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 The War Through Its Participants April 10, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
"Union 1812" tells the story of the War of 1812 through the stories of the Americans who participated, in one way or another, in its lead-up and fighting. Author A. J. Langguth does an excellent job of telling the story of the War through these cameos of the participants.
The individuals involved constitute could populate a pantheon of Early America. They include George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Andrew Jackson, Zebulon Pike, James and Dolly Madison, Tecumseh, William Henry Harrison, Davy Crockett, Sam Houston, and many others.
I have read other books about the War of 1812 and do not recommend this as a first book for the study of the War. For one with a basic knowledge of it, this will pick your memory so as to enable you to appreciate aspects which may have been overlooked or have faded from memory.
This book brings to the reader's attention the crucial role played by the Indian allies of the British. It covers the main theaters of operation, Lake Erie, the Niagara Front, New Orleans and Washington-Baltimore. I particularly enjoyed the repeated reference to operations involving Fort Malden, Ontario, which my family visited several years ago. It ties together the military, political and social aspects of the war into an understandable package. I enjoyed this thoroughly. I trust that you will also.
A Most Remarkable War December 30, 2007
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Most historians think of America's second war with Britain as an American defeat, an embarrassment. After the Revolutionary War there was little doubt that we would clash with Europe again. With Spain to our South and West, England to our North, France seeking Canada and New Orleans back, none of these three belligerents showed the slightest bit of respect for the newly independent Nation. All three thought the US a short lived experiment to be plucked. But after Jefferson completes the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 and the US Western Boundary jumps the Mississippi River, Britain redoubles its efforts to control the borders of the Northwest Territory and the fur trade, while Spain continues to constrict American expansion to the South.
For the next 10 years tensions mount, particularly in Kentucky and Tennessee, as the British and Spanish both waged a vicious frontier war against America by offering munitions and safe haven to their Indian allies. Assailed by the Brits to the North and the Spanish to the South, vicious clashes with the Indians were common and several movements, particularly by Aaron Burr, were underway to cleave those States from the US and move them into Spain's and Britain's orbit. The War Hawks finally succeed in declaring war on Britain and the stage is set for America to accomplish its goals. We were horrifically weak militarily yet we managed to control Lake Erie, regain Detroit, defeat Tecumseh, stop a British invasion down Lake Champlain, invade Spanish Florida with impunity and defeat Wellington's best at New Orleans.
Langguth's title, Union 1812, says it all. Britain's second resounding defeat by American arms was not only as singular as its first, it accomplished more. The War of 1812 defined us for the first time as a Nation, North, South, East and West. As subsequent treaties proved, the stage was set to reinforce our Northern boundaries as agreed to with Britain in the Treaty of Paris ending the Revolutionary War and, under John Quincy Adam's Adams-Onis Treaty in 1818, extend the Continental limits of the US westward to the Pacific Ocean while acquiring all of Florida. Rather than the embarrassment most historians think it was, the War of 1812 was a significant, strategic victory that not only defined our continental limits, it reinforced the American Union and ushered in a period of prosperity our country had never before experienced, called The Era of Good Feelings. Thank you, Mr. Langguth, for setting the record straight.
 A Little Known Part of American History December 6, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I found this book very informative and hard to put down when reading it. It fills a part of US history about which little is written. It shows that even though the names and parties change, the political infighting and intense dislike of political leaders was the same then as it is today.
This book gives insight into the writing of the US Constitution and events leading up to the War of 1812 by looking at the political leaders and Presidents of the era. It looks at the war in depth and then gives a short fast look at the aftermath leading up to the Civil War.
I recommend this book for those looking for more on the birth and development of this nation.
 I concur with the others ... November 9, 2007
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
I am glad to see that my contentions are well supported by the other reviews posted here. This book is, unfortunately, a sub-standard work. Its strength, which some felt was off the direct topic, is Mr. Langguth's treatment of the political climate leading up to the War of 1812. As mentioned elsewhere, a couple of the errors in this book are so blatant that it is hard to see how they got into the book, let alone how they would have survived even a rudimentary editing or vetting process. Sorry, but if you are going to only read one book about the War of 1812, don't make it this one.
 Good Anecdotes but Too Many Editing Errors, OK 3.5 October 8, 2007
3 out of 5 found this review helpful
One of the major problems with this book (give it a C+) is that it doesn't seem that the editor had a strong grasp of the subject. As an aside, the book is dedicated to the editor by the author (maybe they both need help). Other reviewers have mentioned mistakes, here is another: in the text a general in 1813 is referred to as "Military Governor of Ohio Territory" ; Ohio was admitted to the Union in 1803.
This is not the only time that the states and territories are mixed up or that placement is wrong. During the description of the Battle of New Orleans, he mentions a ship sailing 'down' the Mississippi (south) and then firing at the British on the east bank with their starboard guns. Any sailor will tell you that you have to be facing north to fire your starboard guns in an easterly direction. Of course the boat could have been turned around, but why? Sure it's a little picky, but that's what history is about.
He does do a good job of entertaining us with anecdotes that add to our knowledge of many of the 'Founding Fathers', but it doesn't make up for the mistakes on so many of the other stories. That's another point that I would like to make. The book reads like a compendium of the works of many writers, and not the seamless work of one author. Could it be possible that some of his helpers and researchers did a 'little' of the writing? See for yourself.
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