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Perilous Fight
In Perilous Fight, Stephen Budiansky tells the rousing story of the underdog coterie of American seamen and their visionary secretary of the navy, who combined bravery and strategic innovation to hold off the legendary Royal Navy.
Budiansky vividly demonstrates that far from an indecisive and unnecessary conflict—as historians have long dismissed the War of 1812—this “forgotten war” had profound consequences that would change the course of naval warfare, America’s place in the world, and the rules of international conflict forever. Never again would the great powers challenge the young republic’s sovereignty in the aftermath of the stunning performance of America’s navy and privateersmen in sea battles that ranged across half the globe. Their brilliant hit-and-run tactics against a far mightier foe would pioneer concepts of “asymmetric warfare” that would characterize the insurgency warfare of later centuries.
Above all, the War of 1812 would be the making of the United States Navy. Even as the war began, the nation was bitterly divided over whether it should have a navy at Jeffersonian Republicans denounced the idea as a dangerous expansion of government power, while Federalists insisted that America could never protect its burgeoning seagoing commerce or command respect without a strong naval force. After the war, Americans would never again doubt that their might, respect, and very survival depended upon a permanent and professional navy.
Drawing extensively on diaries, letters, and personal accounts from both sides, Budiansky re-creates the riveting encounters at sea in bloody clashes of cannonfire and swordplay; the intimate hopes and fears of vainglorious captains and young seamen in search of adventure; and the behind-the-scenes political intrigue and maneuvering in Washington and London. Throughout, Perilous Fight proves itself a gripping and essential work of American naval history.
Budiansky vividly demonstrates that far from an indecisive and unnecessary conflict—as historians have long dismissed the War of 1812—this “forgotten war” had profound consequences that would change the course of naval warfare, America’s place in the world, and the rules of international conflict forever. Never again would the great powers challenge the young republic’s sovereignty in the aftermath of the stunning performance of America’s navy and privateersmen in sea battles that ranged across half the globe. Their brilliant hit-and-run tactics against a far mightier foe would pioneer concepts of “asymmetric warfare” that would characterize the insurgency warfare of later centuries.
Above all, the War of 1812 would be the making of the United States Navy. Even as the war began, the nation was bitterly divided over whether it should have a navy at Jeffersonian Republicans denounced the idea as a dangerous expansion of government power, while Federalists insisted that America could never protect its burgeoning seagoing commerce or command respect without a strong naval force. After the war, Americans would never again doubt that their might, respect, and very survival depended upon a permanent and professional navy.
Drawing extensively on diaries, letters, and personal accounts from both sides, Budiansky re-creates the riveting encounters at sea in bloody clashes of cannonfire and swordplay; the intimate hopes and fears of vainglorious captains and young seamen in search of adventure; and the behind-the-scenes political intrigue and maneuvering in Washington and London. Throughout, Perilous Fight proves itself a gripping and essential work of American naval history.
606 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 23, 2010
About the author
Stephen Budiansky
29 books116 followersHistorian and journalist Stephen Budiansky is the author of twelve books about military history, science, and nature.
His latest book is The Bloody Shirt: Terror After Appomattox, which chronicles the struggles of five courageous men in the post-Civil War South as they battled a rising tide of terrorist violence aimed at usurping the newly won rights of the freedmen.
His latest book is The Bloody Shirt: Terror After Appomattox, which chronicles the struggles of five courageous men in the post-Civil War South as they battled a rising tide of terrorist violence aimed at usurping the newly won rights of the freedmen.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
March 26, 2024
I was looking for a good history book to read and almost picked up another book about World War II--but then decided I wanted to read something about another period of history...and so I read this book about the naval War of 1812. What do most Americans know about the War of 1812? They might know about the Battle of New Orleans and the burning of Washington, DC--and that our national anthem is about the Battle of Fort McHenry...and some might know that the cause of the war was the issue of "freedom of the seas." British warships stopped American merchant ships from trading with the French Empire ( Britain was at war with Napoleon) and, moreover, "impressed" or seized sailors off American ships to serve onboard the British warships. The British would claim that if they were born in Britain they remained Britons, although the impressed sailors claimed to be American citizens. In effect, the British did not recognize American citizenship--or national sovereignty, a humiliation for the United States. While it was claimed that around 6,000 American seamen were impressed from 1803 to 1812, the true figure might be as high as 10,000.
When the USA declared war on Great Britain in 1812, the major goal of the land forces was to conquer Canada. That campaign did not go well, to say the least. But the war at sea gave America some incredible victories. The American Navy was tiny compared to the powerful Royal Navy ( which had destroyed Napoleon's fleet at Trafalgar) but the Americans were able to win a brilliant series of ship-to-ship battles. Budiansky does a great job telling of the bloody clashes at sea, involving great Yankee ships like the USS Constitution, "Old Ironsides," today docked at Boston. I thought the most interesting story was that of the Essex, which made a voyage "around the Horn" into the Pacific to raid British shipping there.
Budiansky goes into the other side of the naval war, not the war as fought by the gallant US Navy, but the war of the privateers upon British shipping. This fit in with Secretary of the Navy William Jones' strategy of hit-and-run raiding to keep the giant Royal Navy off-balance. Jones felt that destroying British commerce and hurting the British economy would be the best way to bring the British to the negotiating table. His strategy worked, as that's what happened.
The negotiations led to the Treaty of Ghent in December of 1814 ending the war, with both sides agreeing to return to the status quo ante, the situation as it was before the war. Nothing was said about freedom of the seas or impressment--but the British had given up impressing American sailors as the war with Napoleon had ended. The war has been called a draw, although one could say Canada was a winner, as it kept its independence from America, which is what it wanted. Budiansky points out that the US Navy was certainly a big winner of the War of 1812. The Navy had won glory- and respect- and showed that there was a real need to maintain a permanent and professional navy, which has continued to this day.
When the USA declared war on Great Britain in 1812, the major goal of the land forces was to conquer Canada. That campaign did not go well, to say the least. But the war at sea gave America some incredible victories. The American Navy was tiny compared to the powerful Royal Navy ( which had destroyed Napoleon's fleet at Trafalgar) but the Americans were able to win a brilliant series of ship-to-ship battles. Budiansky does a great job telling of the bloody clashes at sea, involving great Yankee ships like the USS Constitution, "Old Ironsides," today docked at Boston. I thought the most interesting story was that of the Essex, which made a voyage "around the Horn" into the Pacific to raid British shipping there.
Budiansky goes into the other side of the naval war, not the war as fought by the gallant US Navy, but the war of the privateers upon British shipping. This fit in with Secretary of the Navy William Jones' strategy of hit-and-run raiding to keep the giant Royal Navy off-balance. Jones felt that destroying British commerce and hurting the British economy would be the best way to bring the British to the negotiating table. His strategy worked, as that's what happened.
The negotiations led to the Treaty of Ghent in December of 1814 ending the war, with both sides agreeing to return to the status quo ante, the situation as it was before the war. Nothing was said about freedom of the seas or impressment--but the British had given up impressing American sailors as the war with Napoleon had ended. The war has been called a draw, although one could say Canada was a winner, as it kept its independence from America, which is what it wanted. Budiansky points out that the US Navy was certainly a big winner of the War of 1812. The Navy had won glory- and respect- and showed that there was a real need to maintain a permanent and professional navy, which has continued to this day.
