyhow, one of my blood ancestors was in the first wave from Ulster to South Carolina in 1713, and his grandson was commissioned an ensign in the 2nd South Carolina in 1776, and later fought as a partisan under his old commanding officer, the Swamp Fox himself, Francis Marion. Too bad my ancestors didn't win their second rebellion in 1861. Also Patrick Ferguson's silk officer's sash was stripped off his body and John Sevier claimed it and it is in a museum in Nashville today.
If anyone's interested in a nice concise history of the Southern Campaign, check this out.
"Devil" is an incredible microhistory of a battle. I love how he emphasizes that the British were not bumbling idiots trying to fight a parade ground war against crafty American riflemen in the woods, which is an enduring and ridiculous myth.
The story about Dan Morgan going among his militia the night before the battle and stripping off his shirt to show the scars on his back from a British cat to inspire his men is just perfection.
Absolutely. He's like an American Hector. One more Morgan story for the road- on the march up to Quebec in 1775 one of his riflemen saw him come busting through the jaggers wearing nothing but a breechclout and leggings and moving the column North like the leader of men he was.
Actually, it was resolved with me hucking a copy of "Albion's Seed" at him and telling him to read it. It drives me up a wall when Americans, especially my people, simply don't understand the very real and very important differences (and bloody history of) between Northern and Southern English, Lowland Scots, Highland Scots, Ulster Scots and Irish. The Celtic Revival is strong because of the romance of the Highlander and it distorts understnding. Only one part of my ancestry is Orange Ulstermen- the others are English born and bred, from the West Country to Virginia in 1650.
Cowpens: Brilliant terrain exploitation, tactical sophistication, and psychological manipulation of the British, coupled with combat-hardened Americans and steely resolve: “"LTC John Eager Howard (commanding the Continentals), holding seven swords of British officers who had personally surrendered to him, was complimented by General Morgan: `You have done well, for you are successful; had you failed, I would have shot you.' Col. Howard replied: `Had I failed, there would have been no need of shooting me."
The author of 'Albion's Seed' prefers the name "borderers". While they predominantly hailed from the marches between Scotland and England, a notable fraction came from Ulster and what's now Northern Ireland. The common characteristics were religious Nonconformism, political life structured around a clan, and folkways formed by centuries of absolute brutality. (Consider: between the emergence of Scotland as a political entity until the Act of Union, only two English monarchs failed to either invade, or be invaded by, Scotland.)
Turns out, life on the Borders -- centuries of constant interclan raiding, rapine, rustling, and burning, punctuated by the significant depopulation event of the latest army marching through -- was an awful lot like life on the Frontier.
Thanks for the deep dive into the history of the revolutionary South. I moved to Eastern KY 5 years ago, and have been gobbling up historical writings on the area. We kind of dig Daniel Boone in these parts, but his is just one of many amazing stories of that era. I live a stone's throw from the national forest that bears his name. (I still have trouble wrapping my head around the notion that this was once considered the Western Frontier. I never forgot Day-Lewis's line in Mohicans: "I plan to winter in Kantukee.") I can't even imagine 8 years of that kind of warfare, or the kind of men who waged it.
Weirdly, I wrote a series of 3 essays on this theme for my Substack, to probe the question of whether we will have another civil war. I'm less in the weeds of the military history, but otherwise all in on the Scots-Irish and King's Mountain and the Overmountain Men angles. It's extremely entertaining and undertold history.
One of the more enduring legacies of the Scots-Irish is the collection of tales of why their ancestor left Ireland for an uncertain future in the colonies. Mine was summoned by a magistrate after spending an afternoon in a pub warning about the evils of Popery. He headed for the docks instead. But a more heart-warming tale is that of a neighbor whose forefather fled after shooting dead a tax collector. Both had sons who participated in the Regulator Rebellion and then the Revolution. What they failed to achieve at the Battle of Alamance they won at Guilford Courthouse.
What a fantastic article. I have done ancestry for years, and I had read a little about my family by the name of Dysart. They were Overmountain Men. The father was wounded in The Battle of Kings Mountain and he and his two sons names are on the Monument there. I believe some of them were at Cowpens two, but not just Dysarts. This brought it all to life. Thank you.
I prefer the term Ulster Scots, because it avoids any confusion with the ethnic Irish, which I had to have a huge argument with my cousin about. Anyhow, one of my blood ancestors was in the first wave from Ulster to South Carolina in 1713, and his grandson was commissioned an ensign in the 2nd South Carolina in 1776, and later fought as a partisan under his old commanding officer, the Swamp Fox himself, Francis Marion. Too bad my ancestors didn't win their second rebellion in 1861. Also Patrick Ferguson's silk officer's sash was stripped off his body and John Sevier claimed it and it is in a museum in Nashville today.
If anyone's interested in a nice concise history of the Southern Campaign, check this out.
https://www.amazon.com/Road-Guilford-Courthouse-Revolution-Carolinas/dp/1620456028/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.wuziFxcGJM0BUhI07rAbyW3uXW_K6jWl1UiLTKmUu5A.rDX3XlAccbVq57SiiGsnq16qxCKyeaEEsXo-w4xNjks&qid=1751746012&sr=8-1
It’s a classic work. I also like A Devil of a Whipping and The Glorious Cause.
"Devil" is an incredible microhistory of a battle. I love how he emphasizes that the British were not bumbling idiots trying to fight a parade ground war against crafty American riflemen in the woods, which is an enduring and ridiculous myth.
The story about Dan Morgan going among his militia the night before the battle and stripping off his shirt to show the scars on his back from a British cat to inspire his men is just perfection.
Morgan kino could be an essay unto itself.
Absolutely. He's like an American Hector. One more Morgan story for the road- on the march up to Quebec in 1775 one of his riflemen saw him come busting through the jaggers wearing nothing but a breechclout and leggings and moving the column North like the leader of men he was.
The argument with your cousin, was it resolve with pistols or sabers?
Actually, it was resolved with me hucking a copy of "Albion's Seed" at him and telling him to read it. It drives me up a wall when Americans, especially my people, simply don't understand the very real and very important differences (and bloody history of) between Northern and Southern English, Lowland Scots, Highland Scots, Ulster Scots and Irish. The Celtic Revival is strong because of the romance of the Highlander and it distorts understnding. Only one part of my ancestry is Orange Ulstermen- the others are English born and bred, from the West Country to Virginia in 1650.
Very well done and very educational . You write about military history very well and with a wide lens.
Thank you so much.
I was wondering if/when you were going to refer to The Patriot!
Cowpens: Brilliant terrain exploitation, tactical sophistication, and psychological manipulation of the British, coupled with combat-hardened Americans and steely resolve: “"LTC John Eager Howard (commanding the Continentals), holding seven swords of British officers who had personally surrendered to him, was complimented by General Morgan: `You have done well, for you are successful; had you failed, I would have shot you.' Col. Howard replied: `Had I failed, there would have been no need of shooting me."
"Things that seem quite secure are often the most ephemeral."
Fantastic piece. I'm familiar with the Scotch-Irish temperament.
Truth
The author of 'Albion's Seed' prefers the name "borderers". While they predominantly hailed from the marches between Scotland and England, a notable fraction came from Ulster and what's now Northern Ireland. The common characteristics were religious Nonconformism, political life structured around a clan, and folkways formed by centuries of absolute brutality. (Consider: between the emergence of Scotland as a political entity until the Act of Union, only two English monarchs failed to either invade, or be invaded by, Scotland.)
Turns out, life on the Borders -- centuries of constant interclan raiding, rapine, rustling, and burning, punctuated by the significant depopulation event of the latest army marching through -- was an awful lot like life on the Frontier.
Thanks for the deep dive into the history of the revolutionary South. I moved to Eastern KY 5 years ago, and have been gobbling up historical writings on the area. We kind of dig Daniel Boone in these parts, but his is just one of many amazing stories of that era. I live a stone's throw from the national forest that bears his name. (I still have trouble wrapping my head around the notion that this was once considered the Western Frontier. I never forgot Day-Lewis's line in Mohicans: "I plan to winter in Kantukee.") I can't even imagine 8 years of that kind of warfare, or the kind of men who waged it.
That was a brilliant long form essay on the American Revolution.
I was wondering if you've thought about a doing a similar essay on Robert e lee?
I’ve written about his involvement in several battles, but nothing covering his whole life.
Weirdly, I wrote a series of 3 essays on this theme for my Substack, to probe the question of whether we will have another civil war. I'm less in the weeds of the military history, but otherwise all in on the Scots-Irish and King's Mountain and the Overmountain Men angles. It's extremely entertaining and undertold history.
https://wikidworld.substack.com/p/is-the-united-states-on-the-brink
https://wikidworld.substack.com/p/wikidworld-133-the-battle-of-kings
https://wikidworld.substack.com/p/wikidworld-134-is-the-united-states
Bowen and Ward, I am a descendent of Over Mountain Men from Tazewell County VA.
They may not be your most popular essays, but I think your historical writings are some of your best. Great work, sir.
I think Mel Gibson’s character was a mix of the Swamp Fox and other war heroes according to The Fat Electrician’s videos on the Revolutionary War.
In my best Lawrence Welk; Wonderful, wonderful!
You often remind me of how little I know of how much there is to know.
One of the more enduring legacies of the Scots-Irish is the collection of tales of why their ancestor left Ireland for an uncertain future in the colonies. Mine was summoned by a magistrate after spending an afternoon in a pub warning about the evils of Popery. He headed for the docks instead. But a more heart-warming tale is that of a neighbor whose forefather fled after shooting dead a tax collector. Both had sons who participated in the Regulator Rebellion and then the Revolution. What they failed to achieve at the Battle of Alamance they won at Guilford Courthouse.
Great summary, well written, and funny to boot.
Yu'z writes purdy good for a noacount peckerwood cracker L of C!
Actually as any reader here knows, you write extremely well and your thoughtful essays are very much appreciated.
What a fantastic article. I have done ancestry for years, and I had read a little about my family by the name of Dysart. They were Overmountain Men. The father was wounded in The Battle of Kings Mountain and he and his two sons names are on the Monument there. I believe some of them were at Cowpens two, but not just Dysarts. This brought it all to life. Thank you.