Flames Across the Border, 1813-1814

by Pierre Berton

Chronicles the fierce border war fought between Canada and the United States, a war that involved the Indians, who fought valiantly under Tecumseh on the Canadian side against a series of incompetent and corrupt American commanders

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Canada, War, Military History, American History, Politics

656 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

From narrative histories and popular culture, to picture and coffee table books to anthologies, to stories for children to readable, historical works for youth, many of his books are now Canadian classics.

Born in 1920 and raised in the Yukon, Pierre Berton worked in Klondike mining camps during his university years. He spent four years in the army, rising from private to captain/instructor at the Royal Military College in Kingston. He spent his early newspaper career in Vancouver, where at 21 he was the youngest city editor on any Canadian daily. He wrote columns for and was editor of Maclean's magazine, appeared on CBC's public affairs program "Close-Up" and was a permanent fixture on "Front Page Challenge" for 39 years. He was a columnist and editor for the Toronto Star, and a writer and host of a series of CBC programs.

Pierre Berton has received over 30 literary awards including the Governor-General's Award for Creative Non-Fiction (three times), the Stephen Leacock Medal of Humour, and the Gabrielle Leger National Heritage Award. He received two Nellies for his work in broadcasting, two National Newspaper awards, and the National History Society's first award for "distinguished achievement in popularizing Canadian history." For his immense contribution to Canadian literature and history, he has been awarded more than a dozen honourary degrees, is a member of the Newsman's Hall of Fame and a Companion of the Order of Canada.

Reviews

[rabbitprincess · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was in middle school, we studied the War of 1812, and the course seemed to last longer than the actual war. So you'd think I would be somewhat familiar with the events in this book, which covers the second half of the conflict. Either I repressed the memories or our class really only stopped after Queenston Heights, because I learned so much by reading this, and enjoyed it to boot. A lot of the battles Berton covers here were really only just names to me -- Lundy's Lane, Crysler's Farm, the Battle of the Thames, the Battle of Stoney Creek -- but with his present-tense, front-and-centre view of the action, the conflicts come to life. He relies on primary sources for the vast majority of his dialogue, which adds an even more authentic flavour. Leaders on all sides receive credit or blame where such is due; on the whole I would say it is a balanced portrayal.

I wouldn't have expected this going in, but my favourite part was the Battle of Lake Erie and the other naval campaigns. The maps provided for these parts of the book were extremely helpful and Berton's accounts were especially fascinating. I attribute it to having picked up C.S. Forester earlier this year. (So if you like naval battles in your reading, check this one out.)

The afterword and the very end of the last chapter were very poignant, talking about the utter waste that a great deal of the war was. Thousands died horrifically, but to read the treaty is to see that a lot of the major issues for which they were actually fighting don't even get a look-in. Impressment, the big issue for the Americans, was quietly dropped from the treaty negotiations (it had ceased to be an issue once the British defeated Napoleon at Waterloo), and of course the First Nations and Native Americans were utterly betrayed. The contrast between the bloody battles and diplomatic dithering is striking.

This is a big book but the pages almost turn themselves once you get into the groove. Recommended for history buffs, particularly those who like naval battles. And if you live in southwestern Ontario or along the Great Lakes, this is a thrilling look at the history in your backyard.

[David Corleto-Bales · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is hot right now since it is the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812, but Berton, who is usually right on, kind of missed the boat with his "you are there" approach to jazzing up history. I hate jazzed-up history and the "General So and So scratched his nose while looking across the river at the American troops" kind of stuff. I mean, how the hell does Berton know that? He should have written it as fiction, not history. I admire Berton overall, however, and am also reading concurrently with this one a book long out of print called "Voices of the '60s" based on interviews he did in Toronto with people like Malcom X and Lenny Bruce, among others.

[Ryan Peden]

A great book about the 2nd half of the war of 1812. Focuses on the war from a Canadian perspective, but unbiased; there's plenty of praise and scorn for commanders on both sides. If you live in Southern Ontario, the book will be especially relevant for you. Next time you're in Niagara Falls, remember that Lundy's Lane wasn't always just a road filled with trashy motels. 200 years ago, it was the site of a pretty bloody battle.

