Amateurs, to Arms!: A Military History of the War of 1812

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!!

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!

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.

This is the best military history of the War of 1812 since Henry Adams penned his hsitory of the Administrations of Jefferson and Madison, his book on 1812 being an extract from this magnum opus.Meticulously researched and written in a sry, witty style, this volume chronicles the entire war, not just the most popular portions of it. the major battles are all here: Chippawa, Lundy's Lane, Fort McHenry, Bladensburg, New Orleans, the Thames, but the lesser known fights and the ethereal fighting in the Old Northwest and as far north as Michilimackinack is also told, and told very well.This largely ignored and forgotten war was vital to the survival of the infant United States. Started by a militarily incompetent Madison Administration, they thought to wrest Cananda from the British Empire, being, in Thomas Jefferson's words, 'merely a matter of marching.' What ensued was military incompetence on a grand, and perhaps criminal scale, that tore the country apart, almost caused the secession of New England, and almost caused the country to go down in ignominous defeat.Col Elting tells the tale with expert research, clear and concise text, and vivid color, describing events and people with a 'you are there' approach. He makes history come alive. He tells of the amateur soldiers and commanders who learn their trade the hard way, and eventually learn to defeat the British on the battlefield, saving the young Republic from disaster.He also tells with great style of the Naval war, and those 'captains courageous' who decided, without any direction at all from Washington 'to fight their own war.' they sally forth in their tall frigates and defeat three British frigates in a row, destroying two and taking one, shocking the overconfidant Royal Navy. Two British squadrons are destroyed on the Lakes, and some honor for the country is regained.This book is superb, peopled with interesting characters straight out of a novel. Winfield Scott, Jacob Brown, Isaac Hull, Oliver Perry, and Benjamin Forsyth fight alongside their sailors, Regulars, and fellow 'amateur at arms' to finally club together a sort of standoff victory for the United States, no thanks to Madison and his Jeffersonian ideas, which included an ingrained bias to any sort of military professional.Whether or not you are interested in the War of 1812, this book is a must. It is a colorful, accurate, and riveting story that is written by an expert in the field the way history should be written.

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.