Colonial Campaigns Club (CCC)

Gary, I really enjoyed reading George Washington's War by Robert Leckie. I had been strictly limited to WWII for my history interests until I read this book. It provides some very good character sketches of the major players during the Revolutionary War and is, as you said, the book I turn to in order to get a historical and tactical background for the battles I'm about to fight. I'd like to add a book suggestion question. What biographies has anyone read that he would feel is a "must-read?"

Private Jim Johnson
2nd Continental Light Dragoons
Northern Dept. Continental Army

Gary here is something on line:

http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/revwar ... /CA-fm.htm

Lt. Col. Al Amos
1st U.S. Dragoons 1812-R

Since Al listed that fine assortment of reading material, I thought I'd throw a question out there to the members. I am currently looking for material on the 2 wars that this club covers. Now what I am interested in is not the thesis material that some put up as the definitive work of the period,.... but your personal favorites! Books that you refer to when you have a question on a battle. The tome that brought the battles to life for you. I am open to all titles that you all can recommend, so please fire off away! Remember, both wars please.



Pvt Gary Foley
38th US Infantry Regiment
1812 Regulars

I'm a voracious reader-collector of War of 1812 material, so I offer a few favorite reads:

Armstrong, John. Hints To Young Generals.

Babcock, Louis. The War of 1812 on the Niagara Frontier.

Barbuto, Richard. Niagara 1814: America Invades Canada.

Lossing, Benson J. Pictorial Field Book of the War of 1812.<u></u>

Brannan, John. Official Letters of the Military and Naval Officers of the United States during the War with Great Britain in the years 1812, 13, 14, and 15.

Graves, Donald. Red Coats and Grey Jackets.

Mahan, Alfred. Sea Power in Its Relation to the War of 1812.

Quimby, Robert. The US Army in the War of 1812: An Operational and Command Study.

Johnson, Timothy. Winfield Scott: The Quest for Military Glory.<u></u>

Cleaves, Freeman. Old Tippecanoe: William Henry Harrison and His Time.<u></u>

Remini, Robert. Andrew Jackson and the Course of American Empire, 1767-1821.
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Sugden, John. Tecumseh.<u></u><u></u>

Steve
Pvt, 36th US Inf

I forgot some good ones:

Fredriksen, John. Officers of the War of 1812. (excellent title detailing the careers of the men who led Brown's Left Division)

Heidler, David. Encyclopedia of the War of 1812. (a good all-in-one source for bios, battles, politics, regions, etc...)

Turner, Wesley. British Generals in the war of 1812: High Command in the Canadas. (a gem of a book focusing on the activities of the prominent leaders of the canadian defense)

Steve
Pvt, 36th US Inf

Steve, Great list! So when are you going to put all that knowledge to work, and make us some scenarios or campaigns?

Lt. Col. Al Amos
1st U.S. Dragoons 1812-R

Colonel Amos, War Department, concerned parties,

At this very moment I am comparing the units present and their estimated fighting strengths as reported in Brannan (Official Letters), Lossing (Field Book), Quimby (US Army), Hickey (War of 1812), Mahon (War of 1812), Harrison (Messages), and Adams (History).

I'm checking the SDC and toying with the idea of creating some western theatre "what if" scenarios.

Steve
Pvt, 36th US Inf

Steve,

Making sceanrios is easy work, and fun too!

Could you put a spread sheet together of your comparisons and post it for others to see as well? That would be cool!

Lt. Col. Al Amos
1st U.S. Dragoons 1812-R

Halbert and Ball, The Creek War of 1813 and 1814
[url="http://www.choctaws1.homestead.com/irregulars.html"]<img src="http://www.choctaws1.homestead.com/files/l2feaths.gif" border=0>[/url]

Rawdons Volunteers of Ireland-British Army 1776/1812 Club
Loyal Irish Volunteers AoC ACWGC
2/42nd Highlanders-Anglo/Allied Army NWC

Al,

Yes, I will post it for others to see.

Steve
Pvt, 36th US Inf commanding

Steve,

Thanks.

Scott,

Have you heard of the magazine of Time Portal Passages ? I was looking through it at MagWeb last night. A ton of Native American articles covering 1600's to the 1800's. I thought of you when I found them <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>.

Lt. Col. Al Amos
1st U.S. Dragoons 1812-R

Lecklie was a fun read. I also picked up a two volume set (20 bucks!) on the Revolution that is in the words of the soldiers and statesmen themselves. I will have to look for the title when I get home.


Maj. Bill Peters, Morgan's Rifles, American Army
Commander of French Dept.

Man, what a great list! This is more than I could have hoped for,.... but I want more, more, more! Keep them coming guys. Now I must go to the bookstore and check some of these titles out.

For the past 10 years I have been reading everything I could get my hands on about the Civil War. I like to read books from both sides of a conflict and form a "big picture" in my mind. Very informative and interesting. One of the most memorable reads I have ever had was when I read Grant and Lee's memoirs at the same time. Exchanging books back and forth as I read up to a time period. This formed a neat paralleled timeline that showed the highs and lows of both men. FUN.

The key to all my reading is the following statement:

The closer you get to the front lines,.... the more pure the reason for fighting!

Think about it!

Pvt Gary Foley
38th US Infantry Regiment
1812 Regulars

Gary,

I recommend going to your library and using inter-library lending. It is much cheaper and once you read the book if you really liked it, then you can go buy a copy.

Lt. Col. Al Amos
1st U.S. Dragoons 1812-R

Gary,

Glad to be of service. I have all these titles (call me foolish), but I agree with Al that inter-library loan is the way to go if you want to get your feet wet. Second hand stores are a good bet too, and the War of 1812 IS very esoteric. If you live near a big public library (500,000 + users) or a major university, you can get some of the old titles on microfiche (clarity superior to browned, foxed, stained book, but lacking the charm)and sometimes they even have the original edition.

I really like the Encyclopedia of the War of 1812 because it gives you nut shell data on just about everything.

One book I left out is Donald Hickey's War of 1812: A Forgotten Conflict , which is superb. His biliography is great too.

The Winfield Scott bio, which i mentioned in the list, really is a GREAT read and carries you through his entire career (1812, Seminoles, Mexican, and Civil). Irritating man, but great.

And if you want a great perspective from the enlisted regulars I recommend highly the compilation of diaries by Don Graves "Soldiers of 1814: American Enlisted Men's Memoir's of the Niagara campaign".

Steve
Pvt, commanding 36th US Inf