The Almost Defeat of 1812

Paper Summary:

In "Amateurs to Arms," John Etling makes it apparent that the United States went full forward into the War of 1812 both ignorant of its own shortcomings and poorly organized. Etllng explains both sides' positioning during important battles and sea conflicts, often highlighting the American downfalls that nearly lost them the war in the first years. The paper is of the opinion that Etling has clearly illustrated the timeline of events that led up to America barely saving itself from a foolhardy military endeavor. The paper concludes that the clear lesson to be learned from Etling's description of the War of 1812 is to be prepared.

From the Paper:

"Etling spends much of Amateurs, to Arms! reviewing the battles and sea conflicts of the War of 1812. Etling focuses on facts and military detail, including troop numbers and insight into the decisions (for better or for worse) of the leadership involved. With the use of effective maps and illustrations, he also describes in detail the positioning of forces so that the reader can picture the events clearly. Even with the detail, Etling does not draw out battles or situations that play only small roles. For example, an encounter between Muir and Miller is given only a paragraph of explanation, enough to establish the chain of events that lead to the later actions of both parties (32-33). Establishing the mindsets of key individuals works hand in hand with Etling's clear yet not overly wordy descriptions while explaining where things went wrong for the American forces early in the war."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Etling, John. Amateurs to Arms! A Military History of the War of 1812. Chapel Hill, NC: Algonquin, 1991.

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