[Todd Price · Rating 4 out of 5]

Barton is a Canadian, and according to his statements has attempted to write this as a “social history” of the War of 1812 along the American-Canadian border. He incorporates a number of primary source accounts from private citizens, along with soldiers of the militias and regular armies of both sides. While many War of 1812 histories often gloss over the partisan warfare that existed in a nearly perpetual state along the border for the duration of the war, he dives deeply into the history of that part of the conflict.

Generally, this is a very solid history of a theater of the War of 1812 that hasn’t received a great deal of scholarly attention. However, it is now somewhat dated, as it was originally published in 1981. A great deal of research has revealed some facts since then that would have been unknown to Barton at the time. He details the campaigns along Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, and the St. Lawrence River. Upstate New York and Upper and Lower Canada(modern Ontario and Quebec) feature as the predominant battlefields. The Niagara River is another major region discussed.

Tecumseh is the source of some of the greatest issues I encountered. Again, Berton was working with what was available to him at the time and was considered accepted fact. However, he repeats some since reconsidered statements by Tecumseh against Henry Procter. While there was animosity between the two, Tecumseh doesn’t seem to have despised him or belittled him verbally to the extent depicted here. Another issue is the recounting of his relationship with Rebecca Galloway. That romance has since been discounted as the fanciful imagination of an elderly woman, decades after the fact. Modern scholars like John Sugden, R. David Edmunds, and Colin Calloway have stripped away much of the “legendary” aspect associated with Tecumseh to give us a more realistic view of him.

However, this is a well written account, filled with detailed accounts of battles, campaigns, conversations, and obscure events that brings life to the sometimes dusty and flat portrayals of the War of 1812. Well worth the read.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second volume of Berton's history of the war of 1812 from the Canadian perspective. Again, an excellent history and highly recommended. He gives a straightforward narrative of persons in the war, based upon primary documents such as letters and diaries. When he departs from the personalities in the war to summarize the oversll situation and draw conclusions, his approach is deft and fair-minded. I learned quite a bit of the history of the war, especially the Canadian side. As a "popular" history (one not written by an academic historian) this is one of the best I have read.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

This being the second volume of Berton’s examination of the War of 1812, I really enjoyed this one. It’s very insightful!

Happy Reading, everybody!

[Glyn Longden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 7/10. As military conflicts go, the War of 1812 sticks out for many reasons. Both sides claimed (and still do) to have been victorious, the biggest battle was fought long after the peace treaty was signed, and the original cause of the war was not even addressed in the peace treaty.



This particular volume covers the years 1813-14 and the Treaty of Ghent which ended the conflict . Pierre Berton is a master storyteller; I have enjoyed many of his books including 'The Last Spike' and 'Vimy'. Normally, Berton's books tell their story from a uniquely Canadian angle but in 'Flames Across the Border' he is remarkably neutral and relates the story from both sides. More accurately, he points out the incompetence and self-serving which dogged both sides in the conflict. It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that there was really no need for this war to be fought and that many thousands of people died needlessly.



Strangely enough, The Treaty of Ghent turned everything back to the way it was before the war with the exception of the status of the native tribes who were left to the tender mercies of the American government. The long term effect of the war was to guarantee the future of both the American and Canadian nations.



There is really nothing to dislike about Pierre Berton. He always tells a good story and this book is no exception. It does remind me, though, that one day I want to read the story of this war from the American viewpoint.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciate that the author was taking this book on as a social history of the War of 1812 from the Canadian perspective, and that it was so centered on the people involved. He covered an impressively wide range of those involved, including people on all sides of the war (and several folks who didn't want be involved in the war at all). I was also pleased by the conclusion, which hit a happy medium of wrapping things up and reflecting on the war's place in history, without going on too long or straying from the book's main themes.

But I have to admit this one did not suck me in. It was getting to be a chore finishing it by the end, as there were just so many people, many of whom populated just a page or two, and yet got a whole mini biography in that time. I had trouble keeping track of who was who, and which side they were on, because there were so many names.

And even if the author insists that he was writing entirely off of primary source documents, it still felt a little too much like speculation and fictionalized accounts when he wrote about what people were thinking and feeling at each moment.

An interesting book, and one worth reading, but I feel it could have used a bit more editing to make it stronger and more readable.

