1812: The Rivers of War

The Rivers of War (2005) is the first novel in an Alternate History series about the American Frontier. In 1814, Andrew Jackson attacked the Northern Creeks fortification at Horseshoe Bend; the first man over the wall was Ensign Sam Houston. A few months later, Winfield Scott led his brigade of outnumbered regulars against British veterans south of the Chippewa River bridge; the British were defeated, but retreated in good order. Later, Admiral Cochburn invaded Washington and burned the White House. In this novel, Sam Houston receives only a minor flesh wound in the Battle of the Horseshoe. He becomes a protege of General Jackson and privy to his intentions. Reaching an understanding with Jackson, Sam discusses the situation with The Ridge, an influential Cherokee chief, and other Cherokees. At the suggestion of Jackson, Captain Houston and Lieutenant John Ross take a party of Cherokees to Washington to discuss American policies toward the Southeastern indian tribes with Secretary of State Monroe. The group also includes the children and nephew of Major Ridge; Sam is charged with finding them suitable schooling. Tiana Rogers goes along just because she wants to. Lieutenant Patrick Driscoll has also come to Washington to recover from his wounds. A former master sergeant, Driscoll finally accepted a commission after loosing his left arm above the elbow at the Battle of Chippewa. He is accompanied by Private Anthony McParland, a former deserter from the US Army who learned the error of his ways after an abortive execution. Houston and Driscoll both witness the invasion of Washington by the British and they resolve to defend the city. Each starts gathering "the shattered fragments of disparate units" as US forces retreat toward Georgetown. Although Houston initially decides to protect the President's house, Driscoll persuades him to take these men and weapons to the Capitol Building, which is much better constructed and situated. There they build makeshift ramparts for their few artillery pieces, station men in the windows facing east, and await the British. The beginnings of this novel are real history, although in the manner of Herodotus and other ancient Greeks. That is, the true events are reported insofar as possible, but dialogues are manufactured for each participant, using such quotes as are available. The alternate history begins with the wounding of Sam Houston as he goes over the wall at Horseshoe Bend; the wound was actually much more disabling than described herein. The author takes a few historical characters and puts them in a position to defend the Capitol Building, if not the whole city. He shows what General Winder could have done if he had not panicked. Of course, the author used one of the most charismatic and stable of the young officers of that time to lead the defenders and also created the perfect noncom to advise him. If Houston had been able to be there, with a suitable advisor, he may well have

__________________________________ "In 1814, we took a little trip..." This old Johnny Horton tune was about all I remembered about the War of 1812. Oh, and the British burned the White House.... You may be certain that you'll know a good deal more about this chapter of American history after you've read Flint's latest. And be very well-entertained en route. Flint's aim in this first of a new series is to construct a plausible Native Nation on America's western frontier, from the Cherokees and the other four Civilized Tribes who were dumped into Indian Territory (now eastern Oklahoma) in the first half of the 19th century, with unhappy results in our timeline (though they're doing OK now). Flint makes it clear that, with the number of European immigrants pouring into the Southeast, the tribes were going to lose their land, one way or another. He's trying for a less-horrible eviction than the Trail of Tears. What if the Tribes moved 'voluntarily', with their cultures +/- intact, and developed a hybrid culture that would affect America for the good? I'll be following the progress of this what-might-have-been saga with great interest -- particularly since my Scotch-Irish ancestors helped make this history, and picked up a little Cherokee blood en route. I came away from _Rivers of War_ with a more three-dimensional mental portrait of Andrew Jackson, a major character here, and who I'd previously filed under "boorish rabble-rouser". He looks much better (or at least more complex) in Flint's portrayal. Most of his characters were historical figures (including Sam Houston, a protagonist), though Flint ceerfullyly admits to fleshing-out the less well-known ones to fit his story. His battle scenes are unflinching, and may be too graphic for some. But Flint seems to have an unususually good understanding of the principles of warfare. And you won't be surprised to learn that Flint was once a candidate for a Ph. D. in history. Now, this is alternate history, but I don't think I'll spoil your fun by letting on that Flint has stuck pretty close to *real* history, so far anyway. And he's dished up an excellent historical novel here -- entertaining, informative, fast-moving, action-packed. *Lots* of blood & gore (fair warning). I read it in two sittings and liked it a lot. _Rivers of War_ is Flint's best novel to date -- he's gotten better in writing craft, characterization, depth of research -- heck, all the writerly virtues I can think of. Most importantly, he's a helluva storyteller. Highly recommended. If you would like further fictional exploration of Cherokee history, I strongly recommend Larry McMurtry's very fine _Zeke and Ned_, set in mid-19th century Oklahoma, after their forced resettlement. A crackerjack, underrated historical novel. Happy reading-- Pete Tillman © 2005. Review first published at SF Site