September 20, 2021
Perilous Fight focuses on the naval side of the War of 1812, and especially the character of the American officers and sailors. The war had been brewing for years over the issue of impressment, taking sailors off of American ships and enrolling them into the Royal Navy and American ships carrying trade between blockaded France and her colonies. However, the Navy was in an awful state, due to the doctrine of President Jefferson that an expensive navy was a step towards debt and tyranny.
The US Navy was anchored by the six "super-Frigates" of the Constitution-class (see Toll's Six Frigates for details), which started the war by winning a series of sharp single-ship actions against the British Royal Navy. Some of this was due to larger more heavily gunned ships, but the key element was human. American sailors were well-paid volunteers and their officers promoted by meritocracy. The British Navy was a colossos that strode the world, but their ships had been sailing on blockade duty for years, the sailors were impressed by violence and trickery, and gunnery practice was discouraged.
Single-ship victories could raise morale, but Secretary of Navy William Jones recognized that the war was an economic one, and the path to victory would be in causing enough damage to British trade that mercantile interests would force a treaty. Fast sailing sloops of war wrought havoc across the Atlantic. The frigate USS Essex made the long journey into the Pacific, leading an epic campaign against British whalers that had them interfering in Polynesian tribal wars, before finally being sunk by the British in Valparaiso.
This economic warfare was also carried out by privateers, private ventures to capture ships with a government license. Privateers made a mixed contribution, while they amplified the power of the small Navy, their profit-minded mission meant capturing ships rather than burning them, and privateers and their prizes were often recaptured. Thousands of American sailors wound up in Dartmoor Prison, with some of the better sections focusing on their experience.
Toll's Six Frigates is a better picture of the era, though one focused more on the Barbary Corsairs than the more consequential War of 1812. As a naval history, the land campaigns get short shrift, with the raid on Washington DC the only land battle with significant page count. Still, this is a great book for the era.
The US Navy was anchored by the six "super-Frigates" of the Constitution-class (see Toll's Six Frigates for details), which started the war by winning a series of sharp single-ship actions against the British Royal Navy. Some of this was due to larger more heavily gunned ships, but the key element was human. American sailors were well-paid volunteers and their officers promoted by meritocracy. The British Navy was a colossos that strode the world, but their ships had been sailing on blockade duty for years, the sailors were impressed by violence and trickery, and gunnery practice was discouraged.
Single-ship victories could raise morale, but Secretary of Navy William Jones recognized that the war was an economic one, and the path to victory would be in causing enough damage to British trade that mercantile interests would force a treaty. Fast sailing sloops of war wrought havoc across the Atlantic. The frigate USS Essex made the long journey into the Pacific, leading an epic campaign against British whalers that had them interfering in Polynesian tribal wars, before finally being sunk by the British in Valparaiso.
This economic warfare was also carried out by privateers, private ventures to capture ships with a government license. Privateers made a mixed contribution, while they amplified the power of the small Navy, their profit-minded mission meant capturing ships rather than burning them, and privateers and their prizes were often recaptured. Thousands of American sailors wound up in Dartmoor Prison, with some of the better sections focusing on their experience.
Toll's Six Frigates is a better picture of the era, though one focused more on the Barbary Corsairs than the more consequential War of 1812. As a naval history, the land campaigns get short shrift, with the raid on Washington DC the only land battle with significant page count. Still, this is a great book for the era.
November 19, 2015
This was an excellent book but not mega excellent like some of his other works.
On the plus side, it tells about the obscure war between the US and Great Britain - and Canada - back in 1812-1815, an era before useful modern technology that would let us document stuff in a precise way. So it's almost hearsay, based on letters and some official paperwork. Still, it's an exciting one, because I've heard a lot about this forgotten war from each one of the involved parties. The Americans think they've won big. The Canadians claim they burned the White House, even though it was the British what dunnit. And the British claim it was a silly little war that didn't quite happen.
The writing style is awesome, like all of Stephen's works. He always goes into the personal little details, and always spins a good tale. The ship battles are gruesome and exciting. The political, economic, and even ethnic background stories are fascinating.
However, the second half of the book loses some of its wind [sic]. It focuses more on the diplomatic scheming and less on the actual sea warfare, which kind of made me a little disappointed. I was hoping for more things happening on the high seas, as the title promises. Then, the ending is also a little less satisfactory, probably the war itself was vague and ended vaguely, and Stephen had to wrap it up the best way he could. Normally, he gives a lot of statistics in his books, but this one did not provide me enough numbers to have a full closure.
All that said, it's a great one, and I've bought a few more of his stuff. If you like military history, you should definitely explore Perilous Fight. Just rememeber it won't be as colorful and vivid as the more recent accounts, like the history of aerial warfare, Enigma or U-boats. There's a lot of stuff about medieval honor and conduct back in those days, and reading it feels like a glimpse into an alien world so far removed from ours.
Anyhow, 4.75/5, but not a flat fiver. Well recommended.
Igor
On the plus side, it tells about the obscure war between the US and Great Britain - and Canada - back in 1812-1815, an era before useful modern technology that would let us document stuff in a precise way. So it's almost hearsay, based on letters and some official paperwork. Still, it's an exciting one, because I've heard a lot about this forgotten war from each one of the involved parties. The Americans think they've won big. The Canadians claim they burned the White House, even though it was the British what dunnit. And the British claim it was a silly little war that didn't quite happen.
The writing style is awesome, like all of Stephen's works. He always goes into the personal little details, and always spins a good tale. The ship battles are gruesome and exciting. The political, economic, and even ethnic background stories are fascinating.
However, the second half of the book loses some of its wind [sic]. It focuses more on the diplomatic scheming and less on the actual sea warfare, which kind of made me a little disappointed. I was hoping for more things happening on the high seas, as the title promises. Then, the ending is also a little less satisfactory, probably the war itself was vague and ended vaguely, and Stephen had to wrap it up the best way he could. Normally, he gives a lot of statistics in his books, but this one did not provide me enough numbers to have a full closure.
All that said, it's a great one, and I've bought a few more of his stuff. If you like military history, you should definitely explore Perilous Fight. Just rememeber it won't be as colorful and vivid as the more recent accounts, like the history of aerial warfare, Enigma or U-boats. There's a lot of stuff about medieval honor and conduct back in those days, and reading it feels like a glimpse into an alien world so far removed from ours.
Anyhow, 4.75/5, but not a flat fiver. Well recommended.
Igor
November 29, 2016
A very interesting overview of the War of 1812, focused on the surprisingly effective efforts of the tiny, inexperienced American naval forces against the mighty British Royal Navy.
The war began because Britain was harassing American merchant ships and impressing American sailors. The book covers the struggle to create an American navy, almost from scratch. There was a political battle between the Republicans, who wanted a war but not a navy; and the Federalists, who wanted a navy but not a war.
There’s a fascinating description of the state of the British Navy. It was the most powerful in the world, but it was bogged down in some respects by vaunted traditions which hampered innovation, encouraged widespread corruption, and caused men to be promoted because of their social connections rather than skill in leadership or seamanship.
By contrast the American navy was pitifully small and new, but the ships were a new design, the commanders were likely to be competent, and the crew were volunteers, rather than impressed men. The notable ship-to-ship battles which so shocked Britain are described, as well as the navy’s strategy for opposing an enemy of such overwhelming force.
The war began because Britain was harassing American merchant ships and impressing American sailors. The book covers the struggle to create an American navy, almost from scratch. There was a political battle between the Republicans, who wanted a war but not a navy; and the Federalists, who wanted a navy but not a war.
There’s a fascinating description of the state of the British Navy. It was the most powerful in the world, but it was bogged down in some respects by vaunted traditions which hampered innovation, encouraged widespread corruption, and caused men to be promoted because of their social connections rather than skill in leadership or seamanship.
