The War of 1812 was the true making of the regular regiments and corps of the US Army. Three years' fighting against Britain saw the White House burned down, but also the bloody repulse of the redcoats, then the best infantry in the world, on a number of battlefields. The small constabulary force which entered the war - ill-led, ill-supported, and with an uncertain system of supply - ended it as a professional army with a system of command and services equal to any. This meticulous history of the uniforms of the American regulars is illustrated with many previously unseen paintings and photographs.

This work reproduces fifteen War of 1812 manuscripts, including diaries, memoirs, and letters. The accounts provide a range of perspectives on the war's ground conflicts, from officers to enlisted men, volunteers and militia.

The War of 1812 is perhaps the United States' least known conflict. Other than Andrew Jackson's 1815 victory at New Orleans and Francis Scott Key's poem "The Star-Spangled Banner" written in 1814 during the British attack on Baltimore, most Americans know little about the country's second major war. This book will give you a full insight into the second largest military conflict that took place on the soil of North America. Contents: Defending a New Nation 1783-1811 The Campaign of 1812 The Canadian Theater, 1813 The Creek War of 1813–1814 The Chesapeake Campaign, 1813–1814 The Canadian Theater, 1814 The Gulf Theater, 1813-1815

"This is a comprehensive research guide to the careers and manuscript sources for President and Commander-in-Chief James Madison, his secretaries of war, major generals, brigadier generals, departments and regiments during the War of 1812. Each unit has a history and a listing of resources. A directory of manuscript repositories and their addresses is included"--Provided by publisher.

The War of 1812 is perhaps the United States' least known conflict. Other than Andrew Jackson's 1815 victory at New Orleans and Francis Scott Key's poem "The Star-Spangled Banner" written in 1814 during the British attack on Baltimore, most Americans know little about the country's second major war. Its causes are still debated by historians today. Great Britain's impressment of American sailors, its seizure of American ships on the high seas, and suspected British encouragement of Indian opposition to further American settlement on the western frontier all contributed to America's decision to declare war against Great Britain in June 1812.None of these factors, however, adequately explain why Presi-dent James Madison called for a war the country was ill-prepared to wage. Moreover, the war was quite unpopular from the start. Many Federalists-chiefly in the New England states-opposed an armed conflict with Great Britain, continued to trade with the British, and even met in convention to propose secession from the Union. Some members of the president's own Republican Party objected to the war's inevitable costs and questionable objectives, such as the conquest of Canada.To declare war was one thing, but to prosecute it successfully was a different matter. Much of the story of the War of 1812 is about the unpreparedness of America's Army and Navy at the conflict's outset, and the enormous difficulties the new nation faced in raising troops, finding competent officers, and supplying its forces. Most of America's military leaders were inexperienced and performed poorly, particularly in the first two years of war. Only gradually did better leaders rise to the top to command the more disciplined and well-trained units that America eventually fielded. But despite costly initial setbacks, by the time the fighting stopped American arms had won key victories at Chippewa, Lundy's Lane, and New Orleans under excellent officers such as Winfield Scott, Jacob Brown, and Andrew Jackson. Although the United States achieved few of its political objectives in the War of 1812, its Regular Army emerged more professional, better led, and fit to take its place as the foundation of America's national defenses.I encourage all Army leaders and soldiers to read this pamphlet and the others in our series of campaign pamphlets in commemoration of the bicentennial of the War of 1812. We can all profit from greater knowledge about the beginnings of our Army: an Army forged in victory and defeat during what has often been called the second war of American independence.

A complete guide to the armies, weapons and uniforms of the War of 1812, written by Gabriele Esposito A complete guide to the armies, weapons and uniforms of the War of 1812, written by Gabriele Esposito This work will cover the US, British, native and Canadian forces that fought in the conflict, often call the second war for independence. The book will contain a history of the war, battles, key figures as well as maps and figures.