In late 1780, the most prominent and powerful military commander in the South was Thomas Sumter, brigadier general of the South Carolina militia and commander of South Carolina's irregular militia forces. So when Nathanael Greene became commander of the Southern Continental Army, he knew success depended on his ability to win over Sumter. While initially correspondence between the pair was cordial, relations quickly soured. Yet however troubled their relationship, both knew they needed the other to defeat the British. The story of Nathanael Greene and Thomas Sumter is set against the backdrop of the American Revolution's last gasp--the effort to extricate a British occupation force from the wild and lawless South Carolina frontier. -- Back cover.

Gamecock --Quaker general -- Winter of discontent -- Sumter's rounds -- Sumter's law -- War of posts -- Fight, get beat, rise, fight again -- Partisan games -- Ninety-Six -- The dog days expedition -- Eutaw Springs -- Bitter ends -- The People versus Nathanael Greene.