By contrast the American navy was pitifully small and new, but the ships were a new design, the commanders were likely to be competent, and the crew were volunteers, rather than impressed men. The notable ship-to-ship battles which so shocked Britain are described, as well as the navy’s strategy for opposing an enemy of such overwhelming force.
December 26, 2012
I enjoyed this book which read more like a Tom Clancy novel than a history book. This was a fascinating, detailed, and well-written book on the naval portion of the War of 1812. It was fascinating to learn more about this little known war. How different the world was during this period - personal honor that had to be maintained by duels, of sea captains that financed their own ships and profited from 'legalized' piracy, to name just a few of the historical differences between then and now.
This book did a great job in reminding us about real war - about the brutality, suffering and cost war involves. In today's war of robots, computers, and technology is difficult to imagine sailors decapitated by cannon balls, about shrapnel shot from cannon used to shred ship and men, and hand to hand combat using any instrument at hand as long as it injured, maimed and killed the adversary. Here advanced medicine consisted of sawing off limbs without anesthesia or antibiotics.
The author introduces the tiny United States navy with the war with the Barbary Pirates in Tripoli in 1803. The introduction of the war with the pirates was important because without the battles, the US would not have had a navy of substance with which to fight the British in 1812. The exploits of the navy on the Shores of Tripoli are then followed by the build up to the war between the fledgling United States and Britain. The book is not just a piecing together of facts. The author relies on personal correspondence and journals to give insight into the ideas and the perspectives of the major personalities during the buildup to war. For example, the author pieces together details of the life of the Secretary of the Navy, the actions of the Constitution and the other warships and of the seamen to provide a rich background to the history.
The actions of individual ships are followed during cruises and engagements. The engagements are described in detail from different perspectives amongst the crew and there are even figures showing the position of the ships during the engagements. I found the war in the Pacific to be very interesting with the intrigue in neutral ports, the landings on the Galapagos Islands and the Mutiny on the Bounty-like history of the Essex. Along with the conventional naval engagements, the role of privateers in the war is covered in detail.
Not only are the decisions of those in Washington or the captains of the warships followed, but also the life of the ordinary sailors. The author describes in detail about the life of US seamen captured during naval battles in the days when the trading of prisoners was stopped. The taunts against the British officers by the prisoners who were purposefully starved in the hulls of ships to keep them too weak to escape were very amusing. The life in the horrid Dartmoor prison and how the prisoners coped are described in detail.
Although the book is about the war with Britain on the high seas, the land wars are mentioned as well. The campaigns against Canada are described in passing, but the raids by the British on the towns along the Chesapeake are described in more detail. More attention is also given to the sacking of Washington DC and the Battle of New Orleans which was fought after the war was over.
The last chapter of the book focuses on the events after peace was declared. The chapter begins with the prisoners in Dartmoor being released and having to find their way home. The author aptly describes "the amnesia that sets in after all wars" in an analysis of the outcome of the war and the claims of victory in a war that ended inconclusively. The chapter concludes by relating the lives of some of the key naval figures of the war after peace was declared. Although this chapter was interesting and represented a good follow through from the rest of the book, I was looking for more analysis. There had been so much attention and detail given to the build up to the war and the war itself that the quick ending was a bit of a surprise.
The author's stated thesis, that this war was where the US came of age and was recognized by the world as a nation, doesn't get fleshed out enough, or substantiated in my opinion, but this book is still a great read.
Perilous Fight illustrated how a small poor power confronts, fights, and survives a war against a vastly superior world power. Perilous Fight is extremely valuable because by remembering how our early nation survived and fought England we might do better against our enemies today. Oh that our leaders would read this book. This war ended because the cost of winning was simply too high for England - not because we defeated them.
The heart of the book, however, is the discussion of the political element of the Naval War. In this portion you get introduced to the two civilians who ran it: William Jones, U.S. Secretary of the Navy during most of the war, and William Croker (pronounced "Crocker"), the secretary of the Royal Navy's Admiralty Board. The author spends a lot of time discussing the two men, their direction of the war, and the results of it. He gives Jones high marks for running the Navy (and for a while the whole government) skilfully and carefully. Jones was a strong advocate of the "guerre de course" where the Navy would attack the enemy shipping, rather than their corresponding Naval forces. The thinking was that American frigates might be able to overwhelm their counterparts, but it would only have a marginal influence on the war as a whole, and each such action would risk the destruction of the American ship, which wasn't worth the risk. Interestingly, the British too tried to avoid these single-ship encounters, because their frigates were outgunned by their American counterparts. The British press of the era complained indignantly about the supposed fact that the largest American frigates were really "74's in disguise." Only the British would have a navy with 600 ships in it, go to war with a navy which has by contrast 2 dozen, and complain about how unfair it is. Anyway, Croker gets considerably less impressive marks, being given to hyperbole and distortion to get what he wanted. He once let a Royal Navy captain mount more guns on his frigate, and then declined to give the guy more crewmen to operate them.
This is a very readable history of naval warfare, that commerce and sea power determines the outcome of nations far more than anyone knows. I read this for days unable to put it down until I had finished it. A great read.
See also Utmost Gallantry: The U.S. And Royal Navies At Sea In The War Of 1812 by Kevin McCranie.
This book did a great job in reminding us about real war - about the brutality, suffering and cost war involves. In today's war of robots, computers, and technology is difficult to imagine sailors decapitated by cannon balls, about shrapnel shot from cannon used to shred ship and men, and hand to hand combat using any instrument at hand as long as it injured, maimed and killed the adversary. Here advanced medicine consisted of sawing off limbs without anesthesia or antibiotics.
The author introduces the tiny United States navy with the war with the Barbary Pirates in Tripoli in 1803. The introduction of the war with the pirates was important because without the battles, the US would not have had a navy of substance with which to fight the British in 1812. The exploits of the navy on the Shores of Tripoli are then followed by the build up to the war between the fledgling United States and Britain. The book is not just a piecing together of facts. The author relies on personal correspondence and journals to give insight into the ideas and the perspectives of the major personalities during the buildup to war. For example, the author pieces together details of the life of the Secretary of the Navy, the actions of the Constitution and the other warships and of the seamen to provide a rich background to the history.
The actions of individual ships are followed during cruises and engagements. The engagements are described in detail from different perspectives amongst the crew and there are even figures showing the position of the ships during the engagements. I found the war in the Pacific to be very interesting with the intrigue in neutral ports, the landings on the Galapagos Islands and the Mutiny on the Bounty-like history of the Essex. Along with the conventional naval engagements, the role of privateers in the war is covered in detail.
Not only are the decisions of those in Washington or the captains of the warships followed, but also the life of the ordinary sailors. The author describes in detail about the life of US seamen captured during naval battles in the days when the trading of prisoners was stopped. The taunts against the British officers by the prisoners who were purposefully starved in the hulls of ships to keep them too weak to escape were very amusing. The life in the horrid Dartmoor prison and how the prisoners coped are described in detail.
Although the book is about the war with Britain on the high seas, the land wars are mentioned as well. The campaigns against Canada are described in passing, but the raids by the British on the towns along the Chesapeake are described in more detail. More attention is also given to the sacking of Washington DC and the Battle of New Orleans which was fought after the war was over.
