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1812
May 1, 2007 11:00:55 GMT -5
Post by Jim Boylston on May 1, 2007 11:00:55 GMT -5
I'm currently reading A.J. Languuth's "Union 1812". Anyone else read this? I really enjoyed his "Patriots", a narrative history of the Revolutionary War, written some years ago. Jim
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1812
May 1, 2007 14:46:37 GMT -5
Post by stuart on May 1, 2007 14:46:37 GMT -5
No, but I can unreservedly recommend Don Graves' books on the battles on the Niagara frontier. Try "Red Coats and Grey Jackets: The Battle of Chippawa" for starters.
Incidentally, although I didn't mention it in my books because his role was passive and peripheral, James Grant served in the War of 1812. He was ship's surgeon of the General Stuart at the time and did see one action in the South Atlantic, when the convoy successfully beat off an attack by American privateers - capturing one.
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1812
May 2, 2007 12:00:09 GMT -5
Post by Herb on May 2, 2007 12:00:09 GMT -5
I haven't read Languuth, but there's three books I've read recently that are all very good: John Elting's "Amateurs to Arms", Toll's "Six Frigates", and Barbuto"s "Niagara 1814". I don't know Graves' book, but the 1814 campaign along the Niagara and the Battle of Chippawa are probably one of the least studied and one of the most important actions in US military history.
The grey jackets in Graves title are part of the creation myth of a professional US Army - it's why the cadets at West Point wear grey uniforms today and their full dress uniforms are a modernized version of what Winfield Scott's brigade wore at Chippawa.
There has also been a couple of recent biographies of Scott. He's almost a forgotten man today but he's probably the first bona-fide military genius the US produced. He played key roles in every war from 1812 until forced into retirement at the beginning of the Civil War, although it was ultimatily his plan heavily reinforced that led the Union to victory.
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1812
May 5, 2007 12:23:40 GMT -5
Post by billchemerka on May 5, 2007 12:23:40 GMT -5
As a writer for The History Channel's "First Invasion: The War of 1812," I utilized all of the aforementioned titles that were in print prior to production. But since my focus was on The Battle for Baltimore I also relied on "The Rockets' Red Glare" by Scott Sheads, "The Details of The Rocket System" by Colonel Congreve, "A Narrative of the Campaigns of the British Army at Washington and New Orleans" by the author of "The Subaltern," "A History of the Life and Services of Captain Samuel Dewees" by John Smith Hanna, and my War of 1812 newspaper collection.
Another easy-read secondary source is "The War of 1812: A Forgotten Conflict" by Donald R. Hickey.
"Pay no attention to the rockets, boys. They're nothing but toys to amuse children." Andrew Jackson
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1812
May 5, 2007 14:20:30 GMT -5
Post by Allen Wiener on May 5, 2007 14:20:30 GMT -5
What about the old reliable "By Dawn's Early Light" by our old Alamo comrade Walter Lord? Too dated now? I read it not long ago and, as with all of his other books, found it captivating.
AW
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1812
Sept 13, 2007 12:59:25 GMT -5
Post by mustanggray on Sept 13, 2007 12:59:25 GMT -5
Amatuers to Arms! by Elting is a great overview of the war. I'm just now starting A Conquering Spirit by Waslekov on Ft. Mims and the Creek Wars. I read Mahon's book(forgot the title) but wasn't near as impressed with it as I was with Elting.
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1812
Sept 13, 2007 13:04:00 GMT -5
Post by Jim Boylston on Sept 13, 2007 13:04:00 GMT -5
Amatuers to Arms! by Elting is a great overview of the war. I'm just now starting A Conquering Spirit by Waslekov on Ft. Mims and the Creek Wars. I read Mahon's book(forgot the title) but wasn't near as impressed with it as I was with Elting. Let us know how the Waslekov book is, Scott. I'll order a copy if it's recommended. Jim
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