REVIEWS
The War of 1812 established many American
military traditions, but accomplished little else,
By Mike Oppenheim
AMONG THE UNrTED STATES' less glori-
ous conflicts, the War of 1812 ranks with
the Mexican, Spanish-American and per-
haps a few recent affaii^. Walter R. Bome-
mans recent book 1812: The War Thai
Forged a Nation (Harpei-CoUins, New York,
2004, $25.95) may be the best modem
single-volume histoiT on the subject. No
revisionist, Bomeman provides an enter-
taining account with a large cast of inept
generals and wrong-headed politicians
and a sprinkling of heroes who made no
difference to the outcome,
Tbe War of 1812 was the most justified
of the United Slates' minor wars. Em-
broiled in a life-and-deatb struggle with
France for 15 years, Britain bad been seiz-
ing American ships, impressing their
sailors into its navy, and infuriating set-
tlers by refusing to evacuate forts on tbe
U,S, side of the Canadian border, thus
provoking Indian attacks—at least ac-
cording to the settlers, who rarely as-
sumed that tbe attacks had anything to
do with tbeir having settled on land tbe
Indians claimed.
Elected president in 1800 on a platform
tbat could be called Reaganomic, Tbomas
Jefferson abolisbed all internal taxes, en-
suring tbat the United States' armed
forces, tiny wben he assumed office, would
be even tinier wben be left. Under in-
creasing pressure to protect U.S. sbips, be
adopted tbe traditional tactic of a weak
nation: an embai^o. Britain paid no atten-
tion, but it devastated tbe U,S, economy.
Tbe election of 1810 brougbt Henrv
Clay to Congress, accompanied by a
number of like-minded freshmen known
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62 MILITARY HISTORY NOVEMBER 2005
sucb as Constitution, but strategically they
were insignificant. In 1813, with Napo-
leon Bonaparte on tbe ropes, Britain sent
additional warsbips and troops, blockad-
ing American ports and raiding at will.
Incompetence, bowever, seemed to pre-
vail as much on the British as on tbe
American side. An overwbelming British
force marched south from Canada in
1814, then marched back witbout firing a
shot after Tbomas Macdonough's naval
victory on Lake Champlain. Another
force cbarged Andrew Jackson's fortified
lines outside New Orleans in January
1815—and was slaughtered.
By that time, after months of haggling,
the Treaty of Ghent had ended tbe war.
Nothing was resolved. In his obligatory
summing-up, Bomeman's irony deserts
bim, as he states that the war convinced
Americans tbey were a nation. In trutb,
as tbe Civil War later proved, the states
still weren't veiT united. After its gener-
as "Young Warhawks" wbo eventually ally dismal performance, tbe U.S. Army
pushed Jeffei^on's successor, James Madi- look its professional officer corps more
son, into submitting a lugubrious war seriously. Paradoxically, the Nav\''s more
message on June I, 1812. Whipped on by impressive perioTinance went unre-
Clay, the House of Representatives quicklywarded—not until the 1880s would the
approved 79-49. After two weeks of country begin building a substantial
debate—witb several senators switching ocean-going navy.
sides to avoid looking unpatriotic—tbe Tbe War of 1812 was not terribly sig-
Senate finally voted 19-13 to declare war.nificant, but featured more military in-
American forces immediately set out to eptitude than the avei^ge conflict, wbicb
achieve their main objective, conquering can make for amusing reading. In 1812,
Canada, by launching a tbree-pronged in- readers are in the bands of a skilled his-
vasion—and even' prong failed. Two ef- torian wbo does not take it too seriously.
forts in early 1813 also failed. In spite of
Oliver Hazard Perry's dazzling victory on Ace Eagle Hasse Wind: The Finnish
Lake Erie in September 1813, later cam- Air Force at War, 1939-1944, by Seppo
paigns brougbt only more frustration, Porvaii, Apali Oy, Tampere, Finland,
and American troops burned several 2004, $44.95.
towns, acts tbat would be remembered in Curiously, Ace Eagle Hasse Wind: The
Canadian history' the way Americans re- Finnish Air Force at War, 1939-1944, does
member Pearl Harbor In 1814 the British not entirely live up to its title. More of a
burned Wasbington in retaliation. "life in wartime" account tban an actual
American schoolchildren study tbe in- biograpby, it is nevertheless a gotjd, com-
dividual victories of U.S. Naw frigates Continued on page 69