The last chapter of the book focuses on the events after peace was declared. The chapter begins with the prisoners in Dartmoor being released and having to find their way home. The author aptly describes "the amnesia that sets in after all wars" in an analysis of the outcome of the war and the claims of victory in a war that ended inconclusively. The chapter concludes by relating the lives of some of the key naval figures of the war after peace was declared. Although this chapter was interesting and represented a good follow through from the rest of the book, I was looking for more analysis. There had been so much attention and detail given to the build up to the war and the war itself that the quick ending was a bit of a surprise.
The author's stated thesis, that this war was where the US came of age and was recognized by the world as a nation, doesn't get fleshed out enough, or substantiated in my opinion, but this book is still a great read.
Perilous Fight illustrated how a small poor power confronts, fights, and survives a war against a vastly superior world power. Perilous Fight is extremely valuable because by remembering how our early nation survived and fought England we might do better against our enemies today. Oh that our leaders would read this book. This war ended because the cost of winning was simply too high for England - not because we defeated them.
The heart of the book, however, is the discussion of the political element of the Naval War. In this portion you get introduced to the two civilians who ran it: William Jones, U.S. Secretary of the Navy during most of the war, and William Croker (pronounced "Crocker"), the secretary of the Royal Navy's Admiralty Board. The author spends a lot of time discussing the two men, their direction of the war, and the results of it. He gives Jones high marks for running the Navy (and for a while the whole government) skilfully and carefully. Jones was a strong advocate of the "guerre de course" where the Navy would attack the enemy shipping, rather than their corresponding Naval forces. The thinking was that American frigates might be able to overwhelm their counterparts, but it would only have a marginal influence on the war as a whole, and each such action would risk the destruction of the American ship, which wasn't worth the risk. Interestingly, the British too tried to avoid these single-ship encounters, because their frigates were outgunned by their American counterparts. The British press of the era complained indignantly about the supposed fact that the largest American frigates were really "74's in disguise." Only the British would have a navy with 600 ships in it, go to war with a navy which has by contrast 2 dozen, and complain about how unfair it is. Anyway, Croker gets considerably less impressive marks, being given to hyperbole and distortion to get what he wanted. He once let a Royal Navy captain mount more guns on his frigate, and then declined to give the guy more crewmen to operate them.
This is a very readable history of naval warfare, that commerce and sea power determines the outcome of nations far more than anyone knows. I read this for days unable to put it down until I had finished it. A great read.
See also Utmost Gallantry: The U.S. And Royal Navies At Sea In The War Of 1812 by Kevin McCranie.
January 5, 2017
If you were like me and didn't know much about the War of 1812, this is an excellent place to start. Besides factoids like Battle of New Orleans was won after the war was over, just news hadn't traveled that far yet, and Dolly Madison rescuing that Golden Girls like Stuart painting of Washington, I knew really very little going in or just plain forgot. I guess it's been too long since all those Master & Commander and Horatio Hornblower books, and I should reread them.
Even the people of the time didn't know what to call the war and it was just known as the "late war" and it was only until the Mexican American War 34 years later where we were forced to actually give it a name. The reasons it was started? SAILORS RIGHTS AND FREE TRADE. Haha, I grew to really like the poor captured sailors impressed in Dartmoor and how the US ships flew a banner with that slogan. I didn't realize that there was a North/South schism even then over impressment--between sea-going North, while it was their sailors being kidnapped into horrible slavery by the British, not wanting war with Britain because of commerce but a Navy to help guard ships--and the South, who wanted a war because everyone figured Canada would be a pushover, but not wanting to spend a penny on the Navy. Too bad since the land war was a total disgrace, and the naval arena dazzlingly successful.
The cause of the war actually showed why the US was so successful against the Goliath British Empire. 100% of US navy were volunteers and they had to turn people away. The Navy was run as a strict meritocracy, even people the president put up for promotion were turned down until enough experience. It paid 4xs more than the average wage. Everyone had to pass tests, with annual performance reviews. 10-20% of the sailors were black, and thanks to the high wages and strange lack of racism on board (don't worry that changes later) they retired later than white sailors and were often higher ranked because of it. 70% of the US sailors were literate. The boats were better too, because while the British ships were built to a strict pattern with even gunsights forbidden since it was too new, US ships were faster and had greater range, which was perfect for the hit and dazzle with firepower plan, and built with stronger wood that required less maintenance. Sailors practiced daily with their target practices, while British sailors rarely if ever.
US had good captains too--Decatur being my favorite (and what happened to him later is awful), Hull, Bainbridge. They knew that in a large scale battle, the British would overwhelm with numbers, so instead they hid in the vastness of the sea to either pick off ships one by one or lay in wait for merchant ships. US ships sunk British ones in the Channel. Took over an island by Ireland for 6 days. Controlled a shore in Scotland. And by 1814, even though vastly outnumbered, more British vessels were being sunk by combined US & privateers commissioned by government--which if you think about it, would that be considered state sponsored terrorism now? Sort of seems like yes.
Anyways, they had it coming! Because the cause of the war ironically is why it went so well at sea for America. The British Empire to maintain its vast navy needed 20,000 sailors a year to make up for all the invalided, retired, or new openings--and only a few thousand people volunteered. 12 year olds were made officers if they had the right connections. To make up for the many thousands needed, prisoners were nudged out of their jails onboard and Britain basically kidnapped any English speaking crew from passing ships they pleased. Thousands of Americans shanghaied for years, flogged, forced to fight against their own countryman, and eventually imprisoned in Dartmoor.
Sailors rights and free trade indeed! All good things to fight about, though the war didn't start entirely for noble reasons and there's the usual constant colonial bickering and infighting happening throughout. The book has a lavish amount of photos and maps and pictures--from the mundane like common tattoos of sailors to differences in cannon to paintings of all the people involved--of all the history books I've read lately, this is the one I had to go to look up more stuff the least. And it's a war I should read more about--if you think about it, a lot of what has shaped our history is thanks to this war. Native Americans being officially abandoned. Canada showing that it was not to be messed with. The beginning cracks in relations between North and South spreading. I had no idea that Lighthorse Harry Lee (who was a follower of Federalism and John Adams) got lynched by a mob defending a newspaper, where he was tortured by "dripping hot candle wax in their eyes and stabbing them with pen knives"--and that Lee never recovered, barely regaining his speech and dying an invalid.
Interesting book, that's given me a lot of ideas of future things to read.
Even the people of the time didn't know what to call the war and it was just known as the "late war" and it was only until the Mexican American War 34 years later where we were forced to actually give it a name. The reasons it was started? SAILORS RIGHTS AND FREE TRADE. Haha, I grew to really like the poor captured sailors impressed in Dartmoor and how the US ships flew a banner with that slogan. I didn't realize that there was a North/South schism even then over impressment--between sea-going North, while it was their sailors being kidnapped into horrible slavery by the British, not wanting war with Britain because of commerce but a Navy to help guard ships--and the South, who wanted a war because everyone figured Canada would be a pushover, but not wanting to spend a penny on the Navy. Too bad since the land war was a total disgrace, and the naval arena dazzlingly successful.
The cause of the war actually showed why the US was so successful against the Goliath British Empire. 100% of US navy were volunteers and they had to turn people away. The Navy was run as a strict meritocracy, even people the president put up for promotion were turned down until enough experience. It paid 4xs more than the average wage. Everyone had to pass tests, with annual performance reviews. 10-20% of the sailors were black, and thanks to the high wages and strange lack of racism on board (don't worry that changes later) they retired later than white sailors and were often higher ranked because of it. 70% of the US sailors were literate. The boats were better too, because while the British ships were built to a strict pattern with even gunsights forbidden since it was too new, US ships were faster and had greater range, which was perfect for the hit and dazzle with firepower plan, and built with stronger wood that required less maintenance. Sailors practiced daily with their target practices, while British sailors rarely if ever.
