Ships of Oak, Guns of Iron: The War of 1812 and the Forging of the American Navy

by Ronald Utt

The War of 1812 is typically noted for a handful of events: the burning of the White House, the rise of the Star Spangled Banner, and the battle of New Orleans. But in fact the greatest consequence of that distant conflict was the birth of the U.S. Navy. During the War of 1812, America’s tiny fleet took on the mightiest naval power on earth, besting the British in a string of victories that stunned both nations.

In his new book, Ships of Oak, Guns of Iron: The War of 1812 and the Birth of the American Navy, author Dr. Ronald Utt not only sheds new light on the naval battles of the War of 1812 and how they gave birth to our nation’s great navy, but tells the story of the War of 1812 through the portraits of famous American war heroes. From the cunning Stephen Decatur to the fierce David Porter, Ships of Oak, Guns of Iron relates how thousands of American men and boys gave better than they got against the British Navy. The great age of fighting sail is as rich in heroic drama as any epoch.

Dr. Utt’s Ships of Oak, Guns of Iron retrieves the American chapter of that epoch from unjustified obscurity, and offers readers an intriguing chronicle of the War of 1812 as well as a unique perspective on the birth of the U.S. Navy.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Military Fiction, American History, Military History, Naval History, Nautical

608 pages, Paperback

First published December 3, 2012

Reviews

[Jerome Otte · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book claims to be naval history of the War of 1812, although it covers the land campaigns as well. The book is well-written and accessible for the most part, and does a great job bringing the era alive for the reader, with vivid portraits of the various characters. Utt does a fine job capturing the drama of the naval war, and his descriptions of the engagements is gripping.

Like many books on the subject, it claims to rely on “previously overlooked material,” but it’s based mostly on secondary sources (annoyingly, Utt quotes heavily from Theodore Roosevelt’s book on the subject), so I’m not sure what Utt means by that. Accordingly, Utt doesn’t have much new to say about the subject, either research-wise or regarding interpretations; the narrative is mostly fact-driven. A glance at the bibliography reveals that he mostly consulted a couple of published primary and secondary sources, most of them well-known.

It also suffers from some errors, like calling James Lawrence “David Lawrence,” calling Richard Johnson “Robert Johnson,” and he can’t make up his mind regarding Robert Henley’s rank. Another officer is called a “lieutenant commander,” a rank that didn’t exist at the time. Even more oddly, many of these characters don’t even appear in the index. He also gets a few geographical details wrong, and writes of the “Chesapeake-Leopard confrontation in 1808,” and of the French and Indian War which “spanned more than a decade between 1754 and 1766.” And oddly, at one point Utt writes that Isaac Chauncey was good at selecting subordinates--subordinates like Winfield Scott and Zebulon Pike, apparently, who weren’t even naval officers. Nor does he address Chauncey’s lack of success on Lake Ontario.

Thorough and readable nevertheless.

[Erskine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a well written, engaging narrative of the War of 1812, covering all the different theaters of combat over the entire course of the war. The scope of the work is such that it cannot cover the subject in minute detail, but it provides an excellent overview of the war. I have read more detailed accounts of the war that focused on particular geographical area, on particular events, or on particular people, but this is the first book I've read that gave me the big picture.

Utt's viewpoint is definitely pro-American, but he does give voice to opposing views on the war and he doesn't engage in anti-British polemics. His goal is more to rescue the conflict from the obscurity into which it has fallen, and to reacquaint Americans with the stories of the many great deeds done during the war.

At the beginning of the book, he alludes to the many popular novels that have been written about the period of the Napoleonic Wars (to which the War of 1812 is something of a sidebar) by authors like C.S. Forester and Patrick O'Brian. He takes these writers as his model in trying to portray the heroism of the men on both sides of the conflict, doing homage to the courage and intelligence with which many of them fought. The story is also peppered with "villains," men who from either cowardice or incompetence failed to do their duty. The result is both informative and inspiring story-telling with the pace of a good novel.

As a source of scholarship on the war, it's not definitive. There's much more that can be said in greater detail. It is a good starting point for learning about the war, though, and just a generally good read. I highly recommend it.

[Frank Murdock · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a difficult but an important book because it covers a long neglected portion of American history. Difficult because “war is hell” and the detailed descriptions provided here do not romanticize that fact. Difficult because there were no clear winners here - everyone lost, particularly the native peoples of America. Important because we should not forget our failures. The concept of state sanctioned piracy is very hard to understand and justify. The brutality of battle and the principles of honor are very hard to understand. But it is all here, it happened, and is still happening in Europe and the Middle East today.

