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To the Last Extremity: The Battles for Charleston, 1776-1782
June 1776: Just a month before America declared its independence from Great Britain, a British fleet of warships and thousands of British soldiers appeared off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina. Following a brutal day-long battle, the most powerful navy in the world was bloodily repulsed by the Americans.
In the spring of 1779, a British force brazenly marched up to Charleston from Savannah and tested the city's defenses before falling back. Finally, in the spring of 1780, a massive British force returned to Charleston and laid siege to the city. This siege resulted in the worst defeat of the Revolutionary War for the Americans, as they lost the city and an entire army of nearly 6,000 men.
After being conquered by the British, the citizens and soldiers suffered more than two years of occupation and imprisonment. However, the siege of Charleston marked the beginning of the end of the Revolutionary War. The fall of Charleston initiated a series of events that ultimately resulted with the American victory at Yorktown and the successful independence of the United States.
Charleston, South Carolina is one of the most beautiful and historic cities in the United States. Numerous sites, battlefields, and buildings from the period of the Revolution still exist. In To the Last Extremity: The Battles for Charleston, historian Mark Maloy not only recounts the Revolutionary War history of Charleston, he takes you to the places where the history actually happened. He shows you where the outnumbered patriots beat back the most powerful navy in the world, where soldiers bravely defended the city in 1779 and 1780, and where thousands suffered under occupation. Through it all, brave patriots were willing to defend the city and their liberty "to the last extremity."
In the spring of 1779, a British force brazenly marched up to Charleston from Savannah and tested the city's defenses before falling back. Finally, in the spring of 1780, a massive British force returned to Charleston and laid siege to the city. This siege resulted in the worst defeat of the Revolutionary War for the Americans, as they lost the city and an entire army of nearly 6,000 men.
After being conquered by the British, the citizens and soldiers suffered more than two years of occupation and imprisonment. However, the siege of Charleston marked the beginning of the end of the Revolutionary War. The fall of Charleston initiated a series of events that ultimately resulted with the American victory at Yorktown and the successful independence of the United States.
Charleston, South Carolina is one of the most beautiful and historic cities in the United States. Numerous sites, battlefields, and buildings from the period of the Revolution still exist. In To the Last Extremity: The Battles for Charleston, historian Mark Maloy not only recounts the Revolutionary War history of Charleston, he takes you to the places where the history actually happened. He shows you where the outnumbered patriots beat back the most powerful navy in the world, where soldiers bravely defended the city in 1779 and 1780, and where thousands suffered under occupation. Through it all, brave patriots were willing to defend the city and their liberty "to the last extremity."
192 pages, Paperback
First published March 31, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
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September 22, 2022another mark maloy revolution book??? sign me UP
December 14, 2025
Since I live a few hours from Charleston SC (one of our favorite places to visit and like to study history) and try to go there regularly, this title was of natural interest for me. After reading this title, here's what I like:
- Very easy to read and understand the American Revolutionary War history in Charleston.
- Easy to follow directions for the various tours in the book.
- Includes helpful order of battle (especially nice for those who want to know if they had ancestors/kinfolk in the various Charleston area battles - which I do!).
- Book is lightweight and easy to carry around.
- Good pictures and maps.
The "Emerging History" series fits a good niche - readers who want to know the basics about the history of an event and would like a tour guide included. For those wanting to know more about various battles, there are plenty of books out there offering more details about the battle.
This title will come in handy on my next Charleston visit. Recommended.
- Very easy to read and understand the American Revolutionary War history in Charleston.
- Easy to follow directions for the various tours in the book.
- Includes helpful order of battle (especially nice for those who want to know if they had ancestors/kinfolk in the various Charleston area battles - which I do!).
- Book is lightweight and easy to carry around.
- Good pictures and maps.
The "Emerging History" series fits a good niche - readers who want to know the basics about the history of an event and would like a tour guide included. For those wanting to know more about various battles, there are plenty of books out there offering more details about the battle.
This title will come in handy on my next Charleston visit. Recommended.
January 26, 2025
A++++++ Love love this book from beginning to end. Finally a history book that isn't complicated to read and understand. It was very thorough with each chapter and organized to read. It was simple to grasp the History of the battles in Charleston. I wish i could find more books like this about different battles. Lastly, it made me really want to meet the Author.
July 22, 2025
From the same folks that bring you ECW, now have the Emerging Revolutionary War. This one covers all the operations around Charleston SC. It has three tours that cover the history and it is a good read with amazing detail.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews