BOOK REVIEW ESSAY A Bevy of Books on the War of 1812… Archives of Archives 61987 Ontario,
The Death of Brock at Queenston Heights by Charles William Jefferys.
Strange Fatality: The Battle September Eleventh 1814: of Stoney Creek, 1813 The Battles at Plattsburgh. by James Elliot by Keith A. Herkalo Montreal: Robin Brass Studio, 2009. 2007. Copies available via
90 Canadian Military Journal • Vol. 10, No. 1, 2009 BOOK REVIEW ESSAY The year 1813 witnessed many land and naval actions ties in the British camp where the ineffective leadership of over a wide geographic area, from the Michigan Territory to Major General Roger Sheaffe, the victor of Queenston Heights the frontier of Lower Canada. Various fac- and successor to Brock as commander of tors left the initiative with the Americans Upper Canada, left the defences of both for most of the year, and 1813 may have York and Kingston in a shambles, and also been the only year of the war where the served to undermine the confidence of his Americans might have dealt a serious blow subordinate commanders. to the British. That spring, the Americans commenced a series of amphibious opera- At almost 500 pages including 58 tions around Lake Ontario, aimed at crip- pages of notes, this is a detailed – perhaps pling British land and naval power. The too much so – and well-documented cam- first of these was aimed at York, the capital paign study. It does provide considerable of Upper Canada, followed by an effort to context to the situation in Upper Canada capture British forces in the Niagara during the early months of 1813, and the Peninsula. In April, York was occupied for background to the American attack. The several days, and many public buildings battle itself is covered in some 40 pages. were destroyed. A month later, the The nine appendices are gems, and they Americans landed in the Niagara Peninsula, offer detailed orders of battle, casualty lists, took the major installation of Fort George, and other information, while several spe- but failed to capture the British and cially commissioned maps help the reader Canadian forces stationed there, who with- follow the narrative. drew westward to Burlington Bay. The Americans then set off in pursuit, halting at Stoney Creek, near the British position. After leaving York to rest and refit at their base in Sacket’s Their camp was then raided in the early hours of 6 June 1813. Harbour, the Americans continued their success with another This action, combined with a British raid upon the American landing in the Niagara Peninsula, but that high tide of victory naval base at Sackets Harbour, produced two effects: the ended abruptly on the 6th of June, 1813, with the Battle of Americans surrendered control of Lake Ontario to the British, Stoney Creek. The battle has since achieved near-mythical and the forces at Stoney Creek were forced to withdraw back status, and while it has been of great interest to historians and to Fort George. The American attack on York, and the British enthusiasts alike, no book-length account of it has appeared, at raid at Stoney Creek are now the subject of two new books. least not until now. James Elliott is an Ontario-based journalist whose interest – some might call it a passion – with respect to Robert Malcomson is an accomplished War of 1812 naval this particular battle resulted in his taking leave from work to historian, and, as of late, he has ventured into writing about write the book. Elliott has crafted a fine overview of the situ- land actions. His A Very Brilliant Affair: The Battle of ation in the spring of 1813, where the British almost evacuated Queenston Heights, 1812 (Toronto: Robin Brass Studio, 2003), the Niagara Peninsula and Burlington Bay, to the daring night was the result of his lifelong study of that time raid by some 766 British, Canadian, battle, while his recent Capital in Flames is and Native troops against the 3000-strong the first book-length account of the American army in its camp at Stoney Creek, American attack on York. just a few miles from the British base atop Burlington Heights. Despite a poor showing during the first campaign season of the war, the Americans The author concludes this was the exploited their control of Lake Ontario to turning point of the 1813 campaign – which launch the opening offensive moves of it was, if one includes the British raid at 1813: an amphibious attack upon the capi- Sackets Harbour for convincing the tal of Upper Canada. It says much of American naval commander, Commodore American resolve and ingenuity that they Isaac Chauncey, to cease cooperation with were able to construct a naval squadron, the American army near Burlington Bay and prepare an assault force in short order and return to his base for two months. for such a complex operation. The land Chauncey’s departure, combined with the component was led by one of the more able loss of both American brigade commanders American generals of the period, Zebulon at Stoney Creek, convinced the Americans Pike, who, sadly for the Americans, was to withdraw from Stoney Creek. Their killed just as he neared Fort York. retreat was further hastened when Malcomson moves between both camps, describing the plans Commodore Yeo’s British naval squadron appeared offshore and problems of both sides in equal detail, such as the difficul- and bombarded the American troops. The text runs to 204
