Compiled below is a short listing of books that by no means is a comprehensive list, but it does represent some of the better books still in print. In time this listing will be expanded thereby allowing us to further shed light on many overlooked titles.
Clicking on book covers or links (apart from the last book listed) will direct you to more detailed information provided by Amazon Books.
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A Very Brilliant Affair: The Battle of Queenstown Heights, 1812 by Robert Malcomson. In October 1812 American forces mounted a campaign across the Niagara River into Canada as the opening round a war that lasted three years. The Battle of Queenstown Heights resulted in the death of one of Canada's heroes, Isaac Brock, and came to be viewed as one of the most important battles of the war. This book-the first full-length study to be written-analyses the American army under Stephen Van Rensselaer and examines details of the battle. One of Canada's leading experts on the War of 1812, the author uses firsthand accounts from both sides to illuminate the action and give readers a view of the struggle through the eyes of the participants. In doing so he puts an end to many myths while adding a level of appreciation for the drama and the significance of what many call the Second War of American Independence. 50 illustrations. Notes. 6 x 9 inches. |
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Lords of the Lake: The Naval War on Lake Ontario, 1812-1814 by Robert Malcomson. Of all the struggles that took place along the border between the United States and the British provinces in Canada during the War of 1812, the one that lasted the longest was the battle for control of Lake Ontario. Because the armies depended on it for transportation and supply, control of the lake was a key element in American invasion attempts and the defensive actions of the British. In the end, unprecedented freshwater fleets had been built in Kingston and Sackets Harbour, domination had passed back and forth, but the contest had not been won decisively by either side. Lords of the Lake is the first full-length study of this aspect of the War of 1812. It tells the story of how the contest was waged from the days of the incompetent Provincial Marine squadron to the launch of the 104-gun ship St. Lawrence. The feats and failures of the opposing commodores, Isaac Chauncey and Sir James Yeo, are described, as are the roles played by key military and political leaders in shaping the course of the war. |
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Red Coats & Grey Jackets: The Battle of Chippawa, 5 July 1814 by Donald E. Graves. After two years of frustrating fighting against a well led and professional enemy, on 5 July 1814 the United States Army gained its first major victory against British regulars in a battle fought in the open. This signal event occurred on the fields of Canadian Samuel Street's farm not far from the village of Chippawa. Written to promote the preservation and development of the battlefield, Red Coats and Grey Jackets is the story of the Battle of Chippawa, the opposing commanders, their troops, training and weapons, and the events of a bloody action that left seven hundred men dead or wounded. |
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Where Right and Glory Lead! The Battle of Lundy's Lane, 1814
by Donald E. Graves. Where Right and Glory Lead! is the story of one of the most
hard-fought military actions in North American history. On a summer evening in
July 1814, within sight of Niagara Falls, 5,000 American, British and Canadian
soldiers struggled desperately for nearly five hours in a close-range, vicious battle
that raged on into the dark. By morning more than a third had become casualties of what
one participant remembered as "a conflict obstinate beyond description." In his analysis of this still-controversial battle, Donald E. Graves narrates the background and events of the Battle of Lundy's Lane in precise detail while providing a thorough examination of the weaponry, tactics, organization and personalities of the opposing armies. The result is possibly the most thorough analysis of a musket-period action to appear in print and will appeal to those interested in the War of 1812, Napoleonic warfare and the face of combat. |
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The Incredible War of 1812: A Military History
by J. Mackay Hitsman, Donald E. Graves, Christopher, Sir Prevost.
J. Mackay Hitsman's account of the War of 1812, first published in 1965, is exciting
and authoritative, and is regarded by many experts as the best one-volume history of that
conflict. It is an engrossing account of the causes of the war and of the campaigns and
battles that raged on land and water, from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. Hitsman describes the life and role of the soldiers, both the regulars and the militia, and the difficulties of waging war in trackless territory, where rivers and lakes were the main means of transport. His examination of the strengths and weaknesses of the leaders on both sides helps us to understand the events as they unfold, and he dispels some of the myths that have pervaded earlier accounts. This new edition, edited by well known War of 1812 scholar Donald E. Graves, contains the entire text of the original and much new material. |
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War of 1812: The Land Operations (Historical publication/Canadian War Museum)
by George F.G. Stanley. The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River were the major highways
to the interior of the continent in the early nineteenth century. This meant that there
were few purely land operations: every large-scale military movement had its maritime
component, be it a fleet of bateaux to move supplies in a land of few and poor roads,
or a flotilla of ships to maintain superiority or at least parity on one of the Great Lakes.
Nowhere was this better illustrated than in the west of Upper Canada in 1813, where Perry's
American victory on Lake Erie forced Procter's precipitate retreat and eventual defeat at
Moraviantown. George Stanley's The War of 1812 : Land Operations is widely regarded as the definitive work on land operations in general. This book includes the amphibious operations on the Atlantic seaboards, but not the Battle of New Orleans. |
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Guide Book to the Historic Sites of the War of 1812 by Gilbert Collins. There have been guidebooks to military sites before, but no book has covered the War of 1812 in its entirety. Now for the first time, Dundurn Press can offer this guidebook to all of the major historic sites of the War of 1812, and some of the more obscure ones. In detailing these sites, Collins has included 385 historic sites and markers, twenty-seven maps, and forty-seven illustrations. Utilizing some of the old "pen and ink" drawings from the last century, the author has given a "then and now" feel to the sites. Icons have been associated with each entry so that the reader can know at a glance what is offered at each site. Each entry gives a full history of what occurred and is cross referenced to related sites. The book includes a chronology of the war, and is a handy tool for both the traveller and the historian. This guide fills a gap in the canon of existing War of 1812 literature, and is a welcome addition to the collections of both the serious student of the war and the amateur historian. |
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The Glengarry Light Infantry, 1812 - 1814: Who were they and what did they do in the War?
by Winston Johnston. The story of the Glengarry's is revealed through documentation of their
recruiting, service conditions, their battles against American forces, casualties, service
in peacetime, and a description of the careers of all officers. Also given is the nominal
roll including the names of some 1,400 men who served in the ranks between 16 February 1812
and their disbandment in Kingston, Upper Canada, on 24, June 1816. Available data shows
where Glengarry's were born, where and when they enlisted, recruiter, their discharge
date or method of release, and whether or not they received a land grant in either Upper
or Lower Canada. 363 pages / illustrated B&W/ index & bibliography/6" x 8.5"/soft cover All inquiries: Winston Johnston, 63 Newland Crescent, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island C1A 4H6 CANADA. Email: |
