Download or read book Leadership and Tactics During the Northern Campaign of the War of 1812 From the Niagara to Lake Champlain The Battle of Queenston Heights Crysler s Farm and the Battle of Chippawa written by U. S. Military and published by . This book was released on 2018-05-11 with total page 91 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: American military historians have identified a trend in the US Army to start wars unprepared and ultimately emerge victorious having improved along the way. The War of 1812 set the standard in showing up unprepared, learning in early defeat, and emerging with a valid claim of martial competence. Historians tend to focus on the popular wars such as the Civil War and the World Wars, and forget the War of 1812. This forgotten war took place in the midst of profound changes in western military affairs. As the wars in Europe and North America ended, warfare once again stood at the precipice of change. This thesis identifies the ways in which these concepts improved, why they improved, and how leaders made the changes. It uses the evidence available to show that the Army learned from its mistakes and implemented changes. Leaders at all levels identified failures and made changes without any senior leader taking full ownership of any of the mistakes, mostly blaming circumstances or other leaders. During the northern campaigns, from the Niagara to Lake Champlain between 1812 and 1814, the Madison administration made annual changes to the force leadership and logistics systems hoping to improve the fighting force. This thesis investigates one significant battle each year from 1812-1814. It analyzes the preparation, the fight, and the aftermath with a focus on broader tactics and formations used from the beginning of each battle to its climax, while recognizing the impact of leadership. The focus is the specific identification of shortcomings on the part of the battle leadership, whether the changes had any tangible effects, or if the force just improved from experience verses actual changes in the conduct of the war. The thesis examines the conditions politically that led to the U.S. conducting this war with an unprepared Army, untrained volunteers, and a grand militia only on paper. It addresses training with regard to discipline and tactics to discuss clearly the way in which the United States Army prepared for and fought battles. Finally, it examines leader impact as the keystone that implements or inhibits change. It answers the question, "How did U.S. Army leaders change their tactics and training methods between 1812 and 1815, why did they change, and to what effect did those changes influence the fight?" To begin, one must understand how the U.S. Army and its governing administration entered into the fight in the first place. How did the US Army train and fight at the beginning, middle, and end of the war in terms of preparation, employment, and execution in combat? What tactics and training were in use in each of the studied battles? What changes occurred, between battles, and were they institutional or leader driven? Did doctrine follow or lead these changes? What improvements if any, did leaders make? It shows that the U.S. Army and the War Department at all levels identified shortcomings in their efforts to raise, train, equip, and fight. They made adjustments, albeit rather slowly and ineffectively. Probably the most important change made was the selection process of the Army's leadership.
Download or read book A Very Brilliant Affair written by Robert Malcomson and published by US Naval Institute Press. This book was released on 2003 with total page 364 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Analyzes the American army under Stephen Van Rensselaer and puts an end to many myths of what many call the Second War of American Independence.
Download or read book The Battle of Queenston Heights written by John Symons and published by Thompson & Company. This book was released on 1859 with total page 72 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book The Battle of Lake Champlain written by John H. Schroeder and published by University of Oklahoma Press. This book was released on 2015-03-18 with total page 220 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: On September 11, 1814, an American naval squadron under Master Commandant Thomas Macdonough defeated a formidable British force on Lake Champlain under the command of Captain George Downie, effectively ending the British invasion of the Champlain Valley during the War of 1812. This decisive battle had far-reaching repercussions in Canada, the United States, England, and Ghent, Belgium, where peace talks were under way. Examining the naval and land campaign in strategic, political, and military terms, from planning to execution to outcome, The Battle of Lake Champlain offers the most thorough account written of this pivotal moment in American history. For decades the Champlain corridor—a direct and accessible invasion route between Lower Canada and the northern United States—had been hotly contested in wars for control of the region. In exploring the crucial issue of why it took two years for the United States and Britain to confront each other on Lake Champlain, historian John H. Schroeder recounts the war’s early years, the failed U.S. invasions of Canada in 1812 and 1813, and the ensuing naval race for control of the lake in 1814. To explain how the Americans achieved their unexpected victory, Schroeder weighs the effects on both sides of preparations and planning, personal valor and cowardice, command decisions both brilliant and ill-conceived, and sheer luck both good and bad. Previous histories have claimed that the War of 1812 ended with Andrew Jackson’s victory at the Battle of New Orleans. Schroeder demonstrates that the United States really won the war four months before—at Plattsburgh on Lake Champlain. Through a comprehensive analysis of politics and diplomacy, Schroeder shows that the victory at Lake Champlain prompted the British to moderate their demands at Ghent, bringing the war directly and swiftly to an end before Jackson’s spectacular victory in January 1815.