US had good captains too--Decatur being my favorite (and what happened to him later is awful), Hull, Bainbridge. They knew that in a large scale battle, the British would overwhelm with numbers, so instead they hid in the vastness of the sea to either pick off ships one by one or lay in wait for merchant ships. US ships sunk British ones in the Channel. Took over an island by Ireland for 6 days. Controlled a shore in Scotland. And by 1814, even though vastly outnumbered, more British vessels were being sunk by combined US & privateers commissioned by government--which if you think about it, would that be considered state sponsored terrorism now? Sort of seems like yes.
Anyways, they had it coming! Because the cause of the war ironically is why it went so well at sea for America. The British Empire to maintain its vast navy needed 20,000 sailors a year to make up for all the invalided, retired, or new openings--and only a few thousand people volunteered. 12 year olds were made officers if they had the right connections. To make up for the many thousands needed, prisoners were nudged out of their jails onboard and Britain basically kidnapped any English speaking crew from passing ships they pleased. Thousands of Americans shanghaied for years, flogged, forced to fight against their own countryman, and eventually imprisoned in Dartmoor.
Sailors rights and free trade indeed! All good things to fight about, though the war didn't start entirely for noble reasons and there's the usual constant colonial bickering and infighting happening throughout. The book has a lavish amount of photos and maps and pictures--from the mundane like common tattoos of sailors to differences in cannon to paintings of all the people involved--of all the history books I've read lately, this is the one I had to go to look up more stuff the least. And it's a war I should read more about--if you think about it, a lot of what has shaped our history is thanks to this war. Native Americans being officially abandoned. Canada showing that it was not to be messed with. The beginning cracks in relations between North and South spreading. I had no idea that Lighthorse Harry Lee (who was a follower of Federalism and John Adams) got lynched by a mob defending a newspaper, where he was tortured by "dripping hot candle wax in their eyes and stabbing them with pen knives"--and that Lee never recovered, barely regaining his speech and dying an invalid.
Interesting book, that's given me a lot of ideas of future things to read.
February 10, 2014
In need of a little bit of American pride? Here's the book for you!
"The Constitution's crew was brought swiftly and silently to their action quarters... Only then did Preble give the customary hail. 'What ship is that?'
Across the water a defiant echo came back: 'What ship is that?'
Again the question was repeated, again with the same result. At which Preble grabbed the speaking trumpet and, his voice strained with rage, shouted, 'I am now going to hail you one last time. If a proper anser is not returned, I will fire a shot into you.'
'If you fire a shot, I will fire a broadside.'
'What ship is that?' Preble thundered one last time.
'This is His Britannic Majesty's ship Donnegal, eighty -four guns, Sir Richard Stahan, an English commodore. Send your boat on board.'..
Leaping to the netting, Preble bellowed, 'This is the United States ship Constitution, forty-four guns, Edward Preble, an American commodore, who will be damned before he sends his boat aboard any vessel.' And then, turning to his crew, he bellowed an equally loud, and theatrical, aside, 'Blow on your matches, boys!'"
Before this event, the Constitution had floundered with gaping holes in its copper sheathing below the waterline, sea grass growing up through the holes.
Preble was a man of intense temperament and had resigned his commission because his lack of self control was beginning to take its toll physically. His resignation was rejected. He could take a rest and then return to duty.
It is at his return that his ship the Constitution comes up against the British Donnegal.
All the men seem to be a cut above, George Coggeshall, General William Hull, Captain Isaac Hull, William Jones, Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry. And Decatur, what a guy!
And I loved reading about John Adams' defense of the colonists during the time when the British Navy would simply snag them off the street and force them to go to sea for years.
Stephen Buiansky takes what is already a fascinating story and keeps it at a high pitch, fast paced, very interesting historical account.
I wish I had read this book BEFORE I visited Old Ironside docked in Boston, and wandered through Faneuil Hall used as a dining hall on the night that news arrived stating that General Hull and his entire army had been taken prisoner. Or the Exchange Coffee House built in 1808 at the then fantastic price of half a million dollars its thirty-foot-wide dome offering a commanding view of the harbor. I need to go back.
"The Constitution's crew was brought swiftly and silently to their action quarters... Only then did Preble give the customary hail. 'What ship is that?'
Across the water a defiant echo came back: 'What ship is that?'
Again the question was repeated, again with the same result. At which Preble grabbed the speaking trumpet and, his voice strained with rage, shouted, 'I am now going to hail you one last time. If a proper anser is not returned, I will fire a shot into you.'
'If you fire a shot, I will fire a broadside.'
'What ship is that?' Preble thundered one last time.
'This is His Britannic Majesty's ship Donnegal, eighty -four guns, Sir Richard Stahan, an English commodore. Send your boat on board.'..
Leaping to the netting, Preble bellowed, 'This is the United States ship Constitution, forty-four guns, Edward Preble, an American commodore, who will be damned before he sends his boat aboard any vessel.' And then, turning to his crew, he bellowed an equally loud, and theatrical, aside, 'Blow on your matches, boys!'"
Before this event, the Constitution had floundered with gaping holes in its copper sheathing below the waterline, sea grass growing up through the holes.
Preble was a man of intense temperament and had resigned his commission because his lack of self control was beginning to take its toll physically. His resignation was rejected. He could take a rest and then return to duty.
It is at his return that his ship the Constitution comes up against the British Donnegal.
All the men seem to be a cut above, George Coggeshall, General William Hull, Captain Isaac Hull, William Jones, Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry. And Decatur, what a guy!
And I loved reading about John Adams' defense of the colonists during the time when the British Navy would simply snag them off the street and force them to go to sea for years.
Stephen Buiansky takes what is already a fascinating story and keeps it at a high pitch, fast paced, very interesting historical account.
I wish I had read this book BEFORE I visited Old Ironside docked in Boston, and wandered through Faneuil Hall used as a dining hall on the night that news arrived stating that General Hull and his entire army had been taken prisoner. Or the Exchange Coffee House built in 1808 at the then fantastic price of half a million dollars its thirty-foot-wide dome offering a commanding view of the harbor. I need to go back.
February 9, 2012
I came to this book not knowing a thing about the War of 1812 beyond Dolley Madison saving crap out of the White House before it was burned and something about Andrew Jackson and that folksy song from the Battle of New Orleans.
Budiansky paints a detailed picture of the origins of the American navy, the causes of war, the strategies, the infighting, and so on. Some of the early ship-to-ship battles are as thrilling as any out of Forester's Hornblower series, and there were many historical anecdotes that I would love to see spun out as novels. Who knew hundreds of slaves escaped to a British-occupied island in Chesapeake Bay, to be trained to fight their former masters? After the war ended, the British commander refused to surrender them, instead re-locating them to Canada where many later died of smallpox and malnutrition.
Being a Hornblower fan, I'm amazed at what the British navy took on in those years, fighting Napoleon on one hand and America on the other, and I look forward to finishing the Hornblower series to see if any of the American encounters make their way into his fiction.
Budiansky paints a detailed picture of the origins of the American navy, the causes of war, the strategies, the infighting, and so on. Some of the early ship-to-ship battles are as thrilling as any out of Forester's Hornblower series, and there were many historical anecdotes that I would love to see spun out as novels. Who knew hundreds of slaves escaped to a British-occupied island in Chesapeake Bay, to be trained to fight their former masters? After the war ended, the British commander refused to surrender them, instead re-locating them to Canada where many later died of smallpox and malnutrition.
