Begun in ignorance of the military facts of life, fought with raw troops, mostly incompetent officers, and inadequate logistics, the War of 1812 was a near disaster for the fledgling United States. This new volume in Algonquin's Major Battles and Campaigns series tells how our country's most unmilitary war was fought and almost lost.

Maps include: Niagara frontier, Battle of the Thames, Hampton's Campaign, Creek Campaign, Battle of Chippewa, Battle of Lundy's Lane, Battle of Platsburg, Battle of New Orleans. Includes maps of: Northern Theater; Niagara Frontier; Battle of the Thames, October 5, 1813; Hampton's Campaign, 1813; Creek Campaign, 1813-14; Battle of Chippewa, July 5, 1814; Battle of Lundy's Lane, July 25, 1814; Operations around Washington and Baltimore, August-September 1814; Baltimore, 1814; Fort Erie, August-September 1814; Battle of Plattsburg, September 11, 1814; Eastern Theater; Western Theater; British Advance on New Orleans, November 1814-February 1815; Battle of New Orleans, January 8, 1815; South and Central United States, 1815.

Of Arms and Men, bad roads and short rations -- Disaster in the West -- Champlain and Niagara -- Marching, mud and misery -- Handful of fir-built frigates -- Battle for the Lakes -- Winter of our discontent: tribulation in the West -- Victories Wasted -- On to Montreal! -- Spaniards and Red Sticks! -- Regulars, by God! -- Bladensburg races -- Rockets' red glare -- Triumph in the North--Almost -- War's fringes, East and West -- Confusions of Andrew Jackson -- Last Shots.