Download or read book Staff Ride Handbook for the Niagara Campaigns 1812 1814 War of 1812 New York and Canada Settlements Queenston Heights Stoney Creek Chippawa Lundy s Lane Fort Erie President Madison written by U. S. Military and published by . This book was released on 2017-05-30 with total page 149 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This staff ride handbook covers the War of 1812 in the Niagara region. Subjects covered include: Stephen van Rensselaer, Henry Dearborn, Winfield Scott, Jacob Brown, Gordon Drummond, Red Jacket.Between 1812 and 1814, the US Army fought a series of actions centered on the thirty-seven mile river boundary separating the United States from what was then the British province of Upper Canada. These battles are interesting for a variety of reasons. The War of 1812, during which the Niagara frontier saw the majority of ground combat, is often cited as an example of national unpreparedness leading to a series of military defeats and a failure to accomplish the national goals. The conflict also saw the transformation of the US Army from a frontier constabulary into the tactical equal of one of the most professional armies of its time - the British Army in Canada. The tactical actions then showed a slow maturation of capabilities on the US side. This evolution was difficult, with more defeats than victories accruing to American arms. Yet through it all, the emergence of effective and determined leaders and trained organizations established a legacy still valid for today's fighting forces. Indeed, the lineage of several Army organizations begins with service at Chippawa and Lundy's Lane. Graduates of the fledgling US Military Academy who were present on these battlefields, although few in number, established by word and action that institution's creed of Duty, Honor, Country. The Army that emerged from this conflict started on a path to professionalization that we continue to travel today. This handbook provides the framework for staff rides that can impart insights relevant to the modern military professional. Along with introductory sections that explain the background of the war, and the tactics and weapons of both armies, are chapters that provide detailed guidelines on how to structure and conduct a staff ride in this region. Each chapter provides descriptions of the "stands," or stops on the battlefield, where one can observe the terrain, read a narrative account of the action, and consider the factors that shaped decisions made by key leaders on that spot and on others nearby.Chapter 1 - War of 1812 Armies * American Forces * British Forces * Native Forces * Weapons * Tactics * Chapter 2 - The Niagara Region * Introduction * Topography * New York Settlement and Fortifications * Upper Canada Settlement and Fortifications * Chapter 3 - The 1812 Campaign * Campaign Overview * The Battle of Queenston Heights * The Aftermath * Suggested Stands Introduction * Stand 1: The Wharf at Queenston * Stand 2: The Redan * Stand 3: The Final Battle on Queenston Heights * Chapter 4 - 1813 Campaign * Campaign Overview * The Battle for Fort George * The Battle of Stoney Creek * The Battle for Beaver Dams * Suggested Stands Introduction * Stand 1: The Landing Beach * Stand 2: Fort George * Stand 3: Stoney Creek-Battlefield Park * Stand 4: Lion Monument/Smith's Knoll * Stand 5: Fort Niagara * Chapter 5 - 1814 Campaign * Campaign Overview * The Battle of Fort Erie * The Battle of Chippawa * The Battle of Lundy's Lane * The Siege of Fort Erie (British Assault) * The Siege of Fort Erie (The Sortie) * Suggested Stands Introduction * Stand 1: Ussher's (Streets) Creek Bridge. * Stand 2: The American Line * Stand 3: Lundy's Lane * Stand 4: Fort Erie - the Southeast Bastion * Stand 5: Fort Erie - the Ditch outside the Northeast Bastion * Stand 6: Fort Erie - Inside the Northeast Bastion * Stand 7: Inside Fort Erie - the Northwest Bastion * Appendix A - Orders Of Battle * Appendix B - Biographical Sketches * Principal US Commanders * Principal British Commanders * Principal Native Leaders * Bibliography
Download or read book Niagara 1814 written by Richard V. Barbuto and published by Lawrence : University Press of Kansas. This book was released on 2000 with total page 456 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Most books on the War of 1812 focus on the burning of Washington, D.C., the Battles of Baltimore and New Orleans, and the war in the Old Northwest. Scant attention, however, has been paid the Niagara Campaign of 1814-the American army's ambitious but failed attempt to wrest Canada from British control. While a few writers have dealt with aspects of this effort, Richard Barbuto is the first to offer a comprehensive study of the entire campaign. Barbuto covers every aspect of a campaign that saw the American army come of age, even as its military leaders blundered away potential victory and the acquisition of a coveted expanse of North American territory. Vividly recreating the major battles on the Niagara peninsula—at Chippawa, Lundy's Lane, Fort Erie, and Cook's Mill—Barbuto also clarifies the role of these engagements within the overall framework of American strategy. Despite early success at Chippawa, four long months of fighting finally ended in something like a draw, with the British still in control of Canada. Barbuto argues convincingly that the American government was never really able to harness, coordinate, and focus its tremendous resources in ways that would have allowed the campaign to succeed. Much of the blame, he shows, can be attributed to the poor leadership and confused strategic thinking of President James Madison and his secretary of war, John Armstrong. The American effort was further undermined by manpower shortages, a few ineffective field commanders, and the army and navy's inability to coordinate their objectives and operations. Even so, Barbuto contends that the American soldier, led by the likes of Jacob Brown and the legendary Winfield Scott, performed surprisingly well against one of the great armies of the nineteenth century. Barbuto's analysis, unmarred by national bias, presents a balanced picture of these events from the perspective of all participants—American, British, Canadian, and Native American. He also fills an important gap by providing the first ever capsule histories of all regimental-sized units involved in the campaign. Breathing new life into these events, his far-ranging study should become the definitive work on this long-neglected campaign.
