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Originally published in 1852.This volume from the Cornell University Library's print collections was scanned on an APT BookScan and converted to JPG 2000 format by Kirtas Technologies.All titles scanned cover to cover and pages may include marks notations and other marginalia present in the original volume. ... Read more

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This accessible, 8-vol. reference focuses students attention on 160 notable individuals who have shaped American history, from the exploration of the continent to the present. Each chronologically arranged volume ties key people to significant events during a particular era. Balanced not only in gender and ethnic background, but also in viewpoint, the biographies in Profiles in American History offer a unique slant on event-based teaching. Stand-alone volumes include chapter-specific timelines; maps, illustrations and photographs; sidebars highlighting key facts; a bibliography; and a cumulative subject index. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An Interesting Look at American History
Profiles in American History is a great book. I have been doing research on Roger Sherman, and the book gave me many useful facts not only about Sherman but also on the whole Constitutional Convention. If you need information about the Constitional Convention or its most famous delegates, this is a good place to start. ... Read more

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The Instructional Materials consist of the CONTENT GUIDE, CONTENT ACTIVITIES and PRIMARY SOURCES. 11 x 8.5 Plastic comb softcover - no flaws. 75 reproduced pages - text only on one side. Illustrated. Delivery Confirmation / Tracking is included. [inventory 924.110] ... Read more

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Publisher: New York, McClure, Phillips ... Read more

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This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

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Typically the United States is said to have declared war on Great Britain in 1812 because of the Royal Navy's impressment of American seamen and the British desire to create an Indian buffer state. An Englishman William Cobbett, described the real cause of the conflict: 'There seemed to be wanting just such a war as this to complete the separation of England from America; and to make the latter feel that she had no safety against the former but in the arms of her free citizens.' Regardless of the reasons, however, on 4 June 1812, U.S.President James Madison, asked Congress to declare war. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

The War of 1812 As Viewed Through Modern Politics
While Hickey has an excellent command of the facts, his conclusions are born of political spin - selectively engaged facts to build a narrative that is more self-satisfaction than scholarly analysis.

His thesis, that the war was manufactured for political positioning and had little consequence because the British had no real plans for North America is wrong on both counts.

Casus Belli?

Hickey dismisses the provocations of preying on the merchant marine and impressing the sailors by making reference to the low cost of insurance.He dismisses the obvious, the merchant marine was the lifeblood of the young nation and the engine of prosperity.He ignores the personal - 6000 sailors impressed into British service.I try to imagine the sentiment of the nation during that era with so many of it's families impacted by that brutal British policy and the fate of the political party that supported the Jay Treaty.The Federalists were perceived as elitists who were more worried about their landed financial interests and less about the fate of the common man and the sovereignty of the nation.From that perception came the elitist label and the end of their party.

In the Coming of War, Hickey all but calls the Republicans isolationists.In Conclusions, he accuses the Republicans of needless war mongering for political advantage.What he misses in between is a country who's sovereignty was under assault on multiple fronts.That Americans were not looking for a fight is obvious from the decade-long effort to stay out of the mess created by European elitists fighting endless wars.That some of the Federalists policies were in many respects better is obvious, but their demise is easy to understand.

Getting this country to fight at all was a miracle brought about only after great effort and miscalculations on the part of Great Britain.

Great Britain judged Americans wrongly: They didn't see a cohesive nation after they witnessed the easy flipping of coastal towns and assumed all Americans were so weakly bonded together.This was not the Second Revolutionary War or the Unnecessary War, it was the finishing battles of the first.

Hickey calls the result of the war a failure of Republican policies.The real point is that the beginning of the war was a repudiation of the financially-centered policies of the Federalists.These policies, while convenient to a weak nation seeking economic growth, sacrificed national sovereignty - a position that can not be tolerated forever.That the all-powerful Federalists could disappear so early in the nations history is simple repudiation enough.That Hickey ignores the obvious for tortured logic is lazy scholarship.One can not help feel that he wrote many of these conclusions in allegiance to modern American politics.