Being a Hornblower fan, I'm amazed at what the British navy took on in those years, fighting Napoleon on one hand and America on the other, and I look forward to finishing the Hornblower series to see if any of the American encounters make their way into his fiction.
February 24, 2026
Though all is well and my reputation high I feel as if I was standing upon gun powder with a slow match near it. Public expectation is so extravagant, opinion so capricious, and prejudice and ignorance so predominant, that millions would not tempt me to stay one year longer. . . ." -- William Jones, US Secretary of the Navy 1813-1814
I really enjoyed this book. The author does a great job at making it interesting by telling stories of the characters involved without getting too much into the boring details of precise military movements. At least, the author's level of detail matched well with my level of interest. There are some very interesting characters from the war: Steven Decatur, Isaac Hull, David Porter . . . all swashbuckling captains at the height of the Age of Sail, but little did they know that it was an age nearing its end.
Prior to reading this book my familiarity with the war of 1812 was very low. I knew the approximately year of course, and I knew that the British made it to Washington D.C. and temporarily occupied it while burning some buildings. I knew that Francis Scott Key was inspired by an episode during this war to write the Star Spangled Banner. But that was about it.
The war was fought because of the British restricting American trade with other countries. The British were forcing large numbers of sailors into service in the Royal Navy (Impressment) under the pretext that they were deserters from the Royal Navy - even when some of these men had identification papers showing clearly that they were American citizens. And the British were inciting and helping the Native Americans fight against the USA. The author tells how "for most of the twentieth century that the War of 1812 was [seen as] a futile miscalculation brought on by a weak and indecisive president. . . The fact was that regardless of Madison's ignominious abandonment of America's position on impressment and free trade in the negotiations at Ghent. the British never again attempted to press an American Seaman and never again attempted to hinder American neutral trade on the high seas." And the war also "end[ed] the last real challenge to American sovereignty over North American by its native inhabitants." So, although it was not clear at the time the war ended, in hindsight all of the goals of the American side were achieved.
I really enjoyed this book. The author does a great job at making it interesting by telling stories of the characters involved without getting too much into the boring details of precise military movements. At least, the author's level of detail matched well with my level of interest. There are some very interesting characters from the war: Steven Decatur, Isaac Hull, David Porter . . . all swashbuckling captains at the height of the Age of Sail, but little did they know that it was an age nearing its end.
Prior to reading this book my familiarity with the war of 1812 was very low. I knew the approximately year of course, and I knew that the British made it to Washington D.C. and temporarily occupied it while burning some buildings. I knew that Francis Scott Key was inspired by an episode during this war to write the Star Spangled Banner. But that was about it.
The war was fought because of the British restricting American trade with other countries. The British were forcing large numbers of sailors into service in the Royal Navy (Impressment) under the pretext that they were deserters from the Royal Navy - even when some of these men had identification papers showing clearly that they were American citizens. And the British were inciting and helping the Native Americans fight against the USA. The author tells how "for most of the twentieth century that the War of 1812 was [seen as] a futile miscalculation brought on by a weak and indecisive president. . . The fact was that regardless of Madison's ignominious abandonment of America's position on impressment and free trade in the negotiations at Ghent. the British never again attempted to press an American Seaman and never again attempted to hinder American neutral trade on the high seas." And the war also "end[ed] the last real challenge to American sovereignty over North American by its native inhabitants." So, although it was not clear at the time the war ended, in hindsight all of the goals of the American side were achieved.
March 30, 2021
Buy.
Extremely informative on the specific area that Budiansky sets out to tackle: the American navy in the war of 1812. Very well written as well.
Extremely informative on the specific area that Budiansky sets out to tackle: the American navy in the war of 1812. Very well written as well.
February 23, 2025
4/47–Madison
This was frankly fascinating. The only reason it’s not 5/5 stars is because I’m not well versed enough in maritime terminology to completely grasp the naval battle descriptions.
This was frankly fascinating. The only reason it’s not 5/5 stars is because I’m not well versed enough in maritime terminology to completely grasp the naval battle descriptions.
April 28, 2014
This was a good history, well written and informative. While much of the naval history was known to me the author did manage to supply even more interesting detail to well known events and even managed insight into details of the ground war going on at the time.
November 5, 2019
Read this book for a class on the War of 1812. Liked it. Easy style like a storyteller. 4 stars for that. Not quite 4 stars, because it did not really explain what the subject mattered in history.
March 10, 2021
A History of the War of 1812 primarily focusing on the naval front of the war. Budiansky writes a riveting naval battle description and does a really fine job bringing the characters and events to life. This is an excellent introduction to a somewhat forgotten war that actually had quite prominent consequences for the US. It’s a focused history, while he does cover the land battles and other important aspects it is primarily concerned with the battle between the US Navy and the Royal Navy. I think I can give it the highest praise I can give a history book, it makes me want to dive more into the subject, the story of the Essex, the catastrophe of the US Army’s performance etc... It’s extremely readable, well written and paced, couldn’t go wrong with it.
December 8, 2021
A great read in regard to the many naval conflicts during the War of 1812. Many people may feel overwhelmed or uninterested in some of the details that are divulged in this book but, I found great pleasure in examining the nuances of life back then. I feel like I got the general idea of how certain commodores felt, and how the British might have felt during this conflict.
There seemed to be a few spelling errors in the book. I am unsure if it was intentional or not. Other than that, the book was satisfying to read. Just keep in mind that there is a lot of naval terminology used in the book. So, you might be looking for a dictionary if you want to get the full context of the situation sometimes.
There seemed to be a few spelling errors in the book. I am unsure if it was intentional or not. Other than that, the book was satisfying to read. Just keep in mind that there is a lot of naval terminology used in the book. So, you might be looking for a dictionary if you want to get the full context of the situation sometimes.
November 7, 2021
6.5/10
Overall an okay book on the Naval history of the War of 1812. Had some interesting points on the causes of the war, prisoners of war, free black men in the navy, etc but most of it was clogged by very detailed stories and events. I'm not a military history fan, which may explain why I did not enjoy this book that much but if you're a military history fan you might like it.
Overall an okay book on the Naval history of the War of 1812. Had some interesting points on the causes of the war, prisoners of war, free black men in the navy, etc but most of it was clogged by very detailed stories and events. I'm not a military history fan, which may explain why I did not enjoy this book that much but if you're a military history fan you might like it.
September 16, 2026
An interesting look into the naval battles of the war of 1812. A lot of the stories were engaging enough but, for me, a little into the weeds at the lengthy description of the prizes captains earned for their captured ships. I’ll just never remember all that!
Well researched and a great addition to the history of the War. I’m hoping a nice backdrop as I read more about the Madison presidency.
Well researched and a great addition to the history of the War. I’m hoping a nice backdrop as I read more about the Madison presidency.
March 19, 2020
This is a flags and sails sort of naval history with the focus on the actions of individuals rather than what was happening at the broader level. If this is your interest, this book makes for great reading.
January 28, 2024
A quite good account of the War of 1812, it made me realize how little I know about that war. Highly recommended, particularly if you are interested in Naval history. I learned a lot and, to me, that is high praise.
January 8, 2026
Truly one of the last "Gentleman War", at least in the beginning. New information for me about the back room politics that was going on. As well as good information about prisoners, would liked to have seen a bit more about the British prisoners in American custody. Over all very good.