[Ibis3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

It amazes me that I had so little knowledge of this war. I'd heard the names of the battles before, I knew some of the names (i.e. Laura Secord, Issac Brock, Tecumseh, and a bunch more on the American side), I knew that the White House had been burned down, but not much apart from that. Pierre Berton has changed that. Now I have an eyewitness's view of the war (at least the border war portion) and of the peace negotiations. As horrible as the destruction of Newark, Buffalo, Port Dover, and Washington were, I can't help feeling even worse about the happenings in Ghent. The British, eager to wrap up this colonial side excursion after putting the Napoleon problem to bed, decided to settle for status quo ante despite their promises to the First Nations. Perhaps, had Tecumseh and Issac Brock still been alive, they would have pushed harder (and had a better tactical position from which to do so). It's interesting to speculate what the map would have looked like in that case: probably 4 or 5 countries to our south instead of one.

[Ken Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second of Berton's two-volume set on the War of 1812 brings the story to its tragic conclusion. Was any other war ever fought that achieved so little at a cost of so many who never understood what they were fighting for? I doubt it. And apart from the great grief carried by so many due to all the bloodshed, nothing really changed between these two nations ("as if no war had been fought"), except for how the war helped to forge the identities of the two young nations involved. For America, it meant they were now taken more seriously on a world stage, and the few battles they won were enthusiastically celebrated, giving fuel for newfound national pride. For Canada, a common identity was forged as settlers of many backgrounds banded together to successfully resist an invader. This resulted in a shared appreciation of cherished Canadian values that distinguished the colonials from their bellicose republican neighbours. In fact, one could probably say that the War of 1812 was the seed of many key distinctions between Canadian and American values.

[Samb · Rating 4 out of 5]

With this year being the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 and next year the same anniversary of the Battle of York (Toronto), I thought it would be a good idea to brush up on my history. Berton's book is written from a uniquely Canadian perspective and doesn't pull any punches when assessing the personalities of the key players and how their decisions or indecisiveness took them through 3 years of a very bloody war that defined the future relationship between Canada and the USA but in and of itself ended in a stalemate.

I liked the way the author combined the experiences of the Generals with those of Privates and citizens on all sides, American,British,Canadian and Native American/Canadian. I also appreciated his insight into the contributions of the Native Americans/Canadians and their influence on and during the events.

[Malcolm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part two of Pierre Bertons history of the world of 1812 and the people involved. This book covers the second part of the war 1813-1814 including the battle of Chryslers farm, and the attack and capture of York and Ft. George by the Americans. The burning of Newark by the Americans and the retribution of the British underlines the cruelty of war - particularly upon the civilian population. Finally, the efforts of both parties, with the of the europeon powers of the time to end the senseless conflict are covered. The war ends with the treaty of Ghent. The U.S. and Canada will never raise swords against one another again. Good thing.
Both books are highly readable, historically accurate, and highly recommended.

[jerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this conclusion to his series on the War of 1812, Berton takes us into the trenches from a Canadian point of view through the words and thoughts of the combatants themselves. Using letters, diaries and other historic documents, the significant battles and personalities of this stalemate are revealed.

It is interesting in the current environment to read about an old war that was fought for initially clear reasons, only to become one that became mired in "principals" more intellectual than practical.

In the end, the War was resolved more due to its drain on the economies of Brittan and the US than anything else. No one won, everyone lost something and the only thing truly lasting appears to be the formation of a Canadian nationalism that is still present today.

[William Mego · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing. This 2nd of two volumes by Burton on the War of 1812 is a masterpiece. Readers looking for detailed accounts of every engagement or name of every unit will find what they seek elsewhere, but to truly understand what this war was LIKE, a social history of it, filled with thrilling, gripping stories, still loaded with maps, battle diagrams, personalities, etc. Seek no further. One of the truly great history books written by one of mankind's great historians, and easily history's most underrated historians. Highest Recommendation.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, slightly novelized history of the second year of the War of 1812 (this is a second, though stand-alone volume). Although Burton tries his best to be neutral, his pro-Canadian bias comes through somewhat. Being educated in the Canadian schools, I liked that aspect of the book. Easy to read, fun, full of biographical sketches, great introduction to the history of a conflict that not many people know much about anymore.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very well written book. It opened a whole new chapter of Canadian history that I knew ver little about. It also emphasized the futility, the irrationality of conquest, colonialism and politics. A great amount of suffering and death for, in the end, status quo. As seems to be the case in all "colonization", in the end the native population suffered the most injustice, although in the "official" history books they were ignored.

[Tanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, still an awesome history. But I had to bump my rating down because it took me a long time to get through this one. I'm not sure why, it felt heavier than the other one. Possibly because this phase of the war was "heavier" in a sense. I am still in awe at the immense amount of research that went into putting this together, and I do think it is a must read for students of Canadian history. I very much enjoyed Berton's thoughts in his afterward, I wish he had written more.

[Norbert]

I, obviously, have heard of the War of 1812 but did not know that because of it we attacked Canada and fought for two years ending in what can be considered a stalemate. If we hadn't treated the Americans in Canada so badly turning them into Canadians we probably would have owned over half of Canada. No one won the war. Both sides lost which is hard to do.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second book in the War of 1812 duo (First book in Invasion of Canada)and just as good. I have a thing for war stories and Berton brings the dryness of a war book alive with anecdotal stories of real people.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the second half of the War of 1812 series. I have to say that the second book definitely had more of the action. Laura Secord. The burning of Washington. Excellent details of many of the lesser known people and events of the war

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What they say on the cover is true: they should use texts like this in schools. That he makes history come alive doesn't begin to cover it.

[Denise Mundier · Rating 4 out of 5]

More entertaining than I thought it would be.

[Gary Ritchie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this a LONG LONG time ago (decades). Giving it 4 stars because I must have liked given I remember the title even though I live in the future and have a flying car and robot servants.

[Greg Perowne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Equally excellent.

[Robert Parsons · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent explanation of the 1813-14 conflict from a Canadian perspective. No glory, just the facts, mistakes, incompetencies...

[Who · Rating 3 out of 5]

The history is as dramatic as ever, but unlike the work it precedes there's less of Berton's rich stylistic direction.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as enthralling as the first one, but still very good. Unexpectedly found a short chapter about my fifth-great grandfather, that was great.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essential reading on the War of 1812.

[Voyt · Rating 5 out of 5]

How Americans did not win this war.
POSTED AT AMAZON 2005
"Flames Across the Border" is a very important historical work, for it describes the birth of militarism, expansionism and first appearance of War Hawks within USA government.

Canada has been invaded only once during the history. It was extremely senseless and ad hock invasion. Many farmers, city dwellers lost their homes and thousands of (poor, desperately hoping for being paid) soldiers were killed or terribly maimed. Author pays considerable attention to Great Lakes' Indian tribes and legendary leader Tecumseh. False premises of land grant drugged Indians into this brutal straggle against Long Knives, while bellicose congressmen searched for glory. This fragment presents the utter insensitivity of politicians ordering killings and suffering: " "To give immediate occupation to your troops, and to prevent their blood from stagnating, why not take Fort Erie?" the Secretary (of War John Armstrong) suggested to Major-General Jacob Brown, almost as though he were planning a weekend outing ".

Book contains plenty of maps depicting battlefields and movements of both armies. I read it almost non-stop; especially great is naval battle on Lake Erie. Next fragment succinctly summarizes irony and tragedy of this conflict: "Thousands are dead, more are crippled, hundreds are in prison. In the glowing reports of the opposing commanders, scores of officers have achieved immortality of a sort, their deeds of heroism, zeal, steadfastness, loyalty, leadership, and resolve recorded for all time. But where is the victory? Here (at Fort Erie), as at Chippawa and Lundy's Lane the dead lie mouldering in common graves. To what purpose have they fought? For whose honour have they bled? For what noble principle have they fallen?"

[MH · Rating 4 out of 5]

The concluding book in Berton's histories of the War of 1812, like the war itself, loses sight of the reasons for the fighting and devolves into one pointless, heartbreaking battle after another - neither side has anything resembling an overall strategy, and both sides are peopled with officers who are petty, cowardly and incompetent. His focus on the border fighting is, to an American, a little surprising - the burning of Washington DC gets less ink than any of the many ill-planned battles along the Niagra - but it allows him to keep an eye on the many civilians who suffered needlessly, and the native tribes who threw their lot in with the British, hoping that they, unlike the Americans, might keep their promises. The sheer waste of this war is Berton's central idea, and with his excellent research, clear character portraits, and vivid writing he puts it across in a way that is absolutely wrenching.