The Forgotten War
More Americans need to read this in order to learn that our country has faced a war that was unpopular and ended in a draw. America invaded Canada! The popularity of the President suffered and the Secretary of War was forced to resign. The economy of the United States was nearly bankrupted and shipping was ruined. The army was made up of unwilling state militia who were not trained or disciplined. Author Hickey covers this history well. Familiarity with this history could serve as a warning about the current engagement in Iraq. At the very least it is pertinent information for today's Americans.

Excellent introduction to an almost- forgotten war
Although the War of 1812 has not exactly been forgotten, it is hardly well-remembered.No one calls himself a "War of 1812 Buff" and there are few if any reenactors.In part, as Hickey explains in this well organized, clearly written account, this is because the war was both indecisive and probably easily avoidable.In concise chapters, Hickey fills in the diplomatic and political background to the war, including the political divisions between the Republicans and the Federalists--and among the various factions of the Republicans; the military campaigns in the Northwest, Niagara, East, and Southwest, the naval encounters, the British attacks on Washington and Baltimore, and the triumph of Jackson at New Orleans;the "inner war," especially the isolation of the Federalists and New England; and the Peace of Ghent and its ironic aftermath, as the Federalists were in large measure scorned even while their beliefs in the need for greater maritime security and internal taxation were vindicated.Along the way, Hickey highlights the frequent problems of supply, finance and morale (such as militiamen not wanting to cross the Canadian border in the middle of a campaign), the accomplishments of rising stars such as Winfield Scott, Oliver H. Perry, William Henry Harrison,and of course Francis Scott Key; the ineptitude of some American leaders (political and military); and the roles of various Indian tribes in the conflict.Although told more from the American point of view, the book also notes the political aspects of the war from the point of view of English leadership.
Although I've studied plenty of history, I've never read much about the War of 1812, and this book filled the gap in a short time.The writing is vigorous and sprinkled with humor, some of it appropriately ironic.Highly recommended.

Extremely good
I knew very little about the War of 1812, so bought this book to get a short introduction.I found it so readable that I finished it in one sitting.The book omits the kind of detail that bogs things down and causes the reader to lose sight of the "forest for the trees", but does give the reader a real sense of the times and of the sequence of events and their relationships.Highly recommended as an introduction.

Short history but not sacrificing quality...
This book was a real find...All the details leading up to the the initiation of this "forgotten" conflict are covered in clear, lucid ways that let the reader know what was happening to drive the country to war, but, conversely, it doesn't get bogged down in un-necessary detail. For such a short book, Hickey does a remarkable job with covering the political, military and (most welcome to me) social climates of the early 19th century. We learn all about the early U.S. economy and how important it was to have the good trade relationship with England and France that we initially had and how the subsequent naval conflicts with these countries affected that commerce. The other issues that led to the initiation of war, that were so complex, are covered clearly and concisely (no easy task...other books on this subject delve into much unnecessary detail that only cloud the issue leading to much confusion). All the important strategy (on the English and Native Indian side as well as the U.S. side)and battles are woven into a well balanced account. Additionally, the maps that are provided only add to that understanding. The stunning events of Fort McHenry, the burning of the White House and Andrew Jackson's battle of New Orleans are given their proper due along with lesser known conflicts along both Lakes Erie and Ontario. Finally, the political maneuvering on the part of the U.S. delegation at Ghent get a "to-the-point" summary that clearly lets the reader know what all the issues were that ended the war. Hickey is not bashful about stating that this war was, at best, a draw and that the U.S. "won" by not losing and that the diplomats at Ghent were ultimately responsible. Overall, I'm sure that the long version of this book went into much more detail on the battles and diplomacy, but, for a summary, you won't find many accounts better. ... Read more

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Resurrecting a forgotten chapter in transatlantic history, James G. Cusick tells how, just before the United States went to war against Great Britain in 1812, an ill-advised invasion of a Spanish colony became a stage on which the young republic clumsily acted out its imperial ambitions and racial fears. With the halfhearted backing of President James Madison and Secretary of State James Monroe, a party of Georgians invaded East Florida, confident that partisans there would help them swiftly wrest the colony away from Spain. The raid was a strategic and political disaster. Few sympathizers materialized, official U.S. support dissolved, and an extended guerrilla war ensued.

