Just Finished Reading: Guns Off Cape Ann by Kenneth Poolman (FP: 1961) [154pp] 

After years of having their ships harassed and their crews ‘pressed’ into service American patience finally gave way and war was declared. Already deep into its own war with Napoleon, Great Britain was dismissive of this latest act of an upstart nation and with good reason. The Royal Navy, who would be taking the first actions of the conflict, had over a thousand vessels it could call upon whilst the newly formed United States Navy had SIXTEEN. The ‘war’ was going to cause barely a ripple.  

The shock of the first ship to ship fight can be imagined. When the two frigates faced off the outcome was confidently expected – an easy and clear victory for the British. Unfortunately for the pundits at the Admiralty in London it was quite the reverse with the British ship being comprehensively defeated. Tricks, it was proposed, or bad luck! Yet when the navies met again, and again, each time the British ship was roundly defeated. Disbelief was followed by panic. Could the minute American navy really represent a credible threat? More ships were sent across the Atlantic to bolster the overwhelming force already present but it wasn’t a matter of numbers, not at all. It was a matter of neglect, pride and complacency. Something needed to be done to regain the pride and place of the senior service and the British had just the man to do it. 

Captain Philip Broke of the British frigate Shannon was a man who knew his ship and his crew very well indeed. They had sailed together and trained together for years and the ship was renowned for its skill in gunnery. Facing him, presently in Boston harbour, was his opposite number Captain James Lawrence of the American frigate Chesapeake. He was new to the ship (only taking command a matter of days previously) and had hardly begun to know the officers or crew who manned her. Without the benefit of a shakedown cruise or a much-needed refit, Lawrence was determined to make his mark and his name by continuing Britain’s humiliation. Sailing out of harbour he was determined that he would use no tricks, no finesse, no clever tactics but would face his British adversary broadside to broadside. That would be a fatal mistake. 

A mere 13 minutes after the sound of the first cannon shot had faded both ships were wrecked and over a hundred men lay dead or dying. But the Chesapeake took by far the most damage. Barely able to keep afloat and with all of its officers either dead, dying or injured (including its captain who was mortally wounded), boarded and with its ensign struck it was eventually towed to Halifax, Nova Scotia as a prize. Honour had been restored at a great cost to all involved and many lessons had been learned – at least for the British. 

The War of 1812 seems to have been largely forgotten by the world and by historians. Naturally it was overshadowed by the much larger and much more significant Napoleonic Wars but still it does seem somewhat more than an oversight. I can’t help wondering if both sides aren’t more than a little embarrassed about it all. The notable absence (or at least rarity) of books on the subject seems to point that way. I came across this old, slim and out of print volume almost by accident and have only managed to acquire two more books – one almost as old – on the subject. It was an interesting little scrap for a number of reasons and I’m interested to find out more about it. This book filled in a very small part of the story but I need something a bit more expansive. I hope that will be covered by my next book on the subject. A recommended read, especially for all Age of Sail enthusiasts, if you can source a copy.   

Just Finished Reading: When Britain Burned the White House – The 1814 Invasion of Washington by Peter Snow (FP: 2013)

My knowledge of the War of 1812 was, until I read this informative and entertaining little (239 page) book, practically non-existent. It is, as far as I know, a largely forgotten and ignored conflict over here. I understand that its profile is much bigger in the US. I suppose that I get some points for knowing that the conflict actually occurred. I did, however, think that it was over and done with during the year of 1812 (hence the name). So I was a little surprised with the books sub-title. I was also rather surprised as to the extent of the Whitehouse fire. I believed, rather erroneously, that a British fire had merely scorched the edifice of the Whitehouse rather than completely destroyed the interior. I also had no idea who actually won this particular spat. It seems that it was, in the end, pretty much a draw although it seems that both sides claimed a victory of sorts. We Brits walked away after ‘teaching the Colonials a lesson’ and the USA fought off a world Imperial Power with effectively a ‘rag-tag army of volunteers’. Naturally things were rather more complicated.

