The Chesapeake Campaigns 181315: Middle ground of the War of 1812

(Paperback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

The War of 1812 was never the most popular of conflicts on both sides of the Atlantic. Bogged down by their involvement in the Napoleonic conflict in Europe, the British largely relied on the power of the Royal Navy in the early years of the war. Part of this naval strategy was to blockade the American coastline in order to strangle American commerce and bring the new nation to its knees. Nowhere was this blockade more important than in the Chesapeake. Partly in response to the sacking of York (modern Toronto), the British decided to strike at the nations capital, Washington, DC, and a force of Peninsular War veterans under General Robert Ross landed, defeated the Americans at the battle of Bladensburg and took Washington on August 24, 1814. Buoyed by this success, the British pressed on towards Baltimore. However, they were forced to withdraw at the battle of North Point, and a naval bombardment of Fort McHenry failed to reduce the fort and Baltimore was spared. With his intimate knowledge of the events in this theatre of war, Scott Sheads of Fort McHenry NPS brings these dramatic events of American history to life.

Reviews

"This 96-page paperback is brightly illuminated by author Scott S. Sheads' quartercentury of research and his experience as a ranger-historian at the Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine. Profiles of the opposing sides and details of their orders of battle are complemented by numerous images, including paintings, sketches and maps. The highlights are several superb fullcolor illustrations that demonstrate the artistic talent of Graham Turner. This book is a great source of background on events that will be marked with 200th anniversary commemorations during the course of 2014." --Toy Soldier & Model Figure magazine

Author Bio

Scott S. Sheads is a ranger-historian at Fort McHenry National Monument & Historic Shrine and has spent over 25 years researching the War of 1812 and the Chesapeake Campaign. He served as a consultant for the Smithsonian's Saving the Star-Spangled Banner Project (1998-2005) and has written a number of books on the subject, including most recently The War of 1812 in the Chesapeake: A Reference Guide to Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2010). Graham Turner is a leading historical artist, specializing in the medieval period. He has illustrated numerous titles for Osprey, covering a wide variety of subjects from the dress of the 10th-century armies of the Caliphates, through the action of bloody medieval battles, to the daily life of the British Redcoat of the late 18th century. The son of the illustrator Michael Turner, Graham lives and works in Buckinghamshire, UK.