This was the "other war of 1812," or the Patriot War. Cusick, a lively storyteller as well as a meticulous scholar, conveys the savagery of the borderlands conflict that pitted American adventurers and anti-Spanish partisans against Spanish loyalists and their allies, who included Seminole Indians and escaped slaves. At the same time, Cusick looks at the American motivations behind the invasion, including apprehensions about Florida's growing population of unregulated blacks and geopolitical intrigues involving Spain, Britain, and France. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great Information for Historians
This book offers so much information for those of us interested in the history of Florida. Maybe it is too specific to this region but it certainly puts into perspective the notion of a hard life. These people led hard lives for a long time. ... Read more

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The American Revolution-and thus the history of the United States-began not on land but on the sea. Paul Revere began his famous midnight ride not by jumping on a horse, but by scrambling into a skiff with two other brave patriots to cross Boston Harbor to Charlestown. Revere and his companions rowed with muffled oars to avoid capture by the British warships closely guarding the harbor. As they paddled silently, Revere's neighbor was flashing two lanterns from the belfry of Old North Church, signaling patriots in Charlestown that the redcoats were crossing the Charles River in longboats. In every major Revolutionary battle thereafter the sea would play a vital, if historically neglected, role.

When the American colonies took up arms against Great Britain, they were confronting the greatest sea-power of the age. And it was during the War of Independence that the American Navy was born. But following the British naval model proved crushingly expensive, and the Founding Fathers fought viciously for decades over whether or not the fledgling republic truly needed a deep-water fleet. The debate ended only when the Federal Navy proved indispensable during the War of 1812.

Drawing on decades of prodigious research, historian George C. Daughan chronicles the embattled origins of the U.S. Navy. From the bloody and gunpowder-drenched battles fought by American sailors on lakes and high seas to the fierce rhetorical combat waged by the Founders in Congress, If By Sea charts the course by which the Navy became a vital and celebrated American institution. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

If by sea
Much more than expected, research was quite varied and relies on the historical data of the historical individuals being studied. Well written, historically accurate and a good read.

If by Sea IF IF IF IF IF
This is a very readable book that sometimes goes like a thriller, and sometimes like a dime store novel. The rating is based on Daughan's sense of detail and his harnessing two or three threads at once into tidy storytelling.

What is most objectionable is his editorializing. A casual reader can open the book to any page pretty much to find "might have been," "could have been" or "would have been" summarizing Daughan's constant regression into a Monday morning quarterback, something inexcusable in a true historian. He drums the beat ad infinitum on his pet projects such as row-galleys. His interminable heckling on incompetents tends to grate on the nerves. Lastly, he puts thoughts or feelings into his actors without properly documenting where he got such notions. The book is not footnoted in the text -- you have to suppose that his authority is among the notes at the book's end. As often as not you read a remark that could only come from a diary or a personal letter, only to find no such documentation -- making me believe that Daughan only supposed (again) what "must have been" the actor's feelings.

A useful reference, at times a great story but too often comes across as untrustworthy.

This book is a permanent part of my library.
Chocked full of information one would NEVER receive in today's educational system (leastwise hereabouts), easy to read, well-written, and simply a superb source for details valuable to instilling an understanding of the struggles this great nation endured.
The author's details also led this reader to a much better understanding of the personalities and lives of our predecessors. An incredible text!

Excellent Scholarly Work on the Early Development of the US Navy -- Amazing as a Bargain
Apparently this is an unsold and unread book (with only a single reader review), now being sold at a bargain price.Amazing!Author Daughan has written an excellent book covering the time from April 1775 through the end of the War of 1812 (1815).Perhaps the problem is the title, perhaps a lack of promotion, perhaps a lack of well-known heroic figures -- whatever, this book deserves a much better reception by the American reading public and American historians.