Of course a major problem with the War of 1812 was the timing. Being already embroiled in a fight to the death with Napoleonic France an attack on Canada and a declaration of war by the ex-Colonies was felt very much like a stab in the back. Unfortunately we really didn’t have the resources to apply to the problem until Napoleon capitulated and was sent off the exile. With the needed resources now available a much larger force was sent across the Atlantic to ‘give the Americans a drubbing’. In true British style, of course, we sent too small a force to do very much and ordered them to be very careful not to be beaten and humiliated again as they had been in the War of Independence. But, this was the army that had repeated defeated the best of the French generals in Europe and beyond so wasn’t going to pussyfoot around. Determine to make a mark the set about landing troops and basically causing as much trouble as possible. The question was, of course, where could the Brits get the best propaganda victory for the least outlay in gold or blood? The two most tempting objectives where Baltimore and Washington. Baltimore was an economic target but Washington, still under construction, proved too tempting. The idea of taking the enemy capital was just too much to ignore. After facing and defeating several militia armies Washington was indeed taken and selected political targets burned to the ground – all against the express orders of the British commander located back at the landing point. But with the enemy scattered and the capital in flames he could hardly court-martial the hero of the hour. But was the act enough to force the US back to the negotiation table? Maybe just one more example of British power would do it. On to Baltimore! Time was now against the British and Baltimore was a much tougher nut to crack. Already well defended its defences grew even stronger by the day. The shame of Washington had turned to anger and hundreds of men flocked to defend the city every day. But this merely proved to the British that the burning of Baltimore would be all the sweeter. Of course it was not to be. The defences when they were met proved too formidable and without naval support, held at bay by Fort McHenry and others, the small British army could not advance without taking unacceptable losses. Withdrawal was the only sensible option. Soon after agreements were made and the unnecessary war was over – but not before the abortive attack on New Orleans had failed miserably.  

Until recently my knowledge of early American history has been frankly pitiful. Thanks to be two recent history books I certainly know a lot more – admittedly from a very low base! This book in particular was an easy read despite its general unfamiliarity. The author, who I ‘know’ from his TV appearances often alongside his historian son, has a wonderful voice and can convey sometimes complex events with a breezy exciting prose that can leave you breathless as each chapter ends. If, like me, you were ignorant of this rather unusual conflict you could do a lot worse than by starting to address that ignorance here. Recommended.

Just Finished Reading: The Far Side of the World by Patrick O’Brian

The Western Mediterranean: 1812. Captain Jack Aubrey (played by Russell Crowe in the 2003 movie adaptation Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World) is looking with regret at the probable end of his navy career and the breaking up of his beloved frigate Surprise. Awaiting orders to return to England he is given instead orders to pursue and engage an enemy frigate reported to be making its way to the Southern Pacific ocean in order to endanger the British whaling fleet based there. But to find such a mall target after a voyage of thousands of miles with a mixed crew of old salts and new recruits will test all of his abilities to the limit and that is even before they attempt to cross the treacherous waters of Cape Horn.

Despite not being Russell Crowe’s biggest fan I enjoyed this naval romp at the movies and even picked up the DVD once it hit the cheap box. So when I had the opportunity to pick up the 1984 novel I did so expecting a story of tense naval warfare in the Napoleonic Age. Without going into too much detail or giving too much away I really didn’t get what I expected. The first thing that jumped out at me was the rather fundamental difference in Aubrey’s enemy. In the movie it was quite clearly a French frigate up to no good although it had been built – if memory serves – in Boston. In the book the frigate was American and rather than being based during the Napoleonic War was instead based during The War of 1812 when Britain and American were at war with each other. As I read more and more of this comparatively brief novel (running to just over 340 pages) it dawned on me that this was a completely different story than that portrayed on film. Apart from the main players (including the good Doctor Maturin played by Paul Bettany) and the bare facts of the plot it transpired that nothing else made it from the book to the screen. That didn’t, however, make this any less interesting or readable. Within a handful of pages I found myself hooked by the early 19^th Century language (gleaned from actual Admiralty reports apparently) and the completely unapologetic – and unexplained apart from a detailed diagram in the preface – use of sailing terms used at the time. It did take a little while to get my head around the terminology but by the half way mark I was pretty confident that I could tell the difference between a studdingsail and a top gallant. Of course I already knew my jibs from my spankers but then who doesn’t?

I think what the author was going for, and admirably achieving, was a total emersion in a world long gone (unless that is you’re one of those people who can afford to go sailing on a regular basis). It was a world where it took weeks or moths to get any great distance and where being years away from home was hardly remarked upon. I did find myself more than once struggling to regain the 21^st Century after being lost in the early 19^th for more than half an hour. With an almost effortless style O’Brian managed to drop me right in the middle of things and expected me to get on with them and to, in effect, sink or swim. It was an interesting experience that I shall be repeating in the not too distant future. The only slight warning I would give is the unstated expectation that you are willing to learn your way around a Royal Navy frigate and to cope with a whole different set of terms I for one had never come across before. It is an effort (or it was for me) but it’s most definitely worth it. Recommended.