The Partisans

About the Book

When the British attacked Charles Town, South Carolina in 1780, the world was literally turned upside down. Citizens who had lived peacefully beside each other for past decades suddenly became each others' enemies, for the British caused an uprising among one-half of the population against the other half. Young Sean O'Brien sees his father captured and dying of small pox. He joins others who believe they have to fight to secure their freedom. Sean first joins Colonel Sumter's brigade, then with Gates at Camden where he was wounded and captured. He is freed in a daring attack by Colonel Marion on the road to Charles Town. He joins Marion and is witness to many of Marion's true and real exploits. Then loaned to General Morgan, he sees action in western South Carolina and the victory at Hannah's Cowpens. He and his friends struggle through unbelievable conditions to reach Virginia and sanctuary where they join General Greene's army. After an engagement in which an entire Loyalist brigade is wiped out by a cunning and deadly plot, the Army takes on Cornwallis's troops at Guilford Courthouse. Sean is wounded but he survives. Throughout this story we see the lives of Sean's adopted family and the love of his life, Samantha. She is kidnapped by a British officer and later escapes. Another officer serving the British, A Hessian Prince, courts her and shows her the life of balls and parties in Charles Town under British rule. A cut-throat Partisan group led by Colonel Murphy descend on Samantha's family and rapes and murder ensues. Samantha's sister-in-law is killed and her brother goes after Murphy with a few of Marion's Partisans seeking revenge. After a number of skirmishes and battles by Marion and Greene, the British are finally defeated with Cornwallis retreating to Virginia and Yorktown and the remainder to Charles Town, eventually leaving there in 1782. This book lets the reader experience all the traumatic events of those years. Instead of reading pure history, the reader can experience history first hand and watch it come alive.

About the Author

The author served in the Navy during the Korean conflict. A graduate of Washington and Lee University, he became an entrepreneur after his service time, first in the oil business in South Louisiana, then involved with others in a regional airline. After the airline was sold, he became a charter boat Captain in Florida, the Caribbean and Quebec. After several years of chartering, he developed and patented an anchor that works in all bottoms. Since 1990 he has been manufacturing and selling them as well as building some small sharpie sailboats for people who enjoy the look and sailing qualities of traditional sailboats. A lover of history, he settled in Natchez, Mississippi in an old home dating back to 1785 where he and his wife raised four children.