Revolutionary War books usually limit their naval coverage to Benedict Arnold's fight off Valcour Island on Lake Champlain and a note on John Paul Jones' famous words "I have not begun to fight" in his action on the Bonhomme Richard against the Serapis.The only books on my shelves on the Continental Navy is "Rebels Under Sail" by William M. Fowler, printed in 1976, "John Paul Jones" by Samuel Eliot Morison, printed in 1959, and "Blue Jackets of '76" by Willis Abbot and W.C. Jackson, printed 1888.To say the literature is sparse is a vast understatement.Yet no fewer than 43 ships served officially in the Continental Navy, not counting privateers, all but one being lost in the course of the war.One estimate (by Burrows in "Forgotten Patriots") of the naval personnel captured by the British from all vessels during the war was 10,000 men, some 40% of whom died in captivity.So the American naval eforts, though doomed against a vastly superior power, were by no means inconsequential.

The undeclared naval war against France is normally not even mentioned in history books, and if it wasn't for the Marine Hymn (..."from the shores of Tripoli..."), Decatur and Preble's campaigns against the Barbary states would likewise be forgotten.(See "The End of the Barbary Terror" by Leiner and "Blue Jackets of '76: A History of the Naval Battles of the American Revolution Together with a Narrative of the War with Tripoli" by Abbot and Jackson.)

The War of 1812 was another American naval disaster, but not without its heroes.Everyone knows of the Constitution and the Guerriere, Perry's victory in Put In Bay on Lake Erie and MacDonough's victory on Lake Champlain, but who remembers the Wasp and Captain Blakeley or the other intrepid blue water sailers such as Rodgers, Bainbridge, Stewart or Decatur? (See "Captain Blakeley and the Wasp" by Duffy.)After a respectable performance by a few American frigates, the American Navy was swept from the seas (except for some pesky privateers.)

Anyway, this work brings all that back to life in a much needed modern book on early American Naval history.

Beginning with the British excursion to Lexington and Concord, the author points up the lack of understanding by American leaders for a navy to confront Great Britain.The Revolutionary War comprises some 40% of the book, and the coverage of naval activities is deftly woven into the fabric of the war in general.In fact, it is this integration of naval activities with the land actions that makes this work such a good read.If the lack of victories is depressing, it was not from want of trying -- the reader must remember that Great Britain single handedly could overmatch all other maritime powers put together at the time.However, the decisions of the Marine Committee charged with conducting the naval war were nothing short of feckless and totally wrongheaded.The committee was inept and incompetent, and the sailors paid the price.Added to that was the cowardness and incompetence of leaders like Saltonstall, Whipple and Thompson, which caused unwarranted losses.Indeed, although the author covers many almost unknown naval actions, the constant defeats almost make for depressing reading.

The author campaigns for the use of whaleboats and small gunboats in the Revolutionary War, showing that they were used to good effect by officers like O'Brien and Dougherty and should have been used to harrass the British over the entire coastline.That did not happen, however, as the Marine Committee chose to squander its assets by sending most of its ships to Europe to harrass the British in its home waters.Meanwhile, little support was given to Washington and the patriot armies in the US.

John Adams essentially laid the groundwork for the US Navy concentrating on frigates instead of attempting to compete with the British in ships of the line.This strategy served the US Navy well until the War of 1812 in spite of Jefferson's disasterous gutting of the Navy in favor of coastal gunboats that proved to be worthless in 1812 when the British simply blew them out of the water.This little-known aspect of history is fully developed by the author.By 1807 sixty-nine gunboats had been built, and the frigate fleet was reduced to five vessels in 1806, only one of which was a frigate.Jefferson also reduced the army, perferring to rely on militia, following the policies he had established as governor of Virginia during the Revolutionary War that almost caused him to be captured by the British.One is tempted to conclude that Jefferson set the standard for liberals to perform poorly in providing military prepardness for national defense.