[Andrew Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't know very much about the War if 1812, and this book was immensely informative, funny, and adventurous. Definitely gives the reader a broad picture of events, but still dives deep into battles, life & death aboard frigates, personal and private lives, among other things. Wonderful read for anyone!

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a lot to commend it, but it's not well-written and so I started skimming it and then gave up entirely about halfway through. It's not quite badly written, but it's dull in places and full of nautical jargon in others, and it just feels like a chore. Also, it doesn't seem to have any original research, as it quotes heavily from Teddy Roosevelt's history of the war, as well as a couple of other prominent historians. I kind of felt like, what's the point of this book? I should just read Roosevelt's.

I know basically nothing about the War of 1812, and that's kind of the author's point. He says in the introduction that it was recognized into the early 20th century as a major epoch in American history, but that it's more or less invisible now. High school history textbooks give it a tiny mention and (in the author's opinion) don't give any of the US naval heroes their due. I guess he feels this book is part of a correction, but it's not like I've seen more about the War of 1812 in the 20 years since this book was published. And there's nothing to suggest that it will penetrate the relentless news and entertainment cycles we all face today.

The book is mostly about the battles in the war, both on land and at sea. The sea interests this author the most, or perhaps he believes that the sea was the critical venue in the war. He certainly makes the case that victory at sea was the achievement that changed America at the time, turning it from a struggling entity to a recognized power. The victories of US forces over the British is remarkable. The US faced a deficit in ships of 10 or 20 times -- literally, the British had something like 20 ships in their navy for each ship the US had. But in the first six months of the war, the US vessels proved to be better ships and better captained and manned, and they won a series of stunning one-on-one victories. These are retailed in great and gruesome (though redundant) detail in the book.

The author revels in lots of gross details of people's legs being shot off, of sailors mortally wounded jumping into the ocean to kill themselves, of decks strewn with sand to absorb blood, and so on. On the one hand, it's stunning to read that stuff, as I haven't read any of those famous series of naval warfare novels that probably cover the same ground. And I certainly didn't understand the depth of violent discipline in the British navy, especially, nor how real a threat pirates were to every nation's shipping interests. All that stuff would be very interesting if told better, and was interesting enough even in the hands of this author.

At the same time, the US was holding to a draw or fumbling around in "the west" of that time, ie., Ohio, Illinois, and so on. And the US failed miserably at stopping invasions in the East later in the war, including the famous burning of buildings in Washington, DC. Those battles are told with a lot less detail and verve, and I'd like to find a book that explains them better.

Throughout reading, I was vaguely discomforted by a feeling that the author wasn't writing a balanced history. There was something like a pro-US bias, a cheerleading aspect, a readiness to make every US naval officer a heroic figure and smart tactician and most British ones bumblers even if occasionally brave. The evil that all of these guys did -- flogging, dueling, pillaging, etc. -- is sort of brushed off as boys-will-be-boys and that's-how-things-were-in-those-days. And then I realized why I was uneasy. This book is published by the reprehensible Regnery Publishing, a right-wing group that got its start peddling salacious books about Bill Clinton. Regnery doesn't do real political writing or history. It does pre-MAGA hatchet jobs and a sort of blind faith reading of America that hasn't been in vogue for about 80 years until the rise of the idiots who govern us today. So if you pick it up for 99 cents at a used bookstore, beware of what you're getting into.

[Chad Barrington · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very fun read! Mr Utt covered all the main action- both land and sea- from the beginning to the end of the war without getting bogged down in details that would make it a dry read. This is a very well rounded book that will give you a great overview of the entire war!

I only have two gripes, both small to me (one may be big to some)- first, I really wish there were a few more maps. The action is very well described but I'm not as knowledgeable with the ports of Lake Erie or the Ohio River area as I should be. Not a huge issue as I just opened Google maps to get a lay of the land while reading. Second, I think the title is a bit misleading... Mr Utt definitely covers the naval battles, but he also covers all the action on land just as well. I also would expect a bit more backstory into the creation of the the Frigates and other Naval vessels when using the term "forging" in the title. To me though, this was not a problem and actually a very pleasant surprise. If you are looking solely for a book on the Navy you might be a bit disappointed.