July 25, 2017
Excellent history of the Naval War during the War of 1812. Gave me a much better understanding of this was
January 8, 2020
An excellent read about the navy’s exploits during the war of 1812. The infighting of the US captains was quite interesting.
January 17, 2023
A book of the sensational naval fights and adventures of the early US Navy that was the War of 1812. This is the first book I've encountered on this subject that I would label a "page turner".
June 28, 2014
Much of the cause of the War of 1812 arose out of maritime disputes: Free Trade and Sailors’ Rights. “Perilous Fight” is an exhaustive study of America’s War with Britain on the high seas, 1812-1815. Although the most significant aspects of the Naval War of 1812 occurred on Lakes Erie, Ontario and Champlain, this book represents new scholarship on the ocean war, drawing heavily on the classics including Theodore Roosevelt’s “The Naval War of 1812”.
Author Stephen Budiansky incorporates the high seas war into the overall war origins and strategy. He examines America’s status as a minor naval power that could not hope to challenge the Royal Navy but could still devise a strategy through which the Navy could contribute to the war effort. Rather than engage in fleet actions the American Frigates spread across the seas in search of British merchant vessels and occasionally raided British coastal villages. The goal was to drive the mercantile interests to pressure the British government to bring the war to a close and to depress British morale. This is how the celebrated battles of Constitution (Old Ironsides) vs. Java and Guerriere and United States vs. Macedonian thrilled Americans and sent shock wave through Britain. The disunity among Americans spilled out beyond the shore as citizens willingly traded with the blockading fleets and entertained their officers. In the war’s last engagements, it was Adm. Cockburn’s fleet that transported and supported the invaders who burned official Washington, raised havoc in coastal villages and launched the rockets and bombs that lighted the Star Spangled Banner through the night.
This book not only tells us what happened, but possible reasons for American success, such as the hardness of Live Oak, over wood available in England, the spirit of the sailors, including many of those who had been impressed into the Royal Navy and the size and throw weight of the competing vessels.
Someone desiring a general introduction to the War of 1812 could find more suitable works, such as Donald Hickey’s “The War of 1812: A Forgotten Conflict” and Walter Borneman’s “1812: The War That Forged A Nation”, both of which I have reviewed. For a thorough, but very readable history of the war on the high seas, “Perilous Fight” is the first choice.
I did receive a free copy of this book for review.
Author Stephen Budiansky incorporates the high seas war into the overall war origins and strategy. He examines America’s status as a minor naval power that could not hope to challenge the Royal Navy but could still devise a strategy through which the Navy could contribute to the war effort. Rather than engage in fleet actions the American Frigates spread across the seas in search of British merchant vessels and occasionally raided British coastal villages. The goal was to drive the mercantile interests to pressure the British government to bring the war to a close and to depress British morale. This is how the celebrated battles of Constitution (Old Ironsides) vs. Java and Guerriere and United States vs. Macedonian thrilled Americans and sent shock wave through Britain. The disunity among Americans spilled out beyond the shore as citizens willingly traded with the blockading fleets and entertained their officers. In the war’s last engagements, it was Adm. Cockburn’s fleet that transported and supported the invaders who burned official Washington, raised havoc in coastal villages and launched the rockets and bombs that lighted the Star Spangled Banner through the night.
This book not only tells us what happened, but possible reasons for American success, such as the hardness of Live Oak, over wood available in England, the spirit of the sailors, including many of those who had been impressed into the Royal Navy and the size and throw weight of the competing vessels.
Someone desiring a general introduction to the War of 1812 could find more suitable works, such as Donald Hickey’s “The War of 1812: A Forgotten Conflict” and Walter Borneman’s “1812: The War That Forged A Nation”, both of which I have reviewed. For a thorough, but very readable history of the war on the high seas, “Perilous Fight” is the first choice.
I did receive a free copy of this book for review.
July 9, 2014
Even though the United States had gained independence thirty years earlier, Great Britain hadn't really gotten the message. They still thought of - and treated - Americans as delinquent and troublesome subjects of the Crown. And when they intercepted merchant ships on the seas they frequently forced American seamen to serve aboard British ships - a practice called "impressment" - claiming they were British citizens.
The War of 1812 (a name not decided upon until the 1850s) actually lasted 3 years and sprang from this continual bullying. And while there were a number of stirring victories, there were also many ignominious defeats. The US was not a naval power, and certainly no match for the large and seemingly invincible British fleet, but their strategy of harassing the commerce of the enemy paid off in the end. It would be difficult to claim America won the war in any quantitative way, but they achieved their aims indirectly - and gained a measure of respect from Europe.
Americans today scarce remember the War of 1812, but the story of the naval battles fought is immensely fascinating, and Stephen Budiansky brings it to life in a human and compelling way with stirring accounts of the ship to ship conflicts. The focus here is primarily on the naval aspects of the war, although he briefly touches on some of the land battles. He provides background detail on the Barbary Wars when America first began to awaken to the value of a navy, but the real value here is in the background history: the political and commercial reasons behind the war, the life of sailors aboard different vessels or being a prisoner of the enemy, and the various personalities who commanded the ships. And the illustrations are very helpful as well, not always simple maps of the engagements but also diagrams of nautical practices and armaments used. I think it's not quite as good as Ian Toll's Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of the U.S. Navy, which gives a somewhat broader view, but certainly a fun historical account of a forgotten time when America had to *earn* respect from the old world powers.
The War of 1812 (a name not decided upon until the 1850s) actually lasted 3 years and sprang from this continual bullying. And while there were a number of stirring victories, there were also many ignominious defeats. The US was not a naval power, and certainly no match for the large and seemingly invincible British fleet, but their strategy of harassing the commerce of the enemy paid off in the end. It would be difficult to claim America won the war in any quantitative way, but they achieved their aims indirectly - and gained a measure of respect from Europe.
Americans today scarce remember the War of 1812, but the story of the naval battles fought is immensely fascinating, and Stephen Budiansky brings it to life in a human and compelling way with stirring accounts of the ship to ship conflicts. The focus here is primarily on the naval aspects of the war, although he briefly touches on some of the land battles. He provides background detail on the Barbary Wars when America first began to awaken to the value of a navy, but the real value here is in the background history: the political and commercial reasons behind the war, the life of sailors aboard different vessels or being a prisoner of the enemy, and the various personalities who commanded the ships. And the illustrations are very helpful as well, not always simple maps of the engagements but also diagrams of nautical practices and armaments used. I think it's not quite as good as Ian Toll's Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of the U.S. Navy, which gives a somewhat broader view, but certainly a fun historical account of a forgotten time when America had to *earn* respect from the old world powers.
November 19, 2014
The War of 1812 has been, in almost every single American History class I have taken, really shortchanged when compared with other conflicts and wars in American History. Usually, it is significant only in that the Capital burned and we never annexed Canada. Also, Battle of New Orleans. But really there isn't much made about it. And the Navy is almost never mentioned in any great context.
I am intrigued in the culture around the British Navy of this time. I read a lot of Pope and O'Brien as a teenager and found the life aboard a British man'o'war and ship of the line fascinating. Recently, I've been hunting for some non-fictional accounts of Navy life during this time period. I just happened to stumble across this gem while at Half-Price Books.
I'm glad I picked it up. It was a detailed account of the Naval side of the War of 1812, but it did not become bogged down with technical sailing terms, though there were some very neat illustration included that helped highlight some of the nautical terms.
Budiansky moves among the players and events with ease, generally taking a mile-high view of history, though he will occasionally move in close to give the plight of the common man during the war. I was hoping there would be more scenes of naval battles, but a good portion of the novel focuses on the politics and administrative details, that while not exciting, do make up a large part of a war effort. However, the battle scenes that are included are visceral.