Download or read book The War of 1812 in the Champlain Valley written by Allan S. Everest and published by Syracuse University Press. This book was released on 2010-11-26 with total page 252 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is the story of marching men and clashing ships, of suffering, and of occasional heroic deeds. As in wars past, and for similar reasons, Lake Champlain and the region surrounding Lower Canada, Vermont, and Upstate New York became one of the major theaters of military action. For two and a half years, people in the region saw armies raised, defeated, and disbanded. They witnessed their own militia repeatedly called out to protect the border areas and to serve as adjuncts to regular army units. Despite a series of disheartening military reverses, loss of life, and destruction of property, civilians maintained a remarkable degree of resilience. They fled if battle threatened but soon returned to pick up the threads of their lives. Everest’s story shows us a war in microcosm and allows us a close-up experience of the small events that helped shape the destiny of a youthful and growing nation.
Download or read book Isaac Brock written by Cheryl MacDonald and published by James Lorimer & Company. This book was released on 2012-05-08 with total page 131 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Isaac Brock is the best-known figure of the War of 1812. He is widely credited as the military leader who frustrated the United States in its ambition to invade and take over Canada. Brock was born in the English Channel Island of Guernsey, where his limited combat experience did nothing to shake his moxy. Before coming to Canada, he faced a challenge to duel; when he insisted the other man be a handkerchief's length away, his opponent was forced to back down. Brock survived family financial disaster and faced desertions and near-mutinies before his successful years commanding his regiment in Upper Canada. As military governor of the colony, he called up the militia to oppose the invading Americans and led his troops into the key Battle of Queenston Heights. He died in the Queenston battle, but his courage inspired his troops to victory -- and even brought tribute from his American foes. In this short biography reflecting recent research and writing by academic historians about Brock and the war, Cheryl MacDonald tells the story of Brock and the War of 1812 in a way that will appeal to any reader, young or old.
Download or read book The Incredible War of 1812 written by J. Mackay Hitsman and published by Spellmount, Limited Publishers. This book was released on 1999 with total page 448 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: J Mackay Hitsman's account is both exciting and authoritative and is regarded by many experts as the best one-volume history of the conflict. It is an engrossing story 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 of the soldiers -- both regulars and militia -- and the difficulties of waging war in largely trackless territory, where rivers and lakes were the main means of transport. His examination of the strengths and weaknesses of the political and military 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. Finally he looks at the treaty that ended the war, and its aftermath. This new edition, edited by War of 1812 scholar Donald E Graves, contains the entire text of the original, new maps and much new material based on recent research. Features: Foreword by Sir Christopher Prevost (descendant of the wartime British commander-in-chief); Illustrations of leaders, uniforms, weapons, warships, medals and battle scenes; 20 maps of campaigns and battles; Appendices listing British and Canadian military units and their modern successors; the First Nations that fought on both sides; the naval strength of both sides; medals and awards; Comprehensive bibliography with over 1,000 entries.
Download or read book The Battle of Queenston Heights written by John Symons and published by Forgotten Books. This book was released on 2017-09-18 with total page 50 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Excerpt from The Battle of Queenston Heights: Being a Narrative of the Opening of the War of 1812; With Notices of the Life of Major-General Isaac Brock, and Description of the Monument Erected to His Memory But unfortunately the news of the repeal of these orders in Council came too late, and having hastily rushed into war it was difficult for America to recede; indeed subsequent events rendered it highly probable that the American Government of that day had anticipated credit from the commencement of the war, especially from the conquest of Canada, which seems to have been regarded as an easy task. Several acts of hostility occurred between the two powers, attended with various success, but we hasten to the beginning of the campaign against Canada. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
Download or read book A Crucible of Fire written by Richard Feltoe and published by Dundurn.com. This book was released on 2014-04-07 with total page 316 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the Battle of Chippawa to Lundy’s Lane, A Crucible of Fire focuses on the period of the War of 1812 leading up to the siege on Fort Erie in September 1814. Following their invasion at Fort Erie and decisive victory at the Battle of Chippawa, an American army of over 5,000 men seemed poised to sweep across the Niagara frontier to Lake Ontario, link up with the American fleet, and complete the final expulsion of the British allied forces from Upper Canada. However, only a month later, the shattered remnants of this force were firmly on the defensive and feverishly digging in as the British advanced to begin the siege of Fort Erie. The fifth book in the Upper Canada Preserved series examines this pivotal period in the course of the War of 1812–1815 with particular emphasis on the events that led up to and took place at the Battle of Lundy’s Lane on July 25, 1814. Excerpts from original accounts, letters, and diaries and a series of new highly-detailed maps place readers on the field where they can follow the action as each phase of this decisive combat took place in the darkness of the night and within earshot of the Great Falls of Niagara.
