The War That Assured Independence

The War of 1812 is perhaps known for only two reasons. One is the burning of Washington, D.C. The second is the writing of the Star Spangled Banner—courtesy of Francis Scott Key witnessing a still waving flag amidst the rubble of Fort McHenry.

In “Union 1812: The Americans who Fought the Second War of Independence,” author A.J. Langguth ’55 continues a historical journey that began with “Patriots: The Men Who Started the American Revolution.”

Clocking in at a little over 400 pages, Langguth begins his latest book with George Washington’s return to Mount Vernon in 1783. Washington was actually coaxed into attending the Constitutional Convention by James Madison.

Langguth details the construction of the country with impeccable detail, but his prose never borders on the tedious. He avoids the run-of-the-mill history lesson by inserting various anecdotes about America’s founding fathers.

Langguth—a former correspondent for the New York Times—informs us that a parade honoring Alexander Hamilton in New York “was marred by mishap when the arm of the statue representing Hamilton broke off—the arm holding the Constitution.”

The book is filled with these factoids humanizing figures that have become emblazoned in our historical memory. Lonely hearts at Harvard may take some solace in knowing that it was only through the clever machinations of Aaron Burr and Martha Washington that James Madison’s five-foot five-inch bod landed Dolley Payne, a “buxom brunette with remarkably fair skin.” The future Mrs. Madison would later spark a fashion trend as each of her dresses were “set off with ostrich plumes and feathery birds of paradise and topped those creations with matching headdresses from her collection of bright turbans and crimson caps.”

The meat of Langguth’s book is the buildup that culminated in the War of 1812. Regarding the escalating tensions between America and Britain—manifested in the tense naval skirmish between the Chesapeake and Leopard in 1807—Jefferson is quoted as saying, “never since the battle of Lexington have I seen the country in such a state of exasperation.”

This vexation is equally felt by the reader. With Langguth detailing each exhaustive event concerning the War of 1812, one almost feels like this is a history crash course. However, the fluidity of Langguth’s prose keeps the book from devolving into a boring, lecture-like encyclopedia.

When Langguth arrives at the actual war we feel sufficiently acquainted with William Henry Harrison, Andrew Jackson, Davy Crockett, and other figures likely to show up on “Jeopardy.”

The Battle of New Orleans, famously fought after the Treaty of Ghent—which formally ended the war—is chronicled with each spectacular and likely little-known detail. Jackson, feeling the constraints of his small army, even sent a proclamation to black recruiters, saying, “Through a mistaken policy, you have heretofore been deprived of a participation in the glorious struggle for national rights in which your country is engaged—this no longer shall exist. As sons of freedom you are now called upon to defend your most inestimable blessing.”

Langguth further describes the condition of the bayou and Jackson’s often shaky “backbay defense.”

The book closes with a quotation from Madison that the war had produced, “happiness and harmony in every section of our beloved country.”

—Reviewer Jessica C. Coggins can be reached at jcoggins@fas.harvard.edu.

Union 1812
By A.J. Langguth
Simon & Schuster
Out Now