I'd recommend this one for anyone who is interested in the history of the American Navy, or who has a general interest in American History as a whole or the War of 1812.
I am intrigued in the culture around the British Navy of this time. I read a lot of Pope and O'Brien as a teenager and found the life aboard a British man'o'war and ship of the line fascinating. Recently, I've been hunting for some non-fictional accounts of Navy life during this time period. I just happened to stumble across this gem while at Half-Price Books.
I'm glad I picked it up. It was a detailed account of the Naval side of the War of 1812, but it did not become bogged down with technical sailing terms, though there were some very neat illustration included that helped highlight some of the nautical terms.
Budiansky moves among the players and events with ease, generally taking a mile-high view of history, though he will occasionally move in close to give the plight of the common man during the war. I was hoping there would be more scenes of naval battles, but a good portion of the novel focuses on the politics and administrative details, that while not exciting, do make up a large part of a war effort. However, the battle scenes that are included are visceral.
I'd recommend this one for anyone who is interested in the history of the American Navy, or who has a general interest in American History as a whole or the War of 1812.
September 9, 2011
Reading O'Brian's The Fortune of War piqued my interest about the War of 1812. In The Fortune of War, Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin get swept up in the war and are observer/participants in two of the most famous single ship battles in the history of the US Navy (the Constitution vs the Java and the Chesapeake vs the Shannon). The War of 1812 is what put the US Navy on the map. Three quick single ship victories over the Royal Navy put Britain back on its heels and required boatloads of rationalizations for why a British ship could be bested by an American. The British Navy ruled the seas and had such a hunger for sailors that impressment of Americans became an issue the was one of proximate causes of the war. The British were not used to losing sea battles and the fact that the tiny US Navy, pinned down by blockades most of the war, were able to win some victories was truly a David and Goliath event. The US Navy was successful roaming the world and raising havoc with British merchants capturing prize after prize. If the land war had been as efficient as the strategy devised by the Secretary of the Navy, Mr. Jones, Canada would no doubt now be a part of the USA. It was not to be. The war dragged on and, finally, a settlement was negotiated and both parties hoped to forget it very quickly. That goal was achieved and the War of 1812 is rarely referenced. The 1812 Overture is probably more well-known. Budiansky's book is a good read and a reminder of events that startled the world.
May 3, 2012
"Perilous Fight" is a naval history of the War of 1812, specifically on the oceans. While some passing mention is made of various other events in the war, including the naval war on the Great Lakes and Champlain, this book is very focused on the US and Britain in the Atlantic Ocean (and Pacific, in regards to the USS Essex). The trials and tribulations of the Secretary of the Navy during the war and the efforts to build additional frigates and ships-of-the-line during the war are also covered. There are 368 pages of main text and the war doesn't start until almost a 1/3 of the way through. The first part of the book sets up the context of the war looking at some of the Barbary Wars, the Chesapeake Incident in 1807, impressment, and other naval issues in the decade before the war.
This is a sharp and focused book that delves into things many books on the general history of the war do not. The writing is solid and the author seems knowledgeable on the details of maneuvering ships. At times the jargon is a little heavy, as some sentences would make immediate sense to a sailor whereas someone merely interested in naval history will find them a bit tough to follow. There are a few things that I thought might be covered in more detail, but nothing I could think of feels left out.
Recommended to anyone interested in naval history or who has already read a couple general histories and wants to learn more about the naval aspect of the war.
This is a sharp and focused book that delves into things many books on the general history of the war do not. The writing is solid and the author seems knowledgeable on the details of maneuvering ships. At times the jargon is a little heavy, as some sentences would make immediate sense to a sailor whereas someone merely interested in naval history will find them a bit tough to follow. There are a few things that I thought might be covered in more detail, but nothing I could think of feels left out.
Recommended to anyone interested in naval history or who has already read a couple general histories and wants to learn more about the naval aspect of the war.
October 2, 2012
Stephen Budiansky's Perilous Fight engages a seldom studied period of American history, the Naval War in 1812 to 1815.
No other war lead to the development of the American Navy then the War of 1812. Before this war, the US Navy, while heroic, was largely untried. Most of the Madison Administration did not see the need for a large standing Navy.
Madison frankly felt that the US Navy was going to be crushed by the much larger British Navy. He put his emphasis on the land war...only to be soundly crushed.
The early blue water engagements favored the American Navy. The legends lived on..."Old Ironsides," Stephen Decauter, Isaac Hull. And while the action shifted quickly to the great lakes and continued around the world, this was an important and impressive time in US Nautical history.
Budiansky does a wonderful job at explaining the strategy and life of the US Navy. Even if you do not have a great deal of understanding of this period in history, Budiansky will give the requisite background and makes the action come to life through the use of primary sources and expert analysis of tactics, strategy and technology.
This reading does get to be a bit more technical than other history books (particulary 1812:the Navy's War ) but is in no way inaccessible.
This book will be highly enjoyed by readers of military history and US history in general.
No other war lead to the development of the American Navy then the War of 1812. Before this war, the US Navy, while heroic, was largely untried. Most of the Madison Administration did not see the need for a large standing Navy.
Madison frankly felt that the US Navy was going to be crushed by the much larger British Navy. He put his emphasis on the land war...only to be soundly crushed.
The early blue water engagements favored the American Navy. The legends lived on..."Old Ironsides," Stephen Decauter, Isaac Hull. And while the action shifted quickly to the great lakes and continued around the world, this was an important and impressive time in US Nautical history.
Budiansky does a wonderful job at explaining the strategy and life of the US Navy. Even if you do not have a great deal of understanding of this period in history, Budiansky will give the requisite background and makes the action come to life through the use of primary sources and expert analysis of tactics, strategy and technology.
This reading does get to be a bit more technical than other history books (particulary 1812:the Navy's War ) but is in no way inaccessible.
This book will be highly enjoyed by readers of military history and US history in general.
March 27, 2013
The War of 1812 is often referred to as the "Forgotten War."I admit to knowing very little about it until recently. It seemed to be a small conflict between Great Britain and the newly formed United States. But now I understand that there were a lot of factors leading up to the war. Budiansky does a great job of placing a conflict between the leading empire of the time and its former colony onto the global stage. For instance, we see how the Napoleonic Wars in France contributed to our own war with Great Britain.
This book provides great introduction to the early development of the American navy. At the time the war broke out, the American navy only had a few ships, as opposed to the thousands of ships Great Britain had in commission. And yet, these few ships managed to harass the British until the end of the war.
The way the book is written will appeal to military historians and the general reader. There is enough technical detail to interest those knowledgeable about sailing ships and military strategy. but it is not so tedious as to overwhelm those unfamiliar with these topics.
What made the book so enjoyable for me were all the little bits of information Budiansky included to make the historical figures in the book seem more human. I liked that he included diary entries from common men serving on these ships as well as those from more famous people.
This book provides great introduction to the early development of the American navy. At the time the war broke out, the American navy only had a few ships, as opposed to the thousands of ships Great Britain had in commission. And yet, these few ships managed to harass the British until the end of the war.
The way the book is written will appeal to military historians and the general reader. There is enough technical detail to interest those knowledgeable about sailing ships and military strategy. but it is not so tedious as to overwhelm those unfamiliar with these topics.
What made the book so enjoyable for me were all the little bits of information Budiansky included to make the historical figures in the book seem more human. I liked that he included diary entries from common men serving on these ships as well as those from more famous people.
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