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John R. Elting

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Amateurs, to Arms!: A Military History of the War of 1812 (MAJOR BATTLES AND CAMPAIGNS) Kindle Edition

by John R. Elting (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.5 55 ratings

Part of: Major Battles and Campaigns (4 books)

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Begun in ignorance of the military reality, the War of 1812 was our "most unmilitary war," fought catch-as-catch-can with raw troops, incompetent officers, and appallingly inadequate logistics. American soil was invaded along three frontiers, thte nation's capital was occupied and burned, and the secession of the New England states loomed as a possibility. In Amateurs, to Arms! distinguished military historian Colonel John R. Elting shows how the young republic fought and almost lost its "Second War for Independence," and how it was saved by the handful of amateur soldiers and sailors who survived, masters their deadly new professions, and somehow battled Great Britain to a standstill along our wilderness borders and on the high seas.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

No other conflict in our history found us so unready or ill-prepared as the War of 1812, argues Elting, who here presents the military side of the war and emphasizes the amateurishness of the Americans who managed to win their "Second War of Independence" despite themselves. Tactical victories, few and far between, made the difference in the end: Oliver Perry's destruction of a British squadron on Lake Erie in 1813, William Henry Harrison's defeat of a British column the following year at the Battle of the Thames. Ironically, the most celebrated clash of the war, Andrew Jackson's 1815 victory at New Orleans, took place two weeks after the signing of the peace treaty at Ghent in Belgium. Elting ( The Superstrategists ) tells the story from the British side as well as the American. He includes a memorable account of the expedition under Robert Ross that won an easy victory over the Americans at Bladensburg, Va., then captured Washington, burning the Capitol and the White House, only to suffer a surprising defeat before Baltimore. This is a lively, well-written account of one of America's long-forgotten, but decidedly major wars. Illustrations.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Having reduced the U.S. Army during the Jefferson administration, the new nation was totally ill-equipped for the war it would wage against British troops in 1812. Plagued with inexperienced recruits, politicians as officers, and a sometimes unsupportive government, the success of the war seemed almost impossible. Elting handles all of these aspects in a manner that would appeal to the general reader of history as well as to the military statistician. Insight into the battles and the leaders is often provided in great detail, and interesting information is also indicated in the footnotes. This book, coupled with J.C.A. Stagg's Mr. Madison's War ( LJ 9/1/83), provides a complete overview of the politics and logistics of the war. With so few books written on the War of 1812, this is essential for any public or academic library.
- Barbara Zaborowski, Cambria Cty. Lib., Johnstown, Pa.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00H91YE1E
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Algonquin Books (September 1, 1991)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 1, 1991
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 5952 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 386 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #959,730 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #175 in War of 1812 History
- #1,751 in 19th Century History of the U.S.
- #1,910 in History of Individual Wars

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4.5 55 ratings

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4.5 out of 5

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Jim Pascal

Growing Pains

Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2018

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John Eltings Amateur to Arms! A military history of the war of 1812 is an action packed blow-by-blow account of our 2nd war of independence against Great Britain. All the campaigns, battles, and skirmishes are here, covering the war years from Jun 1812- Jan 1815. Elting covers all the exciting land and water battles from the Canadian invasion of upper and lower Canada to the Great Lakes battles to the high seas struggles and down to the Indian fighting north and south. Heros like Winfield Scott and Andrew Jackson prove where their legends started. Eltings description of battles and results flow effortlessly together and one can see the American army improving throughout the war after beginning the war with so many old and worn revolutionary soldiers who were just too old for campaigning in the northern wilderness. War secretaries like Eustis and Armstrong didn't help matters much and putting people like James Wilkinson was just asking for trouble. Allowing the White House to be burned was unforgivable. But the land and sea defense of Baltimore was totally heroic. Andrew Jackson's defense and defeat of Wellington's Invincibles at New Orleans with his band of ragtag ragamuffins defies logic and shows the fabric of what America was made of. Elting gives credit to where it is due. Great soldiers and sailors like Scott, Brown, Macomb, Jackson, Coffee, Isaac Hull, Perry, Rogers and Macdonough and many others show what made this country great in it's formative years. After this war came the 'Era of Good Feeling' during the Monroe administration and as America matured our national identity was full realized. Great book.

5 people found this helpful

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Salty Sailor

Elting on War of 1812

Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2014

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Incisive, critical military history of the War of 1812; does not deal with socio-economic aspects. Heavy-handed and superficial on naval affairs.

2 people found this helpful

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John M. Danielski

Concise, Compelling, Highly Opinionated General History of the War of 1812

Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2014

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Colonel John Elting was a wonderful writer, but an opinionated one who brilliantly skewered historical figures he did not like. His writing rippled with passion and a wry, sardonic sense of humor. His analysis was always perceptive and his prose always muscular and decisive. I love it, but he certainly spawned a few well placed detractors. The War of 1812 represents the nadir of American military prowess and Elting does not hesitate to point this out frequently. The USA was never less prepared for a war that almost did not happen. This concise history is the best book I have read about the war that actually explains WHY, rather than merely recounting events. If you want a bland, plodding, thoroughly comfortable recitation of events, this is not the book for you. But if you seek a smart, amusing, incisive analysis delivered by the hand of a master, then this book is a must read.

7 people found this helpful

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K. Collins

Military Lessons in What Not to Do

Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2013

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This is an excellent history of the War of 1812, strictly from the military point of view. It does not go into the political aspects or the causes of the war, except in passing. Elting emphasizes the numerous blunders of inexperienced militia commanders. Some of the "regular army" officers were just about as bad.
THE TWO TAKEAWAYS ARE: One, don't declare a war unless you are actually prepared to wage it (a bit late to tell James Madison), and, two, it is vital for a nation of any size to have well trained, professional soldiers.
WHO'S THIS BOOK FOR? Military history buffs, professional officers, and those who want accounts of the battles and campaigns as a good compliment to books which concentrate on the war declaration debate, partisan politics, or international diplomacy.
WHO'S THIS BOOK NOT FOR? Those who don't care for military history, preferring politics and personality (biography).

6 people found this helpful

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J. Scott Shipman

Superb

Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2008

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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!!

6 people found this helpful

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hagranger

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

Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2012

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I'm personally ambivalent about this book and so is my husband who is a historian. It is very obvious from the first several pages that there is a definite "political" agenda infused throughout the text. All things that happened good were because of "Republican feelings and sentiments" and that all things bad that happened were because of "Democratic feelings and sentiments" -- the writer also posits that President Abraham Lincoln was more aligned with today's Democratic Party ideals. Historical references, battles and campaigns are overshadowed with the "political commentary" cloud. When writing about history it is important NOT to apply modern day "norms" and viewpoints or to presume to know what those in history were thinking or what motivated them. Having been written in 1995 at the time of the President Bill Clinton administration and at the start of the "Tea Party" movement I suspect that this book was written to provide justification for the anti-Clinton and formation of the Tea Party agenda. I wish I'd saved my money and not ordered this book -- too politically motivated.

8 people found this helpful

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Nathan Vigil

Nice

Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2013

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It has some interesting information about the War of 1812 that I never knew. This war is rarely known in many schools.

2 people found this helpful

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mike6

War of 1812 in one volume

Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2019

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The author is a retired military soldier, and he did a brilliant job of covering the entire war in a single concise work. The writing is superb, and he leaves nothing out. His analysis of the war is from a military historian's view.
There are many books on the war of 1812, but this is one of the best ever done. It will be an enduring classic in its field for years to come. A magnificent work of American history anyone can enjoy.

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