Amateurs, To Arms!: A Military History Of The War Of 1812 (Major Battles & Campaigns) [Paperback]

John R. Elting (Author)

Book Description

Series: Major Battles & Campaigns | Publication Date: August 22, 1995

Begun in ignorance of the military reality, the War of 1812 was fought catch-as-catch-can with raw troops, incompetent officers, and appallingly inadequate logistics. The odds against the American fighting forces—woefully unrealistic preparations and expectations, British military might, a feckless Congress and administration, the treason of many citizens who fed and praised the enemy—were overwhelming. American soil was invaded along three frontiers, the national capital was occupied and burned, and the secession of the New England states loomed as a definite possibility. Amateurs, to Arms! examines in succession the campaigns of "Mr. Madison's War": the U.S. invasion of Canada; the key naval battles on Lakes Erie and Champlain; the British invasion via the Chesapeake Bay and its repulse at Baltimore; and the campaign leading to the American victory at New Orleans, fought and won after the war was over. Elting describes the planning and preparations (or lack of them) for the campaigns, tells how they were fought, and analyzes the battlefield performance of both sides. Specially prepared maps and numerous illustrations complement Elting's vivid, penetrating account of how the young republic fought and nearly lost its "Second War for Independence."

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

No other conflict in our history found us so unready or ill-prepared as the War of 1812, argues Elting, who here presents the military side of the war and emphasizes the amateurishness of the Americans who managed to win their "Second War of Independence" despite themselves. Tactical victories, few and far between, made the difference in the end: Oliver Perry's destruction of a British squadron on Lake Erie in 1813, William Henry Harrison's defeat of a British column the following year at the Battle of the Thames. Ironically, the most celebrated clash of the war, Andrew Jackson's 1815 victory at New Orleans, took place two weeks after the signing of the peace treaty at Ghent in Belgium. Elting ( The Superstrategists ) tells the story from the British side as well as the American. He includes a memorable account of the expedition under Robert Ross that won an easy victory over the Americans at Bladensburg, Va., then captured Washington, burning the Capitol and the White House, only to suffer a surprising defeat before Baltimore. This is a lively, well-written account of one of America's long-forgotten, but decidedly major wars. Illustrations.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Having reduced the U.S. Army during the Jefferson administration, the new nation was totally ill-equipped for the war it would wage against British troops in 1812. Plagued with inexperienced recruits, politicians as officers, and a sometimes unsupportive government, the success of the war seemed almost impossible. Elting handles all of these aspects in a manner that would appeal to the general reader of history as well as to the military statistician. Insight into the battles and the leaders is often provided in great detail, and interesting information is also indicated in the footnotes. This book, coupled with J.C.A. Stagg's Mr. Madison's War ( LJ 9/1/83), provides a complete overview of the politics and logistics of the war. With so few books written on the War of 1812, this is essential for any public or academic library.
- Barbara Zaborowski, Cambria Cty. Lib., Johnstown, Pa.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 372 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press (August 22, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0306806533
• ISBN-13: 978-0306806537
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #355,587 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #19 in Books > History > Military > War of 1812

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have Book, August 8, 2000

By 

R. Hamper "Left nor Right" (Sydney, NS Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Amateurs, To Arms!: A Military History Of The War Of 1812 (Major Battles & Campaigns) (Paperback)

The War of 1812 is sometimes called the Second American War of Independence and sometimes, with tongue in cheek I should imagine, as the Canadian War of Independence. Most often, however, it is referred to as a forgotten war. Small wonder then that, until recently, there has been a dearth of good books on the subject.

John Elting attempted to change that back in 1991 with the publication of this book. I picked it up after reading several Canadian accounts and when looking for another perspective. The book is a decent size; 353 pages of text, maps bibliography, index and illustrations. There are no appendicies, but there is a good section on Elting's sources, which could serve as mini-reviews in themselves.

As a description of a war, the book follows the standard structure of describing the opening political scenes, the preparations for war and so on through the many campaigns and battles. Where Elting excels is in the detailing of the inner workings of the American government, it's successes and, just as often, its follies. It is obvious that, as a former military man, he has little time for politicians who want to "play war". No incompetent is spared his dry wit and droll humour. He wrote the following about two politically appointed and conflicting militia generals after an aborted post-Queenston invasion of Canada:

"Smyth called another council and decided to suspend offensive operations...Porter denounced Smyth as a coward; Smyth challenged Porter to a duel; and the Republican heroes exchanged pistol shots. Unfortunately, both missed."

The book is replete with such wry yet relevant remarks. He describes the American farcical, early attempts at invasion with a critical eye and depth. At the same time, he dolls out credit where warranted and has praise for worthy officers such as Winfield Scott and the long suffering American infantrymen who are marched, counter-marched, starved, frozen, ill-clothed, rarely supplied and wasted in ill-conceived battles or uncapitalized gains. He details their growth from raw recruits in 1812 to outstanding regulars by 1814.

Elting covers as much as the British side as he can (there being a shocking lack of British accounts at the time of writing) and while the depth of detail may not be as great as for the American side, there is plenty to satisfy the reader with. He explains the grim opening situation for the British side, the problems of manpower and transportation on the frontier and so forth.

