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Amateurs, To Arms!: A Military History Of The War Of 1812 (Major Battles & Campaigns) Paperback – August 22, 1995

by John R. Elting (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 55 ratings
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"A gripping narrative of an unpopular and badly fought war--a century and a half before Vietnam--that will shock the uninformed reader."--Military History





Begun in ignorance of the military reality, the War of 1812 was fought catch-as-catch-can with raw troops, incompetent officers, and appallingly inadequate logistics. The odds against the American fighting forces-woefully unrealistic preparations and expectations, British military might, a feckless Congress and administration, the treason of many citizens who fed and praised the enemy-were overwhelming. American soil was invaded along three frontiers, the national capital was occupied and burned, and the secession of the New England states loomed as a definite possibility.





Amateurs, to Arms! examines in succession the campaigns of "Mr. Madison's War": the U.S. invasion of Canada; the key naval battles on Lakes Erie and Champlain; the British invasion via the Chesapeake Bay and its repulse at Baltimore; and the campaign leading to the American victory at New Orleans, fought and won after the war was over. Elting describes the planning and preparations (or lack of them) for the campaigns, tells how they were fought, and analyzes the battlefield performance of both sides. Specially prepared maps and numerous illustrations complement Elting's vivid, penetrating account of how the young republic fought and nearly lost its "Second War for Independence."
Previous page
  1. Part of series
    Major Battles and Campaigns
  2. Print length
    372 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    August 22, 1995
  5. Dimensions
    8.42 x 5.34 x 1.09 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0306806533
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0306806537
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Amateurs, to Arms! Examines in succession the campaigns of 'Mr. Madison's War': the U.S. invasion of Canada; the key naval battles on Lakes Erie and Champlain; the British invasion via the Chesapeake Bay and its repulse at Baltimore; and the campaign leading to the American victory at New Orleans, fought and won after the war was over. Elting describes the planning and preparations (or lack of them) for the campaigns, tells how they were fought, and analyzes the battlefield performance of both sides.

About the Author

Colonel John R. Elting has edited and written numerous books on military history, including Amateurs, to Arms!: A Military History of the War of 1812 and A Military History and Atlas of the Napoleonic Wars.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Da Capo Press (August 22, 1995)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 372 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0306806533
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0306806537
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.01 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.42 x 5.34 x 1.09 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 55 ratings

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John R. Elting

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
55 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Jim Pascal
5.0 out of 5 stars Growing Pains
Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2018
Verified Purchase
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
4.0 out of 5 stars Elting on War of 1812
Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2014
Verified Purchase
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
5.0 out of 5 stars Concise, Compelling, Highly Opinionated General History of the War of 1812
Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2014
Verified Purchase
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
5.0 out of 5 stars Military Lessons in What Not to Do
Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2013
Verified Purchase
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
5.0 out of 5 stars Superb
Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2008
Verified Purchase
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
3.0 out of 5 stars Amateurs, To Arms!: A Military History of the War of 1812
Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2012
Verified Purchase
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
4.0 out of 5 stars Nice
Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2013
Verified Purchase
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
5.0 out of 5 stars War of 1812 in one volume
Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2019
Verified Purchase
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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Top reviews from other countries

Cosmo lang
5.0 out of 5 stars Colonel Elting always delivers!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 20, 2015
Verified Purchase
Tremendous value combined with good service.Clear concise no frills prose.
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