The War of 1812, seen through the eyes of Mr. Harry L. Coles, seems to be a war of lost victories, overblown ideas and swift retreats. The idea that the United States of America could win the war, in hindsight, seems down right sad. The US Navy had only 16 ships of any worth. The Army looked good, on paper, but in real life was mostly made up of ill-disciplined militia and untrained regulars who were directed, most of the time, by poor leaders and poor strategy. The government was not able to rise the funds or soldiers needed to carry out the large scale operations the military were dreaming of.
But the British and Canadian side had their own problems also. The European military system just did NOT work well in North America. Also, like the Americans, they had problems with communication, transportation and the rising of, training of and equipping of the militia. The British Navy, in the opening stages of the war, found their reputation much tarnished by the American victories. And even with peace breaking out in Europe the British Empire still had to keep an eye on the French and the Russians.
This book is a must for any American who wishes to understand how the nation, and government, changed in the early 19th Century. The only flaw, and this is my only issue with the work, is the lack of background for many of the major and minor players of this conflict. While many readers in the USA may know Oliver Perry, Andrew Jackson and Winfield Scott, I am ashamed to say I doubt many know who Henry Procter, Robert Ross or George Cockburn were. Mostly because they were on the other side of a conflict that we think of as a minor one.
While the time line and the maps were pretty helpful I think more time spent on filling out the people and places of the conflict would have been a greater help.