The book is a great study of the American account of the war and afterwords a reader will be well versed in the machinations of the Madison government and the growth and development of the American Army. I wish I could say that it is the ultimate study of this war, but I don't think I could correctly do that.

In reading the book, I felt a subtle pro-American feel throughout. Some British accomplishments are glossed over; the Battle of Chrysler's Farm, a major event in Canadian history, is spread over less than two pages and descriptions of British actions and tactics are less than flattering. You get the feel that Elting wants the British to be wearing the black hats. Fair enough from the American viewpoint I guess.

The most uncomfortable sections for me were in his descriptions and references to the British allies - the aboriginals. He describes them in a manner reminiscent of John Wayne movies. Elting prepares the reader for this in his opening prologue by saying: "it is necessary to deal bluntly with two of present-day America's favorite figures, the American Indian and Thomas Jefferson and his disciples" in order to understand the nature of the war. I'm not convinced that by alluding to the aboriginals as savages, murderers, cowards and skulkers that I have a better understanding of the war. One of these days, we'll understand that while the taking of scalps and other acts are horrible activities in our eyes (especially today), it was a perfectly normal thing to do in some North American Indian cultures. They were equally confounded by the white man's treatment of his enemy prisoners. How could you keep your enemy alive after trying to kill him? I'm not condoning the violence perpetrated upon soldiers and settlers, but if one is to understand the nature of aboriginal warfare...

I have one more minor quibble and this, I think, derives from my wargaming hobby. The maps; of sixteen maps, few have actual troop positions marked on them. Not even the tactical maps of Chippewa or Lundy's Lane show the relative positions of the two forces. It is a minor point since the text outlines all of the movements minutely. I guess Mr. Elting spoiled me with his Napoleonic Atlas!

The strongest points of the book are the descriptions of the Washington and New Orleans campaigns. The actions are written about at length. Mr. Elting's writing talents come to the fore here. I was especially surprised by his account of Andrew Jackson, the hero of New Orleans. I never realized what an incompetent military commander this man was. He was saved by his own tenacity and audacity and by British bungling.

In conclusion, if you are looking for "the" book on the War of 1812, this is not it. However, I doubt there is a book out there that describes the development of the American army against the backdrop of the political circus of the time as well as you will find here. Its treatment of the American side is fair and even-handed. If, in my opinion, Mr. Elting had been able to do the same for the British/Canadian side, this would be "the" book of the War of 1812. That not withstanding, a scholar or casual reader of the conflict would be remiss if this book was not part of the personal library.

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Military History., November 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Amateurs, To Arms!: A Military History Of The War Of 1812 (Major Battles & Campaigns) (Paperback)

Superb historical writing magnificently illustrates one of America's least understood conflicts. Eminently readable yet comprehensive enough to satisfy military history grognards. Pulls no punches in its depiction's of the extraordinary incompetence on the part of the Jefferson/Madison administrations and their syncophaticly dimwitted military commanders who plunged a thoroughly unprepared and badly divided young nation into a war that could very well have led to the death {or at least division} of the American Union.

As well as providing as good a one volume history of the war as I've ever seen, the book distinctly illustrates how the war led to the transformation of the U.S. Military from a poorly maintained, underfunded constabulary run by officers who advanced by political favor alone, to an establishment that regardless of its size or status would place professionalism above all.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars To Learn The Profession of Arms, July 1, 2000

By 

Kevin F. Kiley - See all my reviews

This review is from: Amateurs, To Arms!: A Military History Of The War Of 1812 (Major Battles & Campaigns) (Paperback)

This is the best military history of the War of 1812 that has been written since Henry Adams penned his monumental work on the Administrations of Jefferson and Madison, which included the War of 1812, over a century ago. In short, this work is indispensable in studying this little known and truly forgotten war.

The War of 1812 is little studied in the United States, either by military professionals or the public in general, and it should be. There are parallels and lessons for our own times here. The United States Navy and the Regular Army were horribly neglected by both the Jefferson and Madison administrations, yet they both conducted foreign wars, at the same time not trusting standing or professional military forces. They both preferred to trust the dubious value of the militia, which was under-trained, badly led and equipped.

The excellent little navy established and maintained by the Washington and Adams administrations was allowed to deteriorate before the declaration of war in June 1812. The army was hastile built up with militia for the proposed invasion of Canada, the conquest of which, according to president emeritus Jefferson, would only be a 'matter of marching.' That from him who had never shouldered a musket, and stood in ranks taking fire from British Regulars.

What ensued was the army playing catchup after early disasters, and the navy, without orders and direction, decided to 'fight its own war.' Those captains courageous went to sea with what they had, picked fights with the Royal Navy and stunned the world, and the Royal Navy, with superb ship against ship victories and the destruction of two British squadrons on the Lakes.

There is high valor in this lively tale, as well as treason, apathy, and incompetence. There is also a dedicated group of soldiers, sailors, and Marines, who learned their trade on the hop, and fought the British Empire to a standstill, clubbing out a sneaker of a victory that was definitely a 'near run thing.'

This tale has been told before, but never with the skill, wit, accuracy, and color that John Elting has told it. This book is a must for everyone interested in American history and the Napoleonic period.