Then comes the re-establishment of the frigate fleet and the War of 1812.For a while the Navy acquited itself honorably, but by 1814 was blockaded in American ports due to the overwhelming power of the British Navy.As during the Revolutionary war, however, the blue water navy went down fighting, and the author's accounts make exciting reading.The major contribution here was the over 500 privateers that took a heavy toll of British merchant shipping.But it was on the inland waters of Lake Erie and Lake Champlain that the Navy excelled and allowed the US to win its second war for independence, and these actions too are thoroughly covered.

Throughout all of this the author's writing style is crisp and easy to follow.The treatment if fair and balanced, showing triumphs and defeats with equal coverage.There were a large number of political errors made by the founding fathers with respect to the Navy, but the sacrifice of its sailors built a tradition that paved the way for the naval power that the US became in World War II.

I highly recommend this book, although I may be swimming upstream judging from its lack of reader acceptance.Hopefully that will change in the near future.This is an overlooked part of American history that is well worth telling.

Exceptional book on United States history
This is a new book on United States history just released in 2008.It is exceptionally well researched and well written, and provides some fascinating history.Besides covering some of the more obscure actions during the American Revolution, it carries through into the early politics of the United States including the personality clashes between some of our country's well known founders.There was a lot of activity involving France and England, and events led to the quasi-war (undeclared) with France during John Adams' tenure as president.New American frigates fought and captured French frigates and cleared the seas of French pirates and privateers who had been preying on American shipping. Events in the history carry through into the War of 1812 up to the Battle of New Orleans. The book has a glossary of terms, extensive source notes, a bibliography, and an index.I would most certainly recommend it to anyone studying naval history and/or early United States history. ... Read more

Product Description
By the author of the acclaimed Patriots: The Men Who Started the American Revolution, a gripping narrative that tells the story of the second and final war of independence that secured the nation's independence from Europe and established its claim to the entire continent.

The War of 1812 has been ignored or misunderstood. Union 1812 thrillingly illustrates why it must take its place as one of the defining moments in American history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (27)

The Whole Story
In his Acknowledgement at the end of the book, the author gives an excellent short review ofthis book which reads that:

This book takes up the nation's story from the conclusion of the Revolutionarywar and carries it through to the end of America's second war with Britain.To solve the riddle of why such a seemingly avoidable war was fought at all requires a review of the three decades between the two peace treaties, especially because names and events from that era likely, to be only dimly familiar--the alien and Sedition Acts, the X Y-Z Affair, Citizens Genet, the Louisiana Purchase, the Burr Hamilton.


The book is an excellent outline of the United State history from the American Revolution almost to the Civil War. The author has several interesting observations. He quotes Isaac Chauncey's remark . . . ."I have yet to learn that the color of the skin, or the cut or trimming of the coat, can affect a man's qualifications or usefulness . . . ." The author observes "American had declared in 1776 that it had outgrown England.In 1814, has Americans outgrown New England?" He further observes that "Launched by the promise of conquest and to avenge national honor, the War 1812 was no triumph by traditional standards. Finally, he states "But when Webster and Henry Clay both died in 1852 the age of compromise was over.

For both the "History Buff" and for the reader unfamiliar with this period of history, this work is well written and well worth reading.

The forgotten war
Everyones about the civil war but they forget about these important era and turn of events... Important part of the puzzle of history

Recommend introduction to the War of 1812
Union 1812 The Americans Who Fought the Second War of Independence by A. J. Langguth


In this book A. J. Langguth surveys the period from 1783 when Washington resigned his command of the Continental Army to 1815 when Treaty of Ghent was ratified ending the War of 1812.

In chronological order each of the 24 chapters foucus on events or a personality directly related to the political and military events of the war between the United States and Great Britian sometimes refered to as The Second War of Independence.