Too many alternate history stories focus on some sort of alien intervention, unusual manipulations of space/time, or some other improbable or unbelieveable event. Though many of them are very entertaining, they don't reach the level of this work from Flint (I do love 1632 and 1633!). The best "what if" stories involve one small, seemingly insignificant event that occurs differently. Here we have Sam Houston not suffering an injury in battle. Seems harmless enough, but that one event having another outcome might have changed the course of history. Flint's work is obviously well researched and involves accurate historical figures as well as fictional characters based on historical research and could easily be real. This book is a great addition to the genre and brings readers to a period in time often overlooked by history classes and which more Americans should learn about. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves to play "what if" with history.

Once upon a time, there was a famous American statesman named Sam Houston, who was very badly injured at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. His life changed very much for the worse, and he failed at everything he tried, even with the friendship and patronage of Andrew Jackson. Finally, after living with the Cherokee and watching them be forced on the Trail of Tears, he went to Texas and immortality. Once upon a time, there was a writer of alternate history named Eric Flint, who decided that with one small change in history, he could plot a way around the Trail of Tears, the Mexican War and the Civil War. What was the change? Houston doesn't get as badly injured at Horseshoe Bend. On this slender reed, Flint builds one of the best alternate histories ever written. Excruciatingly well researched, he picks real characters like Tiana Rogers (the Cherokee "princess" Houston married in the Original Time Line) and Andrew Jackson (who carried around a trunk full of general's hats so he could stomp on them when he got mad) and Major Ridge, one of the Cherokee leaders best known to the government in Washington. Flint follows Houston to Washington, where he organizes the defense of the US Capitol against the British, and then to New Orleans, where he, and his sidekick Driscol (the Troll) figure importantly in the eponymous Battle. This is the first of an alternate history series (at least a trilogy) which should take us well into the last half of the 19th century that might have been, had just one little thing been different. Glenn Reynolds of Instapundit liked it, and well he should. You will too. Take this book on your summer vacation. Don't say I didn't warn you if you spend your time indoors reading it. Walt Boyes The Bananaslug. at Baen's Bar

In this first book of a projected two-book series, Flint gives us a retelling of about a year and a half of the War of 1812, from 1814-5. He starts with the Battle of Horseshoe Bend, where a young ensign Sam Houston joins General Andrew Jackson's forces in a battle which, on the surface, is between European American settlers and American Indian natives, over land rights. In the larger scheme though, this battle is a testing ground for the impending clash with the British in New Orleans. This is pretty much the point of divergence between real and alternate history. To paraphrase the standard cliché, Flint brings alternate history alive. His writing is swift and to the point. He gives us truly believable, multidimensional characters to love and hate, and most importantly, sympathize with. Jackson is, on the surface, a brusque, shouting tyrant of a general, browbeating his hesitant militiamen into submission and displaying his racist beliefs in the open. But we learn he is a complex character, not necessarily believing in the philosophies he's spouting, but using them as tools, just as his tirades are tools, and his tyrannical fist defends the freedoms of his beloved republic. Sam Houston is an educated, Adonis-like character, preaching speeches from the Iliad as he inspires his soldiers to glory, while questioning his own principles with the perspectives of history and reality. There are a number of other characters rounding out the book, each with their own fully defined needs and perspectives, making this a saga with as much depth as the Iliad Sam so often refers to. Flint explains the real deals too, not in a preachy manner, but with the calm, patient wisdom of the best history teacher. We get a chance to see every side of the moral dilemmas facing imperialists, slave-owners, slaves, settlers, natives, and the governments and soldiers of each in their turn. Lesson learned? There are no easy answers, and it's all been done before. Like any good history, The Rivers of War looks at the big picture, the points of view of every side, without (as much as is possible) the prejudices of the historian. It is unabashedly honest in its look at racist policies and social injustices that shaped the U.S. And it offers some intriguingly delicious bits of what-if to wonder if we might have become better people (or perhaps a more moral nation) if we had paid attention to some of the lessons that history taught before.