Description
Book SynopsisWhat did it takelogistically and operationallyfor the small and underfunded US Navy to face the battle-hardened Royal Navy in the War of 1812? Find out in this book, the magnum opus of one of the deans of American naval history. When the War of 1812 broke out, the newly formed and cash-strapped United States faced Great Britain, the world's foremost sea power, with a navy that had largely fallen into disrepair and neglect. In this riveting book, William S. Dudley presents the most complete history of the inner workings of the US Navy Department during the conflict, which lasted until 1815. What did it take, he asks, for the US Navy to build, fit-out, man, provision, and send fighting ships to sea for extended periods of time during the War of 1812?When the British blockade of 181314 severely constrained American sea trade, reducing the government's income and closing down access to American seaports, the navy was forced to innovate: to make improvements through reforms, to redeploy p
Trade ReviewInside the US Navy of 1812-1815 serves a vital function, illuminating an aspect of the war that is often glossed over in other studies. Dudley makes a compelling and engaging argument for the importance of administration and logistics, which, in turn, makes this book an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the second war between the United States and Great Britain.
—Cindy Vallar,
Pirates and Privateers: The History of Martime PiracyInside the US Navy of 1812–1815 is an excellent resource. In addition, this book is essential reading for understanding this chapter in the U.S. Navy's evolution from the Continental Navy of the 18th century to the global power of the 21st century.
— William J. Prom,
U.S Naval InstituteWilliam S. Dudley has focused his career on the early history of the American Navy. His latest book,
Inside the US Navy 1812-1815, is the product of ten years of effort, resulting in an essential volume.
—Laurence Kerr,
Sea HistoryIn this critical new assessment, William Dudley, Director of the US Naval Historical Centre between 1995 and 2004 and founding editor of the essential
The Naval War of 1812: A Documentary History, addresses the maritime dimension of a conflict that has long been at the centre of American naval identity, as visitors to the Naval Academy at Annapolis will have observed.—Andrew Lambert, King's College London,
Northern Mariner/Le marin du nordInside the U.S. Navy will stand for many years as the authoritative source on the war at sea and on inland rivers and lakes. Military, maritime, and naval historians as well as historians of technology and the Early Republic will find this an indispensable reference work.
—Jason W. Smith, Southern Connecticut University,
Nautical Research JournalTable of ContentsList of Figures, Maps, and Tables
Preface
Acknowledgments
Chapter One. The Resources for Naval War
Chapter Two. Paul Hamilton's Ordeal: The Onset of War, 1809–1812
Chapter Three. William Jones's Challenge: A Two-Front Naval War
Chapter Four. From Lake Erie to Lake Huron
Chapter Five. Sailors, Privateers, and Munitions
Chapter Six. The British Blockade of 1813–1814
Chapter Seven. Managing the Navy Department
Chapter Eight. Naval Innovation and Inventions
Chapter Nine. Chauncey's War on Lake Ontario
Chapter Ten. Macdonough's War on Lake Champlain
Chapter Eleven. In Defense of the Chesapeake Bay
Chapter Twelve. Hostilities in the Seaboard South
Chapter Thirteen. Sailors' Life and Work
Chapter Fourteen. War Finance and the Blockade
Chapter Fifteen. Renewal of the US Navy
Notes
Index
