Reddit mentions of American Insurgents, American Patriots: The Revolution of the People

Yeah, the major battles of the Southern theater were all conventional. I'm not convinced that guerrilla warfare played a very major role in defeating the British army directly.

The militia in the South (whether Loyalist or Whig) participated in every battle between regular forces, and some of the most notable battles of the south (e.g. King's Mountain) was fought between Southern Whig militia against Loyalist militia--but it was a conventional battle and not a guerrilla action.

The various raiding parties and guerrilla actions that took place were useful in the grander strategic scheme of things though.

1.) They intimidated any neutral residents into either non-support of the British or into supporting the rebels. They prevented Loyalists from actively supporting British troops.

For example, one notable attack by the Whig militia was against a public loyalty ceremony being organized by the British. People were supposed to come and publicly declare the loyalty to the Crown forces and the gathering was also going to be used for recruitment. The Whig forces in the area attacked the gathering, killing and wounding a few of those who were there and preventing the event from taking place. This pretty conclusively demonstrated to locals that the British had no power or authority in the area and helped to dry up support for them.

2.) They denied the British the use of the land. This was especially important when it came to supplying the army in the field. During one long march after Greene's army a British soldier recorded that a day's meal was an ear of unripened corn split between two men--quite a different picture of the British Army than we're used to.

3.) Alternatively the active nature of the Whig militia also meant that the Continental Army had an easier time moving through the backcountry. Also in being supplied with food, but also guides.

This isn't to say that there wasn't intense fighting going on in the South by partisan groups. It's just that most of their effort was directed against each other. Whig militias attacked Loyalist homes (or suspected Loyalists), and Loyalist militias did the same to Whig militias.

Edit:

One other thing I forgot to mention. The militia were also very effective at maintaining political control for the Whigs. In most of New England this didn't matter so much, because the vast majority of the population was anti-British. In other states it was important. In NJ pro-Whig militias fought with pro-British ones. In New York at some points the militia was deemed as so unreliable politically, that Washington brought in neighboring militia to enforce control.

In the South this happened too. The militia would act as the enforcement arm of the various Committees of Safety/Correspondence (which were in effect governing town councils) and intimidate and harass locals who had uncertain loyalties. This freed up regular soldiers for actual battle, instead of having to tie down men in police action.


The Day it Rained Militia:: Huck's Defeat and the Revolution in the South Carolina Backcountry May-July 1780 is a really good look at the way the militia operated in the South.

[With Zeal and With Bayonets Only: The British Army on Campaign in North America, 1775-1783] by Matthew Spring is probably the best tactical overview of the way the British operated during the war.

American Insurgents, American Patriots: The Revolution of the People by T.H. Breen is a fantastic look at how Americans went from loyal citizens to insurgents. Breen spends a fair amount of time on the various Committees and their wartime operations.