Download or read book A Narrative of the Affair of Queenstown written by Solomon Van Rensselaer and published by . This book was released on 1836 with total page 286 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book A Matter of Honour written by Jonathan Riley and published by Frontline Books. This book was released on 2010-09-30 with total page 351 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The monument to Isaac Brock (17691812) on Queenston Heights in Canada, as high as Nelsons column in London, pays tribute to the military commander of all troops opposing the American invasion of Canada during the War of 1812. Brocks service during the War of 1812 includes leading the capture of Detroit. He was killed on the morning of 13 October 1812, leading a company of the 49th Foot in a counter-attack on the American lodgement atop Queenston Heights. Although Brock died and his uphill charge against the American muskets failed, the invasion was repulsed soon afterwards. A Matter of Honour focuses on Brocks career as a military commander and also as a civil administrator for the government of Upper Canada. Early chapters deal with his life and military service up to 1791. The book also records his command of the 49th Regiment in the Low Countries and at Copenhagen up to his arrival in Canada in 1802. Brock spent more time in Canada than any other British general who fought in the War of 1812. He faced a difficult situation in Canada, defending a long frontier with meagre resources. However, he was renowned for his resourcefulness, inspiring leadership and ability to keep opponents off-balance
Download or read book The Canadian Theater 1813 written by Richard V. Barbuto and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page 56 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Book Description: 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 President 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. --Introduction.
Download or read book Memoirs of the Campaign of the North Western Army of the United States A D 1812 With an Appendix Containing a Brief Sketch of the Revolutionary Services of the Author written by William Hull and published by Legare Street Press. This book was released on 2023-07-18 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this gripping memoir, William Hull recounts his experiences as a commander in the North Western Army during the War of 1812. From his stirring speeches to his tactical innovations, Hull's leadership played a vital role in securing American victory. With its detailed accounts of battles and maneuvers, its personal glimpses into the lives of soldiers, and its valuable insights into the workings of military strategy and policy, this volume is an essential read for anyone interested in American history and military affairs. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
Download or read book Fire Along the Frontier written by Alastair Sweeny and published by Dundurn. This book was released on 2012-07-28 with total page 274 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A view of the War of 1812 from a social perspective. This book provides a fresh new view of the battles of the war and goes behind the scenes to explore wartime trading activity, particularly American dealings with Napoleon and cross-border commerce, as well as the activities of John Jacob Astor, America’s richest man and war financier, and his fur-trading partners in Montreal. There was a wealth of military screw-ups. What did the generals do before each battle to lose it, and what could they have done to win? And did the incompetence and mixed loyalties of Military Governor Sir George Prevost, grandson of a financier of the American Revolution and nephew by marriage of Vice President Aaron Burr, nearly lose Canada for the British? The book also provides glimpses of some of the fascinating behind-the-scenes players, such as legendary but flawed President Thomas Jefferson, and President Madison’s wife, Dolley, who could have won the war single-handedly had she been able to get all the generals together in the same drawing room.
Download or read book The U S Campaign of 1813 to Capture Montreal written by Robert Sellar and published by Teach Services. This book was released on 2005 with total page 48 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the early 19th century comes a history so rich with heroic tales and epic battles as the early explorers wrestled civilizations out of the bare earth of North America. This time was marked with fierce conflicts and political skirmishes. The strategy was simple enough; the goal was the conquest of Canada. The old invasion route into Canada by way of Lake Champlain and the Richelieu River led directly to the most populous part of the enemy's territory. The US Campaign of 1813 to Capture Montreal tells the story of the struggle between the United States and Britain as they both attempt to be the victor in the capture of Montreal in this important event in the War of 1812. This heroic adventure is set along the St. Lawrence River of southern Canada and northern New York, and comprises many additional locations of modern history such as Fort Covington, Chateaugay, and Burlington, VT. Included are original maps and reports by some of the important figures in this account.
