In his new book, Dr. 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 also tells the story of the War of 1812 through the portraits of famous American war heroes.

Participants in the War of 1812 -- Timeline of key events in the War of 1812 -- Introduction -- America and Britain drift toward war -- Back on land : The fall of Forts Detroit and Dearborn -- Old Ironsides -- Back on land : failure on the Niagara -- Stephen Decatur finds the Macedonian -- Back on land : Harrison on the Maumee -- Bainbridge finds redemption -- Back on land : holding the line -- Into the Pacific -- Back on land : Harrison on the Maumee line -- The tide turns in the Atlantic -- Back on land : British on the Chesapeake, 1813 -- Henry Allen ravages the English -- Back on land : Alabama burning --"We have met the enemy and they are ours" -- Harrison takes Detroit, Jackson Alabama -- Letters of marque and reprisal -- Montreal, and back to the Niagara -- MacDonough sinks Britain -- Back on land : Washington and Baltimore -- Challenging the British blockade -- New Orleans : peace at last -- Epilogue.