Leading Like the Swamp Fox

A study of how Francis Marion delivered the leadership and strategy to defeat the British in the South Carolina Lowcountry campaigns.

 

"Dougherty and Smith have produced an excellent study of Marion as a commander for history enthusiasts, their work deserves to garner equal attention from those in the business community, business schools, public sector management, and the military."—Journal of the American Revolution


Francis Marion is certainly the stuff of which legends are made. His nickname "The Swamp Fox," bestowed upon him by one of his fiercest enemies, captures his wily approach to battle. The embellishment of his exploits in Parson Weems's early biography makes separation of fact from fiction difficult, but certainly represents the awe, loyalty, and attraction he produced in those around him. His legacy is enshrined in the fact that more places in the United States have been named after him than any other soldier of the American Revolution, with the sole exception of George Washington. Even today's U.S. Army Rangers include Marion as one of their formative heroes. Surely much about leadership can be learned from such an intriguing personality.

Leading like the Swamp Fox: The Leadership Lessons of Francis Marion unlocks those lessons. Divided into three parts, the book first presents the historical background and context necessary to appreciate Marion's situation. The main body of the book then examines Marion's leadership across eight categories, with several vignettes demonstrating Marion's competency. The summary then captures some conclusions about how leadership impacted the American Revolution in the South Carolina Lowcountry. An appendix provides some information about how the reader might explore those physical reminders of Marion and his exploits that exist today. Readers interested in history or leadership, or both, will all find something for them in Leading like the Swamp Fox.

"Useful to students of leadership, or as an introduction to the Southern Campaign and to Marion…. [A] good treatise on leadership, and its overview of the Southern Campaign is an ideal introduction to the topic."—Journal of Military History