Overall, well worth the read!

[Gary Lowell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A highly readable account of the War of 1812 replete with swashbuckling sea battles and bloody land campaigns with numerous references to source materials including Teddy Roosevelt's well-known The Naval War of 1812. Character and actions of historical figures (e.g, Madison, Scott, Perry and Jackson, various Indian tribes, the sacking of Washington DC, etc) are analyzed and blame or credit assigned. You will be impressed by the ship Constitution, its captains, its crews and victories and will learn much about the evils of impressment, black powder warfare and how sailing ships fought. This almost forgotten war established the present borders between USA and Canada, preserved the Louisiana Purchase and Florida and established the US Navy. I don't remember being taught any of this in college history. It is a pity that the author did not provide a short glossary of nautical terms as well as better maps (historical maps that are provided are illegible) of the Great Lakes country. You will need an atlas to follow the campaigns. It is a worthwhile read.

[Anthony Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A ripping great yarn by a fantastic story teller. Framed around the contribution's of America's fast frigates and privateers to the war effort, Utt also provides lots of framing context for the conflict on land, making the book serve both as the story of the early days of the U.S. navy and as a great overall primer on the War of 1812. I'm not sure how much of a true history it is- it reads more like a very good writer read 9 or 10 books on the war and decided to write his own- he quotes extensively from Teddy Roosevelt's naval history, to the point that he might as well be a coauthor, and will often cite two other historians who disagree about a certain event without providing a point of view of his own, and rarely cites primary sources directly, but as a casual read it's highly recommended.

[Andrew Balog · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the kind of book that I really wish I could give 4.5 stars to. A sort of one volume, all encompassing history of the War of 1812, with emphasis on the naval side and the battles fought there.

I really liked how the author managed to accomplish something rarely done in non-fiction books: he introduced enough information for us to understand what was going on and to imagine the characters involved, without overwhelming the reader with too much useless detail. He did an especially great job at crafting narratives around each important character, making it feel like we knew them to some extent and then efficiently wrapping up their story and moving on.

[Charles Fried · Rating 4 out of 5]

In spite of the title, this is really a book about the war of 1812. Only about half of the 500+ detail-filled pages is devoted to the US Navy. The rest describes the politics of the time, and the battles on land. The only quibble I might have is that the book uses a lot of unfamiliar, archaic sailing terms while that expanded my vocabulary when I looked them up it slowed reading progress: larboard instead of port, brailing sails, etc. This period of history seems largely forgotten in the states, but it is very interesting and the author keeps it moving.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a solid history of the War of 1812 that focused primarily on the naval combat, which was a fascinating read for someone like me that really enjoys nautical fiction. It would’ve benefited from more details surrounding the politics behind the war, but it helped give me a basic overview of this often forgotten conflict.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

B: Very good even though derived primarily from secondary sources (many of which are on my shelves). One point the author does make clear is that much of our “forgotten” history is the result of too many facts and not enough time.

[Steve Horton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent research and sources, but disconcerting sequencing and back-filling of information. Good time line of events in the opening and list of major participants and personalitied.

[John McKenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cover to cover fascinating read. Solid facts and excellent research. Recommend.

[Melissa L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good historical account of the War of 1812. I leaned a lot that I never learned in history class. Good read about many men for whom our cities and streets are named, as well as multiple presidents.

[J.D. Brayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best written books on Naval warfare I've ever read. I learned a great deal more about nautical terms and the War of 1812 than I ever knew. Utt's descriptions of the reality of brutal ship to ship combat is shocking. His grasp of tactics and the illustrations of pivotal naval battles are fascinating. Well written and never boring.

[Urey Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific - often engrossing. There is an impressive amount of detail and personified accounts. Utt has captured better than any other account I have read the horrific experience of ship to ship naval warfare of the time. It is ghastly, random and grisly. He explains tactics, ship maneuvers and the technology of the day. He is good, but a bit less comprehensive, in his chapters dealing with the land battles of the war - certainly consistent with his title. Oddly, each chapter is essentially a stand alone short story - each chapter deals with a particular ship, or campaign, or event. For example, in telling the tale of Thomas MacDonough's naval campaign in 1814 on Lake Champlain late in the book, Utt goes back to the start of the war in 1812 and takes us through MacDonough's life and career. It's a great chapter, but there is much that is repetitive having been related in previous chapters - sort of like a TV series that recaps events, actions and story lines before each episode. That happens repeatedly throughout the book as each chapter deals with its own distinct subject matter within the context of the larger war... and that is why each chapter is more accurately described as a stand-alone short story in its own right. It is a minor quibble, mildly disconcerting because you are repeatedly reading recapped "old news" previously told, but not a criticism, because the content is so uniformly excellent throughout.

