“Cecere, a skilled and prolific historian of the American Revolution, examines five colonies: Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia, and East Florida during the pivotal months between the engagements in New England and the passing of the Declaration of Independence fifteen months later. Cecere notes the lack of studies on the march to war in the Southern colonies during this period, and he attempts to address this hole in the scholarship. He succeeds handily. . . . Cecere writes clearly and with force. He offers an extensive bibliography and endnotes. This work will be appreciated by a popular audience as well as by scholars, and it is highly recommended.”—Journal of America’s Military Past

“Cecere provides a narrative of the events in Virginia, the Carolinas, and Georgia from the spring of 1775 to the summer of 1776. Unlike most historians of the Revolutionary South, he expands his coverage to include the loyal colony of British East Florida, a worthwhile addition since that province served as an asylum for Loyalist refugees from colonies to the north, its garrison provided troops to reinforce Dunmore, and its proximity endangered the Revolutionaries’ position in Georgia. To cover this extensive region, Cecere has organized the volume in chronological sections, recounting events in each of the five colonies during a particular time span. This organization is effective, allowing readers to follow developments easily, and where issues involve more than one colony, such as when North Carolina sent troops to assist Virginia in December 1775, Cecere addresses the topic in multiple locations with minimal repetition. The volume is fairly brief but thorough in its coverage. After providing background information on the five colonies in the introduction, Cecere traces the activities of royal and Revolutionary political leaders and covers the important military actions, including Dunmore’s campaign in Virginia, the Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge in North Carolina, the Battle of the Riceboats in Georgia, and the British attack on Charleston in 1776. He also devotes attention to Native Americans and enslaved African Americans, two groups that from the outset were important factors in the conflict. . . . Readers with an interest in the Revolution, and especially the Revolutionary South, will find March to Independence both engaging and informative.”—North Carolina Historical Review

“In March to Independence, Cecere illustrates that the road to American liberty ran through the American South. Often overlooked by the events in New England, Cecere explores five Southern colonies both politically and militarily in the crucial years of 1775 and 1776. The significant actions in these Southern colonies altered the course of the Revolution and the ultimate result was often in doubt. This book will prove invaluable to those looking for an in-depth overview of the South’s contributions in the march to independence.”—Mark Maloy, author of Victory or Death: The Battles of Trenton and Princeton

“From Virginia to Florida, this important volume is a huge step in restoring America’s lost memory of the early Revolution in the South.”—Gabriel Neville, historian of the 8th Virginia Regiment
 

“Cecere, a skilled and prolific historian of the American Revolution, examines five colonies: Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia, and East Florida during the pivotal months between the engagements in New England and the passing of the Declaration of Independence fifteen months later. Cecere notes the lack of studies on the march to war in the Southern colonies during this period, and he attempts to address this hole in the scholarship. He succeeds handily. . . . Cecere writes clearly and with force. He offers an extensive bibliography and endnotes. This work will be appreciated by a popular audience as well as by scholars, and it is highly recommended.”—Journal of America’s Military Past