Known as “The Swamp Fox,” Francis Marion employed a violent brand of guerrilla tactics against the British in the lowlands of South Carolina, where he and his irregular force are credited with preventing the colony from completely succumbing to the Crown after the capture of Charleston in May 1780. Scott Aiken contends that Marion’s call to action both militarily and politically stopped the momentum needed by the British to conquer the South. Aiken describes Marion’s partisan actions as the forerunners of tactics common to today’s global security environment. His book provides readers not only with a better understanding of tactics and strategies used during the American Revolution, but also with an understanding of how they apply to 21st century conflicts.
Col. Scott D. Aiken, USMC, is a career infantry officer and veteran of irregular warfare. He has deployed four times in support of the War on Terrorism.
~ Praise for The Swamp Fox ~
“Aiken's scholarly analysis of the partisan tactics is a bonus. The author's military background makes him uniquely qualified to address this important aspect of Marion's soldiering…Each well-constructed sentence is chock full of information and thought provoking analysis. If you have any interest in the colonial period in the south you will want to read this book.”
— The Sun News, Myrtle Beach, SC, March 24, 2013
"Aiken presents a thorough analysis of Marion's successful operations of unconventional warfare, a 'strategy of erosion,' and always fighting outnumbered and outgunned coupled with superiority in mobility, reconnaissance, intelligence, logistics, tactical planning, and execution. Aiken also compares Marion's means to irregular warfare in the 21st century."
— Military Officer Magazine
“Aiken’s analysis is sharp, benefitting from his own experience in the US Marine Corps…This is a highly unusual analysis, viewing irregular warfare from the perspective of the underdog. It contains many lessons useful to students and practitioners on both sides.”
— Warships International Fleet Review
“The United States has a long history of participation in irregular wars. In The Swamp Fox, Col. Scott Aiken examines the success of Francis Marion's insurgency against British forces in South Carolina during the Revolutionary War, finding a number of lessons that will be useful to students and practitioners of today's counterinsurgency campaigns. Highly recommended for all military historians and counterinsurgents.”
—John A. Nagl, Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security and author of Learning to Eat Soup with a Knife: Counterinsurgency Lessons from Malaya and Vietnam
“The Swamp Fox shows the actions of guerilla warfare in the South during the American Revolution. Join Colonel Aiken and follow the ‘Swamp Fox’ through eastern South Carolina during the war. Compare the strategy and tactics used by the Patriot forces during the revolution and the wars being fought in the Middle East today.”
—John O. Thornhill, past president, North Carolina Society, Sons of the American Revolution
“Scott Aiken’s work on Francis Marion is a brilliantly researched study in character, competence, and military leadership. Aiken combines a historian’s attention to detail with a professional military appreciation for the complexities and ambiguity of irregular warfare to chronicle the battlefield exploits of one of America’s greatest soldiers. Aiken’s insights are timeless and his book deserves the attention of every serving soldier and Marine.”
—Col. Douglas Macgregor, USA (Ret.), author of Warrior’s Rage: The Great Tank Battle of 73 Easting
“Colonel Aiken shines his considerable experience with irregular warfare on the campaigns of Francis Marion. Using modern Marine Corps and Department of Defense doctrine, he compares Marion’s partisan tactics to operations in Afghanistan and Iraq today. The result will be of interest to both military historians and Francis Marion enthusiasts.”
—Steven D. Smith, author of Archaeological Perspectives on Partisan Communities: Francis Marion at Snow’s Island in History, Landscape, and Memory
