The War of 1812 in Person: Fifteen Accounts by United States Army Regulars, Volunteers and Militiamen

by John C. Fredriksen (Editor)

Overview

This work reproduces fifteen War of 1812 manuscripts, including diaries, memoirs, and letters. The accounts provide a range of perspectives on the war's ground conflicts, from officers to enlisted men, volunteers and militia.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786447923
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Publication date:	03/23/2010
Series:	History/Military
Pages:	330
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

The late John C. Fredriksen was the author of more than 20 books about military history. He lived in Smithfield, Rhode Island.

Table of Contents

Foreword Donald R. Hickey 1

Introduction 3

Part I The Regulars

1 Colonel George McFeely, 22nd and 25th U.S. Infantries 5

2 Captain Ephraim Shaler, 25th U.S. Infantry 42

3 Major Jonathan Kearsley, 2nd U.S. Artillery and 4th Rifle Regiment 51

4 Colonel Cromwell Pearce, 16th U.S. Infantry 70

5 Ensign Joseph Hawley Dwight, 13th U.S. Infantry 102

6 Captain Rufus McIntire, 3rd U.S. Artillery 117

7 Colonel William Clay Cumming, 8th U.S. Infantry 143

8 Captain John M. Scott, 15th U.S. Infantry 163

9 Colonel James Burn, 2nd U.S. Light Dragoons 182

10 Lieutenant Reynold M. Kirby, 3rd U.S. Artillery 195

11 Brigadier General George Izard, U.S. Army 218

Part II Citizen-Soldiers

12 Private William Greathouse, Kentucky Mounted Riflemen 238

13 Private Charles Fairbanks, New Hampshire Volunteers 249

14 Anonymous, Fenton's Pennsylvania Volunteers 265

15 Private Nathaniel Vernon, Pittsburgh Blues 294

Bibliography 311

Index 321

Editorial Reviews

One of the most interesting of the handful of books that have been coming out for the bicentennial of the Second War for Independence...of value...a very good book for anyone interested in this most neglected war or in the experience of the American soldier”—The NYMAS Review; “very useful”—Michigan Historical Review; “greater familiarity with the Americans who fought the War of 1812 is essential for military historians and professional soldiers to fully comprehend the development of the U.S. Army. An ideal place to start that journey is John C. Fredriksen’s collection of eyewitness accounts, The War of 1812 in Person. No scholar has made a closer study of the available sources on the American military in the War of 1812...Fredriksen has performed a noteworthy service by resurrecting a lost generation of American soldiers...students and scholars should be grateful for such a firm foundation from which to launch new studies for the War of 1812’s military facets”—Army History; “a wonderful addition to the scholarship of the War of 1812. This book provides students of the conflict with first-hand accounts from the participants themselves. It is essential reading for those who want to know what the war was like from those who fought it”—Northwest Ohio History.

From the Publisher

greater familiarity with the Americans who fought the War of 1812 is essential for military historians and professional soldiers to fully comprehend the development of the U.S. Army. An ideal place to start that journey is John C. Fredriksen's collection of eyewitness accounts, The War of 1812 in Person. No scholar has made a closer study of the available sources on the American military in the War of 1812...Fredriksen has performed a noteworthy service by resurrecting a lost generation of American soldiers...students and scholars should be grateful for such a firm foundation from which to launch new studies for the War of 1812's military facets

Army History

very useful

Michigan Historical Review

One of the most interesting of the handful of books that have been coming out for the bicentennial of the Second War for Independence...of value...a very good book for anyone interested in this most neglected war or in the experience of the American soldier

The NYMAS Review