The dawn's early light

Published in 1972, this book is narrative non-fiction about the War of 1812. It includes the Battle of Bladensburg, the burning of Washington, the Battle of Baltimore, defense of Fort McHenry, Francis Scott Key’s writing of a poem that became America’s anthem, and the Battle of New Orleans. The majority takes place in 1814. A highlight for me is Monroe scouting hither and yon on horseback to surveil the terrain and report back to President Madison. Another was Madison finding himself on the front line of battle at Bladensburg, finally relocating to the rear at his aides’ suggestions. Walter Lord had the rare ability to paint pictures with words. He follows individuals from both the American and British sides at all levels. He show more provides the background, context, and reasons this war occurred. It is well-written and kept my interest from beginning to end. show less

This is a really rather exciting, even thrilling tale of the military adventures of the British in America in the War of 1812 focusing on occupying DC and destroying or damaging key buildings and other area destruction before being repelled by Fort McHenry, thus saving Baltimore from its full wrath. There is also the story of the Battle of New Orleans. What stood out to me was in this pointless war (no side got what it wanted or much of anything) was the shenanigans of Villeré whose name is on a street I often travel. Disregarding orders to secure Bayou Bienvenue for the convenience of his own plantation, he was captured there by the British only to jump out of a window and claim importance as the first to warn Jackson.

Being a military show more history, really, there is little political history. So, Federalists are remarked as being tolerant of or supportive of the British. It is not explained if this is due to specific policies of the Democratic-Republican Party or of Madison particularly.

There are a lot of details of Key's negotiations to free a civilian POW and inspiring witness to the Congreve "rocket's red glare".

I am reading now in Odessa: Genius and Death in a City of Dreams of "the many independent groups that form during war and revolution" during the "rolling pogroms" of the Russian civil war and see in this book with the vignettes of collaboration, indifference, bartering for private property and lack of success in enlisting American slaves (Britain did have some success in forcible deportation, including to Halifax) and I suspect such stories of varied loyalty and alignment will emerge from the histories to be written of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. show less

The United States seemed on the point of collapse. With the British blockade strangling her trade, the economy of the young nation was in ruins, and no w Washington itself lay at the mercay of an inva ding English army. But there was a turning point and..