Utt explains the personalities on both sides - US and British - and the cause and effects of those personalities, egos, incompetencies and technological limitations such as communications, logistics, etc on the war itself. His chapter on the British campaign against Washington and Baltimore, the sacking of Washington and the successful defense of Baltimore is superb - informative and compelling in its detail and personification of the men and events on both sides. His chapters (plural) on the assorted naval events - campaigns, ships, battles and tactics - are equally compelling. If you have an interest in the War of 1812, this book is a wonderful resource.

[Kate K. F. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book at ALA 2013 from Perseus publishers and enjoyed it, but when I finished it had slightly mixed feelings. This is a solid retellings of the military battles of the War of 1812 alternating between the land and sea battles. I read the majority of it on a my train ride from Chicago to Michigan and the way the battles are set out with a good mixture of secondary and primary sources gives them a good immediacy. It wasn't until I finished the book and began to think about it that I realized how little of the greater picture was present. There was talk of the politics of the era but few of the primary sources were from others than soldiers and sailors.

I understand that this is due to how they kept records but since this war was fought a great deal on American shores, it was strange to not have a variety of voices. I found this a solid read and would recommend it for someone studying the era but I would recommend that they also read books continuing other takes on the period.

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent history of America's "forgotten war", the War of 1812. While the title mentions forging the American Navy, Utt bounces back and forth between the conflict at sea and on land.

Utt also pulls no punches in describing the shortcomings of both Army and Navy commanders. Additionally, he highlights the contibutions of Americans of color in both Navy crews and Army units.

If you're looking for an engaging, well-written volume about the War of 1812, I recommend this book.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finely detailed, it helps if the reader has some familiarity with early Nineteenth Century frigates, sloops, and warships, naval tactics, and naval life. Utt does a terrific job establishing the scene and telling the tales of courage and bravado, success and failure that did much to create a sense of Americanism, overshadowed by and often lost in historical retrospect by the issues leading into the Civil War.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

While it is an easy read, and gives a concise overview of the navy war, Utt relies heavily on secondary sources with no real new scholarship to add of his own. There were entirely too many errors than I cared for, both grammatical and factual, but I would chalk that up to the publisher as I have a first edition printing.

Good read for someone looking for a broad overview of the naval conflict in the War of 1812, who doesn't want to get lost in the details.

[Dave Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having looked up the author and noticed he worked or had worked for a “conservative” think tank, I had assumed like Bill O’Reilly he would try to work his assumed beliefs into the narrative. I was very pleasantly surprised by his writing. Although marketed as a naval history, I found to be a concise and well researched history of the War of 1812. I look forward to more of his writing and I should apologize to him for my incorrect presumption.

[Mike McGiboney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good accounting of the war, but must be part of a trio with Six Frigates and Teddy Roosevelt's The Naval War of 1812 to get a full picture.
It spent too much time on the land portion of the war, but does a better job on the telling of the Constitution vs the Guerriere than Six Frigates for example. Still a must read for the historian.

[S.R. Staley · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book, weaving seamlessly between the war at sea (where Americans did startlingly well) and the war on land (where Americans were barely competent and war was literally hell). Read my review for the Tallahassee Democrat for more, http://blogs.tallahassee.com/communit...

[Raleighhunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read go any American history buff!!!!! From now on, when someone says The War of 1812 was a draw, I’ll ask them to prove it. The other thing is getting up to Boston Harbor to see the USS Constitution is now way up on my bucket list.

[Bob]

Enjoyable read about a little known time.

I enjoyed this book and learning more about the formation of our navy, the incredible successes and this time period I didn't know much about.

[Daniel Duval · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t think there could be a more readable, comprehensive account about the war of 1812 packed into 500 pages, then this one.

[Dale Kovarik · Rating 4 out of 5]

well written and very information al.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and learning more about the formation of our navy, the incredible successes and this time period I didn't know much about.

[Marklutherlawoffice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book with thrilling stories about the United States naval and army battles in the forgotten War of 1812-which defined our nation as "not to mess around with"