Vol. 10, No. 1, 2009 • Canadian Military Journal 91 BOOK REVIEW ESSAY pages, and is organized in 41 short chapters, making this an York: Cooper Square Press, 2001). Yet, the focus of the book easy, albeit sometimes choppy, read. Supported by several is with the American side of the campaign, thus offering too excellent maps and diagrams, a series of little of the British perspective – particu- appendices that explore a number of themes, larly the important story of the construction including the legend of Billy Green (created of the British naval squadron, and the com- as a Canadian hero to stand alongside Laura petition for resources between Lake Ontario Secord), the preservation of the battlefield, and Lake Champlain. Context is everything. orders of battle, and lists of casualties, Herkalo lives in the Plattsburgh area, and Strange Fatality is a long-needed addition he has studied the campaign for much of to the literature of the war. his life, uncovering several key aspects of the American defences from 1814. Readers may be familiar with the late Jon Latimer’s 1812: War with America To the author’s credit, several post- (London: Belknap Press, 2007), which was action reports by various commanders are a rare British contribution to the literature. quoted at length and a serious effort was Unfortunately, Latimer, who has written on made to undo many of the errors that had a variety of military subjects, passed away crept into the literature, including the myth early in 2009, just before the release of his that the British soldiers were all veterans latest title dealing with the 1814 Niagara from Wellington’s Peninsular Army. Campaign. This addition to the popular Herkalo also offers the full text of Lord Osprey Campaign series uses the formula of Bathurst’s important June 1814 instructions that series well: good maps and imagery, with a well-written to Lieutenant General Sir George Prevost, the governor and text that provides an overview of the longest and most intense commander-in-chief of British North America, that signal the campaign of the northern theatre. The text is based upon the changing British strategy for that year – namely, to secure the extant secondary literature, with a good synopsis of the strate- frontier of Canada and to eliminate potential mounting bases gies, key commanders, and the course of events as it unfolded from where attacks into Canada could be staged. The goal was through the summer of 1814 and its relationship to other cam- not, as is popularly believed, to cut up and occupy territory paigns. The end of the war in Europe allowed the British to within the United States. The War of 1812 was not a second abandon their defensive strategy and to undertake a number of war of independence. offensive operations against the Americans, notably at Washington, Castine, Maine, Baltimore, and in the Gulf of John C. Fredriksen is a noted author of several titles on Mexico. Readers wishing more detailed study should refer to the War of 1812. The United States Army in the War of 1812 the battle and campaign studies by Donald E. Graves (Red is his first book-length study on the subject; previously pub- Coats and Grey Jackets: The Battle of Chippawa, July 1814; lished works have focused more upon matters of dress and Where Right and Glory Lead: The Battle of Lundy’s Lane), Joe equipment, including Canadian René Chartrand’s excellent Whitehorne’s While Washington Slept: The and difficult to find Uniforms and Battle of Fort Erie, and Richard Barbuto’s Equipment of the United States Forces in Niagara 1814: America Invades Canada). the War of 1812 (Niagara Falls, NY: Old Fort Niagara Association, 1992), as well As the fighting raged in the Niagara as two titles in the Osprey Men-at-Arms Peninsula during the summer of 1814, a Series. Fredriksen is known for his exper- major British offensive was underway tise with archival sources, and, in this against Plattsburgh, New York, culminating book, he provides a useful and important in the naval and land battles of 11 September reference on the US Army of the period. 1814. The defeat of the British naval squad- Between November 1811 and July 1814, ron on Lake Champlain caused the British the US Army expanded from an authorized commander to call off the land attack on strength of 9921 all ranks, to over 62,000 Plattsburgh, which had not yet fully devel- men. One can imagine the difficulties this oped. Since the attacks of 11 September brought, especially during wartime; the 2001, these events of 11 September 1814 US Army faced numerous internal chal- have taken on a new life in America. Keith lenges in finding suitable unit and forma- Herkalo’s September Eleventh 1814: The tion commanders, selecting a common Battles at Plattsburgh, is a significant doctrine, developing strategy, and support- improvement upon David G. Fitz-Enz’s ing its armies in the field. Fredriksen poorly-researched and misguided The Final Invasion: examines all these elements, from the office of the com- Plattsburgh the War of 1812’s Most Decisive Battle (New mander- in-chief, through various senior appointments and
