No Sacrifice Too Great by William C Hammond

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


It is August 1812, and Americans are once again at war with Great Britain. Lieutenant Jamie Cutler serves under Captain Isaac Hull aboard the USS Constitution. On the nineteenth, lookouts spot an enemy frigate, HMS Guerrière. The ensuing battle pits an unseasoned crew against veterans who have been fighting for two decades. Hardly a fair fight, yet the Americans achieve the impossible and sail home to Boston with a prize.

The annexation of Canada is a much sought-after goal of many Americans. To that end, brother Will Cutler serves under Captain Oliver Hazard Perry on the Great Lakes. This new assignment will test the young lieutenant and his fellow Americans as they fight for control of Erie and Ontario.

Worries and finances snap at their father Richard’s footsteps during his retirement. The family business is on the brink of collapse as a result of the embargoes and the war which have greatly crippled trade. This is the life’s blood of many New Englanders who rely on the sea to sustain them. It is why brother Caleb is so opposed to the current administration in Washington. At times, his words and actions border on treason. Richard’s beliefs are too ingrained to go against his country, which is why, when asked to rejoin the navy as a special emissary and renew an old acquaintance with Jean Laffite, he heeds the call.

Cousin Seth is a lieutenant aboard HMS Seahorse, one of the vessels in Rear Admiral Sir George Cockburn’s fleet. They seek enemy privateers in the Chesapeake Bay. Plans are also afoot to strike a blow that the Americans will long remember and will finally exact payback for transgressions in Canada.

Conflict demands sacrifice, which comes in many different colors, and each Cutler pays a price for their devotion to duty and honor in this sixth volume of The Cutler Family Chronicles. Spanning two and a half years, these men bear witness to the lesser-known, but equally important, events of the War of 1812: an amphibious assault on the Niagara River, Cockburn’s raids along the Chesapeake, the Hartford Convention, the duel between USS Chesapeake and HMS Shannon, the invasion of Washington, and the Battles of the Thames, Plattsburgh, Northpoint, and Fort Saint Philip. Aside from the historical personages already mentioned, appearances are made by Tecumseh, Commodore Isaac Chauncey, and Colonel Winfield Scott.

Every once in a while, a scene steps away from the story’s action to explain the past and provide background for the present. One example occurs in the opening scene of the fourth chapter. Although a work of fiction, there are a few minor historical bobbles. For example, Governor Claiborne was based in New Orleans, rather than Baton Rouge, which didn’t become the capital of Louisiana until 1849. Nor did Jean Laffite stay true to his promise to earn an honest living. While those familiar with the characters and series will easily forgive these weaknesses, newcomers may not find this title as riveting as previous ones. All readers will agree, however, that the poignant ending clearly shows why no sacrifice is too great to those who willingly fight for what they believe in.




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