One aspect of this book I found of particular interest was the details concerning reprehensible treatmernt of the American Indians by both sides during and after the war.

An unscientific survey of the US history shelves at my local franchise bookstores finds that the preponderance of books concern individuals and incidents during the American Revolutionary period, the Civil War and events from 1940 to date. My personal readings reflect these groupings with a tilt towards the 1940's to date category. I found this book very informative and it filled in a glaring void in my knowledge of American history. The author's focus of colorful, relevant personalities, detailed military clashes and native American exploitation would make this an excellent title for a high school summer reading programs of anyone who enjoys a well written history on a fascinating subject.

CNN does the War of 1812
Mr. L. is a journalist rather than a critical historian. His focus is upon human interest rather than historical importance. L. reaches back to the end of the revolutionary war and carries his characters forward to Fort Sumter. In some cases (Davy Crockett, Sam Huston) this involves characters of no importance during the conflict of 1812. W. Scott, who played an important role in 1812 and was still the commanding general at the start of the Civil War, is largely neglected.
His sketches of battles are often good. The naval war of 1812 is generally omitted, except for the conflicts on the Great Lakes. A number of battles are not even discussed.
Although his sentences are sound, L. writes remarkably short paragraphs, quickly summarizing his People Magazine points.
Controversies are not ignored, but little in depth exploration takes place. L. is sympathetic to slaves and Native Americans, without engaging the issues in depth. From his abbreviated prose one might conclude that Mexico attempted to conquer an independent nation in Texas rather than retrieve a rebellious province from the hands of illegal immigrants who fought for the right to keep slaves.
In sum: a pleasant read, good for an airplane.

Among the Best on this Era
Langguth's "Union: 1812" is among the best treatises on this incredibly complex era of our history... and era that relatively few people are very familiar with. Any work on this era - except for some weighty, unreadable tome - mustneeds make some compromising decisions in order to keep the story moving while still doing justice to the many social and political elements within which it all took place, and which are all exceedingly important to the understanding of events.
Likely there is no single book that can impart the sum total of the era but this one will give even the casual reader a digestible but meatly portrait of the fast-moving events at the beginning of 19th Century USA. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (13)

A Great History of a Little Known War
John Elting has given us the best brief, one volume history of U.S. military operations during this forgotten war we presently have. Many of the histories of the War of 1912 on land come from the Canadian/British side. Thus it is good whenever a high quality, primarily military rather than naval, account appears from the American side.

John Elting never disappoints. As in many of his books, Elting takes a less known subject and gives us a clear, interesting and enjoyable account. The various campaigns and battles are well described. Mistakes by American as well as British leaders, are pointed out. Here and there he even manages to provide a touch of humor. I highly recommend his book.

A War We Won?
In John R. Elting's account of the War of 1812, it is pretty clear as to why this subject is almost completely ignored by American history texts at the secondary education level.This war doesn't exactly fit the glorified version of "just and moral" wars that our nation only fights in, or so we are taught.In fact, I'm shocked that it hasn't been removed from our official historical record all together!This book delivers a very humbling look into our "first war of expansion" and paints a picture of our military that I'm sure would shock most Americans.Elting does a great job of describing the true birth of our nation's armed forces, and shatters the myth of the "citizen soldier".Elting also pays in depth and detailed attention to the areas of the war that often go overlooked, such as the conflict in and around the great lakes.This book is action packed and very detailed in regards to military matters, whick is a good thing given that any detailed attention given to the political atmoshphere of the time would probably destroy the image we have of our founding political fathers.Amateurs To Arms! is a sobering read for those individuals with the courage to see our history for what it truly is.The reader will come away with a greater appreciation for that fact that we remained a free nation at all. Thank God for Napoleon!

