1812: Rediscovering Chesapeake Bay's Forgotten War

by David Healey

REDISCOVER THE FORGOTTEN WAR From the creation of "The Star Spangled Banner" to Uncle Sam, the War of 1812 left a lasting legacy. The true story of that war is largely forgotten today. This book sets out to explore America's Second War of Independence in the Chesapeake Bay region from today's perspective. Along the way you will meet War of 1812 re-enactors, salty sailors aboard the Pride of Baltimore II, archaeologists and backyard historians, and even a man who makes his living portraying President James Madison. Visit Fort McHenry, tour Baltimore's Star Spangled Banner Flag House and dig for artifacts on remote battlefields. In a journey that's part history, part travelogue-with a little current events mixed in-rediscover the lively past of the War of 1812 as it comes to life once again.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

208 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2005

About the author

David Healey made his publishing debut with SHARPSHOOTER, a what-if historical thriller about an attempt to assassinate Union General Ulysses S. Grant during the Civil War, published by an imprint of Penguin Putnam. That novel was the result of years of research into the Civil War that included time as a reenactor at Gettysburg and other battlefields.

In its review, the Civil War News wrote: “SHARPSHOOTER has the feel of a techno-thriller, the kind offered by Tom Clancy or Dean Koontz ... SHARPSHOOTER moves quickly and is filled with all manner of intrigue."

Healey has brought that same passion for research and history to his World War II novels, GHOST SNIPER, ARDENNES SNIPER, and RED SNIPER. During a 21-year career as a journalist, he was fortunate enough to interview many veterans of the 29th Division who landed at Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944. Some of the events and characters in these novels were inspired by their stories.

He loves the idea of a character like Micajah Cole, a self-reliant backwoods hunter who turns out to be unrelenting and ruthless as a sniper, especially against a skilled adversary, in the pages of these books.

In addition to fiction, he has written books on regional history, including 1812: REDISCOVERING CHESAPEAKE BAY'S FORGOTTEN WAR and GREAT STORMS OF THE CHESAPEAKE.

A graduate of Washington College and the Stonecoast MFA program, he was recognized in 2011 as a Chaney Scholar in history by St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Visit him online at www.davidhealeyauthor.com or follow him at Facebook at facebook.com/david.healey.books

Reviews

[Phillip Mclaughlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

dated history of the War of 1812 and Maryland

At the time of publication well before the bicentennial it was a pretty good history, that aided the reader in rediscovering the sites and actions.
Have promised myself I would get around to it and now am glad I did.

[Felicity Fields · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written by a local enthusiast about a largely forgotten war. Great reading both for general history and the types of odd quirky stories that draw you into the past.

[Mags Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great research and detail and how he used this information in writing his historical fiction. Don’t stop here. Waiting for more books.

[William S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a helpful compendium of the War of 1812 in the Chesapeake Bay region, where I reside. It has immediacy in the little towns such as St Michaels, where armed incursions took place. Small battles forgotten elsewhere are treated well here, such as the Battle of Caulk's Field. This campaign was something of a side show to the main events, and the burning of Washington (in retaliation for American burning of the Canadian capital, York) is highlighted - but Healey neglects to tell us it was a retaliatory action. The battles here loom larger now than at the time given their consequences - the Star Spangled Banner and Fort McHenry.

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book provided just enough to inspire further interest in the War of 1812 history and exploring some of the sites involved. I would have liked to see it more as a travel guide with other details about visiting the sites, but realize this was not the primary focus.