92 Canadian Military Journal • Vol. 10, No. 1, 2009 BOOK REVIEW ESSAY the combat arms (artillery, cavalry, engineers, infantry, and learn of junior officers in Kingston or Montreal, with “…noth- rifles), followed by an overview of archival and manuscript ing but a Guinea,” courting, often unsuccessfully, women of depositories. For example, there are entries “haughty beauty” (p. 70, 71); of women for all 48 regiments of infantry raised dur- who ventured below decks of naval vessels ing the war, showing where they were as “…the object of sailors affections, with raised and recruited, a synopsis of their beer cans in hand,” who were known to “… service and battle honours, and lists show- wave their petticoats to the flagship” (p. ing primary and secondary sources for each 194). There are poignant stories, such as unit, making this an extremely useful ref- that of Mrs. Moorsom, whose son Henry, a erence work. lieutenant with the 104th Foot, was lost at Lundy’s Lane on 25 July 1814. He was the The War of 1812 was also noteworthy fifth of five sons, all officers, lost by Mrs for the social/cultural/political division it Moorsom that left her “…and her daughters created in the United States. Few, if any, with the kind of grief that few are called wars have been completely popular in upon to bear.” (p. 354) America and this particular conflict wit- nessed political and regional divisions, This is a rich and varied history that especially with the four states that, at the not only tells the story of these women, time, comprised New England. James Ellis’s wives, sisters, lovers, and mothers, offer- A Ruinous and Unhappy War is certainly ing considerable insight into the officers, not the first book on this topic, but, as the soldiers, and sailors, who, while on cam- author notes in his introduction: “New paign or in garrison, shared as many con- England’s contradictory and controversial cerns about their loved ones as they do roles in this peculiar war form a fascinating today. As such, this is a pioneering work account worth reviewing” (p. 2). Federalist- and one that anyone interested in the War dominated New England continually bad- of 1812 should read. gered the Democratic/Republican-dominated federal government and challenged its con- I must conclude by noting the signifi- duct of the war, while refusing its militias cant contribution of Robin Brass Studio to permission to serve under federal authority. the literature of the War of 1812. This Dissension grew as the economic cost of small, one-man publishing house excels at the war was felt in the region, and as the the little-understood world of book design, British blockade significantly diminished combining superb editing (another dying New England trade. Following a career with skill) a stable of fine authors, cartographers, the federal government, Ellis turned his and artists that has produced some 13 excel- attention to regional history. This is a well- lent books on the war, many of which had researched, balanced, and scholarly study of received international praise. Three of the yet another fascinating element of the war. titles in this review are products of the Robin Brass Studio, along with other titles The final entry is a new work by on the Seven Years’ War, the two world Dianne Graves, author of a well-received wars, general campaign studies, and branch study of John McCrae (Crown of Life: The or arm specific histories. Well done! World of John McCrae, St Catherines, ON: Vanwell Publishing, 1997). In the Midst of ADDENDUM: It is with regret that Alarms is a well-researched and written we acknowledge the recent death of Robert examination of American, British, and Malcomson, who passed away on 21 July Aboriginal women and their experiences 2009 in St. Catharines, Ontario. Just before during the war. Beginning with an overview his death, Bob was awarded the John Lyman of a woman’s lot in the Georgian world, she Book Award for Canadian Naval and then examines the themes of courtship and Military History. marriage, domestic life, childbirth, employ- ment, then social interaction in garrison, onboard ship, in the field and at home, John Grodzinski teaches history at the Royal using excerpts from the diaries, letters, and Military College, where he is also a doctoral candi- memoirs of army wives, naval wives, moth- date. He also leads battlefield tours focusing upon ers, sisters, and other women. Thus we the War of 1812.
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