Superb
The late Colonel Elting's Amateurs, To Arms! is a great book. I read this book during a period study in the early 90's but never thought I'd done the book justice (too big a hurry). This past weekend I took some time to savor good military writing. COL Elting spares no one in praise or frank condemnation. As a nation, we're very lucky that common sense ruled the day and military men were allowed to practice their profession---with a lot of trial and error. As an old sailor I particularly enjoyed COL Elting's descriptions of the "Handful of Fir-Built Frigates". COL Elting manages to convey the true ethos of military life and the eternal truism of "hurry up and wait" (some things never change). A great read as the good Colonel left a readable and frank accounting of an often overlooked war. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!

HISTORY WITH AN EDGE

As part of my research for a novel, I have studied numerous books about the War of 1812.There are several excellent books that cover the whole war, but Amateurs to Arms! stands out as my favorite.The title fairly depicts the author's approach to the subject.But after all, without an adequate army or navy, and without adequate fortifications or funds, the States declared war on the mightiest military power in the world.For readers in need of only one book about the War of 1812, or in need of a book to get a good overview before delving into more detailed coverage, I whole-heartedly recommend Amateurs to Arms!

Great history? Oh, please!
IN my opinion, this book is no where near the great piece of scholarship as claimed by some on this site (why does this high school teacher named Kiley write two reviews? What is it with him and his hero worship of Elting?). It has some merits, but the scholarship is very slanted (typical Elting)and the biased conclusions by Elting rob the reader of the overall impact of what was going on (another Elting trait), especially along the Canadian border and Sir Isaac Brock's influence there. ... Read more

Product Description
This volume is produced from digital images from the Cornell University Library Samuel J. May Anti-Slavery Collection ... Read more

Product Description
There have been guidebooks to military sites before, but no other book has covered the War of 1812 in its entirety. This well-illustrated updated edition covers more than 400 historic sites of the War of 1812, both well-known and obscure, in both Canada and the United States.

The author has used old pen and ink drawings from the last century to give a "then and now" feel to the book. Besides giving readers a detailed history of the events that occurred at the sites, the author describes what they have to offer visitors today, be it a historical plaque, historic house, or major interpretive centre.

This book is a handy tool for both travellers and historians. It remains the only book on the market offering a comprehensive guide to nearly all of the sites in the last war between the United States and Canada. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A FANTASTIC read!
For various reasons, the War of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain to lay claim over Canada is sometimes referred to as a forgotten war. There was no well known American president involved such as George Washington, nor was there a popular general involved such as Ulysses S. Grant to capture the imaginations of the American people. Many Canadians feel military accomplishments have never been a focal point in our national conscience, but the War of 1812 was the bloodiest conflict fought on Canadian soil and was an essential event in forming the foundation of the Canadian identity.



The war between Great Britain and France was more vital, especially on a global scale, mainly because Canada was just a small British colony with a few hundred thousand inhabitants. But for those living here, the War of 1812 was a pivotal moment in history. The War of 1812 provided Canadians with a woman who became a national icon, and whose name would become synonymous with chocolate - Laura Secord; the war would also produce Canada's first war hero, General Isaac Brock, whose victories and death inspired a nation.



Amateur historian and Ottawa native Gilbert Collins visited many of the sites of the War of 1812 without the intention of writing a book but, as he says in the preface, there was no adequate guides for those like him with an interest in the War of 1812, so Collins took it upon himself to rectify the situation.



In detailing these attractions, Collins has included more than 380 historic sites and markers, 28 maps and dozens of illustrations. The book also includes a chronology of the war, and is a handy tool for both the traveller and the historian. This guide is a welcome addition to the collections of both the serious scholar of the war and the amateur historian.



The many sites are listed according to region, and to Collins' credit, the book ventures beyond Canada's involvement in the war. More depth is given to sites in Canada, but American sites are also well covered.In order to locate sites in their present locations, a map and symbols are given for each region, which indicate what a visitor might expect to find from a small plaque commemorating a battle, a large statue honouring a person or the remains of a long gone fort. Collins also uses photographs to show the locations as they are today and, for an added touch, even includes sketches by another amateur historian Benson Lossing, who, like Collins, visited the War of 1812 sites back in 1860 without the benefit of a guidebook.



