Born Fighting: How the Scots-Irish Shaped America

Parameters, Winter, 2005 by James R. Oman

Born Fighting: How the Scots-Irish Shaped America. By James Webb. New York: Broadway Books, 2004. 343 pages. $25.95.

James Webb, a former Assistant Secretary of Defense, former Secretary of the Navy, acclaimed author, and a descendent of the Scots-Irish people, has once again produced a first-class literary product. Born Fighting represents Webb's first foray into the historical nonfiction genre and is a significant departure from his six best-selling novels.

What has not changed, though, is the author's skillful and masterful use of prose. Tremendously well researched and packed with facts and interesting figures, this book fills a void that has long existed. Mr. Webb richly documents the history of the Scots-Irish people, the challenges they faced, how these issues shaped their outlooks, and the significant contributions they have made, individually and collectively.

If you are one of the over 27 million estimated Americans who trace their lineage to the Scots-Irish, then this is a book you should not pass up. Even if you are not of Scots-Irish descent, it is still a fascinating read. I suspect this work may very well inspire many Americans to research their own family history to determine how and where their ancestors contributed to the founding and shaping of America.

In the opening chapters, the author lays his foundation and describes the characteristics of the Scots-Irish. In providing this background Webb discusses "who they are and where they come from" as a means to portray their shared experiences and subsequent contributions--from the military to politics to the arts and entertainment. Sprinkled with facts and statistics, these chapters serve as an enticement that piques the reader's interest to discover the rest of the story.

Parts Two and Three, entitled "The Making of a People--and a Nation" and "The Ulster Scots," provide a detailed and well-documented historical perspective. Webb does a commendable job of tracing nearly 2,000 years of history in his distinctive vernacular and the phraseology of "his people." He traces their beginnings back to the "fierce native people" who lived in northern Britain--north of Hadrian's Wall--in what is now Scotland. From frequent feudal fights, to wars of independence, to the migration to turbulent Ulster, Webb captures the trying times and circumstances that produced those combative, independent, and hardened people.

In succeeding parts of the book the author describes the traits and contributions of those who migrated to Colonial America, a migration that would total between 250,000 and 400,000 people before the end of the 18th century. Interestingly, the perspectives, views, and experiences that were acquired and shaped in the Old World would subsequently translate into an ethnic force that would make a significant contribution to the emerging United States. While estimates vary, Webb's estimate that the Scots-Irish made up "between one third and as many as one half" of the manpower for the Revolutionary Army is clearly on target.

Building upon the theme of military service and the warrior ethic, Webb describes the significant role that the Scots-Irish played on both sides during the US Civil War, and points out the greater significance they played on behalf of the Confederacy. He seamlessly traces this ethos forward to the service of so many in the not-so-distant past of Vietnam. Referring to that war, Webb states, "It was a war fought mainly by volunteers, [and] two-thirds of those who served and 73 percent of those who died ... came from heavily traditionalist cultures such as the Scots-Irish."

Webb's ability to weave his own personal memories as well as the history of his family into the book certainly contributes to a spirited rendition. This feature keeps the entire book highly interesting, informative, and compelling.

Perhaps the author's greatest contribution in writing this book is the insight he provides into the routinely unheralded Scots-Irish culture and how it has influenced so many areas of the American society and way of life. The Scots-Irish expansion, influence, and contributions in many ways have paralleled the nation's own development and history. Without question, Webb has done a superb job in weaving together facts and anecdotal accounts in a story-telling fashion to create a good read that would make a nice addition to anyone's library.

Reviewed by Colonel James R. Oman, Chairman, Department of Command, Leadership, and Management, US Army War College.