Customer Reviews

British Drums on the Southern Frontier: The Military Colonization of Georgia, 1733-1749

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British Drums on the Southern Frontier is the finest history of colonial British warfare on the Southern frontier, as well as a fantastic biography of James Edward Oglethorpe, the founder of the colony of Georgia. This is probably the most widely "bibliographied" book by modern writers of Georgia history and has, until now, only been available in libraries and as an expensive used book.

This history by Larry Ivers is proof that scholarly, well-researched history can also be immensely entertaining. British Drums on the Southern Frontier is among the best books I've read, and I do not say so lightly.

Ivers begins by describing the founding of Georgia and its purpose as a buffer between Spanish-controlled Florida and Britain's cash cow in the early 18th-century, South Carolina. The new colony of Georgia, headed by James Oglethorpe, had a rough start, disputing Indian trade rights with South Carolina, which lost the rights to the Georgia territory and forever after nursed a grudge.

Tensions with Spanish Florida simmered until 1740, when outright war began. Oglethorpe, whom Ivers characterizes as forceful, courageous, and sometimes reckless, struck first. With a force raised in South Carolina, Georgia, and largely at his own expense, he invaded Florida and attempted to lay siege to St. Augustine. After the massacre of a detachment of troops sent by Oglethorpe to intercept Spaniards traveling between St. Augustine and forts in the interior, Oglethorpe withdrew to Georgia, his reputation in South Carolina and Britain in tatters. Oglethorpe redeemed himself in 1742, when the Spanish invaded Georgia. The Spaniards' longterm goal was to scatter the Georgian colonists and harry South Carolinian settlements, but Oglethorpe stopped the Spanish on St. Simons Island and roundly defeated them.

Ivers writes with force and good critical insight. His assessment of Oglethorpe's character is balanced--though Ivers clearly admires Oglethorpe, he in no way glosses over Oglethorpe's shortcomings both as a person and a leader. Ivers also shows good sense in his assessment of other figures in his story, as well as sources and the biases inherent to them.

My only criticism is a minor one, and cannot be laid at Ivers's feet. The book has an unusual number of typos for a scholarly work published by an academic press--in this case, UNC Chapel Hill. Other than this minor misgiving, I don't hesitate to recommend this book to anyone with an interest in military history, the history of Georgia, or anyone who just enjoys a good read.

Highly recommended.

Larry Ivers has written a thoroughly documented volume covering every aspect of British military service in colonial Georgia, beginning while the area was still under the aegis of South Carolina. The building of fortifications, regulation of traders, diplomacy with the various Indian tribes, scouting by land and water, disease, death and boredom on a lonely frontier are all part of this highly entertaining read. Maps and illustrations are plentiful and most helpful. This book should be of value to anyone interested in Pre-Revolutionary Georgia, living historians, wargamers, and students of Native American studies.