A brief summary of events and participants is included for each site. Some entries are longer than others but are always informative. The real detail is in the lesser known events and people because Collins assumes his readers will know the major players, and in places, he skims them a bit in favour of the smaller things such as the Hoople's Creek skirmish in Ontario. The current status and modifications to many of the sites are also indicated and show how the places are being preserved when possible but also that many are lost forever with nothing but a small marker to indicate the significance. Another bonus in the updates is the inclusion of modern day finds such as the accidental discovery of the ship General Hunter. The General Hunter was captured by the Americans at the Battle of Lake Erie in 1813 and its wreck ended up buried on a beach in Southampton, Ontario until it was discovered in 2001.



Brock's service in the Battle of Queenston Heights gave Canadians their first true war hero. When Brock was alive, he was a hero to the Canadian people and his soldiers, and when he was killed defending Canada, he became a legend.There are countless streets and parks named after him and he is even the namesake of a city: Brockville, Ontario. There is ample coverage of both Brock and The Battle of Queenston Heights along with information on what a visitor will find at the site today including a walking tour of the battleground with markers containing relevant facts. Also placed high atop Queenston Heights is Brock's grave and monument.



Brock's monument is visible from kilometres away, including the American side of the river. The plume of Brock's hat is 185 feet above the ground, making it taller than any of the columns raised to honour Horatio Nelson or Napoleon.



This book is definitely for the historian out for a road trip or someone looking for some general information on the battles, people and places of the War of 1812. It is not detailed enough to be used as an academic resource but it was never intended to be. If you're a Pierre Burton wannabe and have any interest in a War of 1812 driving tour of Eastern Canada or the United States, this comprehensive book is a must.

Diana & Lord Nelson Together in 1812.
Historical documents, especially those drafted in time of war, often suffer from the ignorance or outright bias of the authors, based on their individual opinions.A ship's log is factual.Two American ships were lost August 8, 1813, when a squall bursts directly over them and they hit bottom within minutes.

During the War of 1812, armies clashed from Canada to Louisiana, navies from the Great Lakes to the high seas.On Lake Ontario, a survivor from the ship 'Scourge' told his story to a young writer who had been aboard a merchant ship with him earlier, James Fenimore Cooper.'Scourge' was originally a Canadian merchant vessel called 'Lord Nelson' and the figurehead at the mast showed one of history's greatest naval heroes, Admiral Horatio Nelson, a heroic Britisher whose likeness in all its majesty in a pose like Napoleon.

The 'Hamilton' had been an American merchantman named 'Diana' with the figurehead of a beautiful statuesque goddess beneath her bowsprit.When found at the bottom of this lake, the anchor was raised clear of the hull by passing its line through a cathead that protrudes from the ship's bow."Ah, la, la, magnifique!Charmante!Fantastique, mon ami!"

Ned Myers, the survivor, told his old friend, "The past, I have related as faithfully as I have been able so to do.The future is with God."James Fenimore Cooper's account, the 19th century classic of this shipwreck, thus making the two naval vessels "Ghost Ships," is called NED MYERS; OR A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST.

Great guide to an overlooked period
While occasionaly uneven in its listings (i.e. some areas covered in great detail a few like the Delmarva region are glossed over and Florida isignored), the book is the best I've seen on the subject.Collins tries tocover everything and in the end comes close. This is a great help on anybattlefield trips.

An outstanding anotated list of War of 1812 sites with maps
Sites are listed from the War of 1812 according to region. A map and symbols are given for each region, in order to locate sites and present locations, as well as indicate what a visitor might expect to find. Use ofphotographs and postage stamps is an added enhancement.A brief summary ofevents and particpants is included for each site. Current status andmodifications are also indicated. The book is written by a Canadian, whofairly even handedly relates events.Most depth is given to sites in Canada,put American sites are well covered. The only major missing location in theUSA is Pensacola. Otherwise EVERYPLACE is covered well. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more