I've been behind on book reviews so excuse the numerous blog posts, Facebook and Twitter updates coming this weekend.
I've actually been consuming books at a near record pace recently as I've fallen back in love with listening to audio books. With so little time to sit and read holding a book, audio books allow you to digest the information while working out, driving down the road, taking long walks, and trying to fall asleep with the lights off.
Not that any of this has to do with the War of 1812. Let's get on with a review of 1812: The Navy's War written by George C Daughan.
I was excited about this book. Chiefly because even though I consider myself an amateur historian, I knew little about the war of 1812. Most Americans don't. Ask me about the Revolution, Civil War or any battle in the 20th century and you'll be looking for a way to get me to stop talking. 1812? I only really knew it was the one where the White House got torched by the British.
I had breakfast this morning with a Canadian friend and brought up this very subject. I quickly found out that he was a walking encyclopedia about 1812. What a difference in perspective! To a Canadian, it was their war against America, certainly something worth studying in school.
While George C Daughan focused chiefly on the Naval battles in the war, he did an excellent job explaining the political and cultural events that led to the war as well as the land battles and events in Europe which shaped the outcome. I'll do my best to summarize the story.
The Background:
The British dominated the high seas during 1811. They had an extensive empire to protect as well as vast, global commercial enterprises.
Europe was entangled in the Napoleonic Wars. The emperor was winning battle after battle and consuming the attention of all the European powers.
While Britain was dealing with Napoleon, President James Madison, the 4th U.S. President and the principal author of our Constitution and our Bill of Rights, and the other members of the early Republican party found it opportune to fight the British.
America was tired of being insulted by the British. Britain had not respected America and was preventing ships from trading with France, Arming Indian tribes to attack American settlers and worst of all, they were impressing American seaman and forcing them to become British soldiers. In other words, American's weren't being treated with the independence they had gained.
The War:
Nearly immediately after the outset of war Madison started sending troupes into Canada. He had insufficient troupes, leaders and equipment, however, and almost every battle went poorly.
As a reader you start to get a feeling for how young and ill-equipped America was as a country. After all, it had only been around 20 years since the Revolution. There still wasn't an income tax and Madison's own Republican party had just abolished the national bank which had been setup by Alexander Hamilton. To put it bluntly, America didn't have the cash to be fighting a war at all.
On the blue ocean things were different. Merchant vessels and privateers could arm themselves and attach British vessels and keep the goods or gold found on looted ships.
Thus the adventurous and capitalist would-be soldiers were more likely to become sailors.
There were many notable battles and I won't pretend to be an expert but the author makes it clear that the events in the Atlantic Ocean and on the Great Lakes of North America were the ones that earned the respect of the British. After all, defeating the British wasn't possible. They were entirely too powerful. Respect was the goal.
After Napoleon:
Once Napoleon was banished to Elba the British were able to turn their attention to the United States. They sent a small and tired army who had been in Spain and France for nearly a decade to the East Coast of the States and found little resistance, chiefly due to Secretary of War John Armstrong doing such a miserable job of building defense.
The British ravaged the coast, sacking cities and even burning our brand new Capital building, Library of Congress and The President's House (as it was then known) to ashes.
America was still having victories on the water during this time and governments on both sides begin to forget why they were even fighting.
Napoleon was still very much an influence and it was widely believed that he would escape Elba and return to power soon. Neither side wanted the war to continue.
Peace:
A peace agreement was signed that changed nothing. None of the reasons we started the war were mentioned in the agreement. Britain hadn't given up their right of impressment. The war was a draw if looked at objectively.
News did not travel fast back then. After the peace treaty had been signed but before word reached New Orleans, America fought and won the largest battle of the war. It was a battle that would make the young general Andrew Jackson famous.
Aftermath:
Due to America's conduct during the war and the massive increase in our navy and thanks to Jackson's stunning victory in New Orleans, America had officially entered the world as a power not to be taken for granted.
Shortly afterwards, the British made the world changing decision to work with the United States as an official policy, rather than confront them on every issue going forward. It began a partnership of peace and prosperity that has lasted for two hundred years.
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I thoroughly enjoyed the book because I learned more reading it than I normally do when reading about American history. It was refreshing to have filled so many gaps.
