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

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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.

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.

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.

John Elting was reknowned for his up-front, no-nonsense style of military history writing. In this book, which presents a military perpective of the War of 1812, Mr. Elting shoots from the hip in his own unique style, describing how silly America's preperations for the war actually were.

Elting writes with a disdain for the meddling politician in the affairs of the military. Cherished American presidential ideals like Jefferson and Madison come across as ameteurs and niave in this book. For sure America did not plan adequately for this war, and we payed a heavy price for it. There are lessons to be learned here for today.

Also, Mr. Elting's views on the Indians in the conflict do not come across as very Politically Correct. Its time perhaps that we take a less picturesque view towards the Indians and see them in a more accurate light as Elting presents for us.Even the great Tecumseh, so often lauded these days as a tragic figure in the lost cause of the Indians, is given a sobbering account here.

One of the many lessons the US needed to learn was that militia could not win the war. This assumption was a notion held over from the Revolution, which should have long dispelled that idea. In essense the country had to learn the lesson again that only a professional standing army could win battles. As a former US army colonel Elting certainly disdains how our foundinmg fathers treated the army. In his descriptions of the war itself, Elting is decidely pro-American in his outlook. This is not surprising from a former soldier of the US army. His main complaint is that poor leadership and bad politics robbed the American soldier of victory in the war. While there may be truth in this idea, he tends to dismiss what the British and Canadians accomplished in the war. Elting glosses over the brilliance of Maj. Gen Issac Brock who saved Britsh Canada from being overrun in the first year of the conflict. In several actions he seems to inflate British losses while deflating American ones. While we can't blame Elting for this, the reader might do well to balance this book with other works on the subject. Read this book for its amusing narrative style and in memory for the passing of Mr. Elting who was a noted military historian on the Napoleanic period.

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!

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.

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!!

"The United States swaggered into the War of 1812 like a Kansas farm boy entering his first saloon. And, like that same innocent, wretchedly gagging down his first drink, the new nation was totally unprepared for the raw impact of all-out war."

So begins this no-holds-barred military history of one of the most purposeless, indecisive, poorly managed and poorly fought wars in American history. The author, John Elting, who has carved out a rather respectable niche as a historian of Napoleonic wafare (e.g. Swords Around a Throne), weaves a truly engaging, tightly structured narrative, freely pointing fingers, assigning blame, and tossing out stinging insults to long dead Americans, military and civilian, most of them forgotten to history, all along the way. His brass knuckles style may rub some readers the wrong way; but for this reviewer it added a certain punch that gave the whole story a greater sense of immediacy and vitality. It was a much better book than I had expected, probably because I bought it from a clearance bin at Costco many years ago.

Consider a few of these tart assessments offered up by Elting, all from the campaign season of 1813:

- "[The] whole plan was a piece of strategic imbecility." (On the plan to attack Fort George and Fort Erie on the western shore of Lake Ontario before a massed attack on the strategic British harbor at Kingston.)
- "Age and fatuity were being replaced by age and imbecility." (On John Armstrong's relief of Henry Dearborn's command.)
- "A fit subject for a comic opera." (On Wilkinson and Wade Hampton's disastrous, failed campaign to take Montreal.)
- "A rare piece of stupidity and unthinking brutality." (On the senseless American burning of Newark and Queenston on the Canadian side of the Niagara River.)

There aren't many heroes in this book, although Oliver Hazard Perry, Winfield Scott and the British general Amos (who burned Washington in 1814 and was killed in action at Baltimore shortly thereafter) come off reasonably well, brave and professional officers who performed their duties competently. Interestingly, two future presidents, William Henry Harrison and Andrew Jackson, who held generals ranks in the war, are generally dismissed by the author. The primary villains are the Washington politicians who led the United States into war with a thoroughly third class army and navy, mostly due to their politically inspired policy: irresponsible budgeting during the early nineteenth century and the feckless personnel selection of senior officers based almost solely on political loyalty once the war began.

Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, in particular, are singled out for Elting's salty opprobrium from beginning to end. Jefferson for making a mendicant of the Army and then foolishly investing almost exclusively in small gunboats as the strategic answer for the US Navy; Madison for selecting senior military officers, nearly all of whom were catastrophic failures, based wholly, if not entirely, on their unimpeachable Republican credentials (modern Democratic party).

From the Boston Massacre to 9/11, with "Remember" the Maine, the Lusitania, and Pearl Harbor in between, Americans have often been galvanized -- and motivated to fight and die -- by a sudden, tragic, bloody, and presumably unfair attack. How about "Remember the Raisin!" I don't recall ever hearing that phrase before reading "Amateur to Arms!" -- and I read a lot of American history. It is a reference to the January 1813 combined British and Indian assault on American soldiers at Frenchtown on the River Raisin in modern day Michigan. After surrendering, the British did nothing to prevent nearly 400 Americans from being massacred and scalped by their Indian allies, under Chief Tecumseh. News of the tragedy became a lightening rod during the War of 1812. For me, learning about Raisin and many other long forgotten aspects of this war underscored just how far removed from the national consciousness this conflict has become.

And, in fairness (if Elting and many other historians are to be believed), there isn't much worth remembering about the War of 1812, at least not anything that adds to our collective national self-esteem. The performance of the US military, the one federal institution that retains high marks with contemporary Americans, performed dreadfully. As Elting explains in a typically pointed expression: "England would see Americans as contemptible opponents - not only cowardly but ridiculous." American soldiers, particularly militia, lacked discipline, were quick to flee in battle, were thoroughly unreliable, and, worse yet, disposed to irresponsible behavior. Indeed, the British burning of Washington (and intended burnings of Baltimore and New Orleans) were very much motivated by retribution for the American burning of York (modern Toronto) and several towns on the Canadian side of the Niagara River.

There were many theaters in the War of 1812 (Alabama, Florida, New Orleans, the mid-Atlantic, modern Wisconsin) but only one front really mattered, according to Elting: The Great Lakes. From Montreal, down the St. Lawrence to Lake Ontario, along the Niagara River to Lake Erie and on to Detroit. Perry's victory at Put In Bay secured Lake Erie in 1813 for the Americans and made the British position at Detroit untenable, ensuring that the conflict would focus on the belligerents' main bases on Lake Ontario: Kingston for the British and Sacketts Harbor for the Americans. US Navy commander on Lake Ontario, Isaac Chauncey, is ridiculed relentlessly by Elting for his failure to risk his precious fleet at Sackett's Harbor.

Finally, many of the numbers in this history surprised me: How large the British/Canadian forces were by the time of the armistice when they had started to shift Napoleonic war veteran forces from Europe to North America; how skimpy the American forces were even after the burning of the capital; and how many battles resulted in scores of casualties (there were an estimated 2,000 American battlefield killed-in-action, not including death from disease), a small fraction of the wars in Europe against the Emperor but far bloodier than modern "battles" like Fallujah and Ramadi.

In closing, this is a fun, sharp narrative on an important conflict from a hazy part of our history, with plenty of forceful arguments to make.

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!

This is a most excellent treatment of "America's forgotten war" (also the war the British would like to forget). It was a complete waste of time. It all ended up where it started and a lot of people killed!

John R. Elting has done a very good job of describing this waste of time and energy. It is an in-depth look into the cast of characters - their personalities, political greed and incompetence and how this resulted in the loss (or gain) of insignificant patches of of land. He pulls no punches! He is not biased in this regard.

Everyone who wants an example of the futility of war should read this book!

By the way - this was a real war - the United States declared war on the British, the most powerful nation in the world. America had no army or navy at that time - stupid? John R. Elting goes into great detail on all that.

A must read for students of American (and British) history.

Mick Jolley

British, born and bred.