Amateurs, to Arms!: A Military History of the War of 1812 - John R. Elting - Hardcover Book

In this history, Elting argues that the War of 1812 was the war Americans were least prepared for in their entire history; as the title suggests, Elting emphasizes the amateurishness of US forces and argues that tactical victories made the difference in the end, although, of course, nobody really won the war.

The book is almost entirely a military history, as the title indicates. There is little discussion of policy or politics, except to the extent that their incompetence affected military operations, especially in regards to the selection of commanders on the American side. Elting tells the story from both sides, and the narrative is pretty vivid, especially the Washington-Baltimore campaign and the battle of New Orleans. Elting also writes with wit, such as when he describes the duel between American officers Alexander Smyth and Peter Porter (“unfortunately, both missed”).

Interesting, vivid, and fairly well written, despite some generalizations here and there.