War Pre-1914
Showing all 26 results
A Matter of Honour: The Life, Campaigns and Generalship of Isaac Brock
Isaac Brock was the British general responsible for defending the long frontier of Upper Canada with meagre forces in the opening days of the War of 1812 between Britain and the U.S.A. He has been revered as the Savior of Upper Canada. Brock was a resourceful field commander who believed in offensive measures to keep his opponent off-balance and is probably best known in the United States for managing to cow U.S. General William Hull into surrendering Detroit, to that general's eternal shame. Jonathon Riley describes Brock's early days in the Channel Islands and his military career in Europe and the West Indies. He covers in detail how Brock prepared for war with the United States, the events of the capture of Detroit as well as the Battle of Queenston Heights, which cost Brock his life but from which he emerged as a major historical figure. The book includes an assessment of Brock's abilities as a general by an author who is himself a general with experience in various theaters of war.
A Military History of Canada: From Champlain to the Gulf War
Is Canada really "a peaceable kingdom" with "an unmilitary people"? Desmond Morton says no. This is a country that has been shaped, divided, and transformed by war -- there is no greater influence in Canadian history, recent or remote.
Through the Cold War, the Gulf War, and after, Canadians had to make difficult decisions about defence and foreign policy, and these events have shaped the country, developing our industries, changing the role of women, realigning our political factions, and changing Canada’s status in the world.
And All Their Glory Past: Fort Erie, Plattsburgh and the Final Battles in the North, 1814
This is the story of the last major battles of the War of 1812, which were fought along the Canadian-American frontier in the summer and autumn of 1814 and had a decisive effect on how the war ended. The first of these actions is the 53-day siege of Fort Erie, which incurred more casualties than the better known battle of New Orleans in some of the most vicious fighting of the entire war. The Americans besieged in the fort on the Canadian side of the Niagara River succeeded in driving off the British attacks but finally decided to withdraw across the border before the onset of winter, thus marking the end of hostilities on Canadian soil. The second major action is the naval and land battle of Plattsburgh, New York. An outgunned American naval squadron on Lake Champlain succeeded through out-standing seamanship in defeating their Royal Navy opponents, causing the British commander in chief, General Sir George Prevost, to withdraw, a reverse that he was unable to live down and an American victory that had a direct bearing on the final outcome of the war. The author also describes the devastating raid in which General Duncan MacArthur's mounted troops burned and plundered their way across south-western Ontario from present-day Windsor to Brantford Written by Donald E. Graves, the master of the battle-field narrative and acknowledged internationally as an authority on the War of 1812, And All Their Glory Past is a fascinating blend of scholarly research, engaging narrative and insight into the minds of men under the stress of combat. It complements two previous books by Donald E Graves, Field of Glory: The Battle of Chrysler's Farm, 1813 and Where Right and Glory Lead! The Battle of Lundy's Lane, 1814, widely read classics that have remained in print for more than a decade due to popular demand.
Capital in Flames: The American Attack of York
As Canada's central depot and naval dockyard on the Great Lakes early in the War of 1812, the capital frontier town of York (present-day Toronto) was a prime target for American forces. In April 1813 a squadron of warships under U.S. Commodore Isaac Chauncey sailed up Lake Ontario and landed about 1,800 soldiers there as the renowned explorer Gen. Zebulon Pike led his men into battle. Though the Americans took the town, their victory proved disappointing. Malcomson challenges conventional ideas about the battle as he brings to life the politicians, soldiers, and citizens whose destinies clashed at York.
Capital in Flames: The American Attack of York
As Canada's central depot and naval dockyard on the Great Lakes early in the War of 1812, the capital frontier town of York (present-day Toronto) was a prime target for American forces. In April 1813 a squadron of warships under U.S. Commodore Isaac Chauncey sailed up Lake Ontario and landed about 1,800 soldiers there as the renowned explorer Gen. Zebulon Pike led his men into battle. Though the Americans took the town, their victory proved disappointing. Malcomson challenges conventional ideas about the battle as he brings to life the politicians, soldiers, and citizens whose destinies clashed at York.
Courage on the Battlefield (Volume II): Canada’s Military Heritage
Courage in the battlefield is the second title in a three volume set of selected Canadian war heroes as compiled by Arthur Bishop. These exciting narratives bring to life the gallant and self-sacrificing stories of those who fought first on Canadian soil in the War of 1812, in the Crimea, the Indian Mutiny, the Boer war and in World wars I and II and in Korea.
Sale!
not rated
Original price was: $59.95.$29.99Current price is: $29.99.
Add to cart
Defending the Dominion: Canadian Military Rifles 1855-1955
The author has researched the use, acquisition and disposal of every known purchase of long-arms by the Canadian Militia between 1855 and 1955. The dates were chosen as the logical commencement of Canadas Militia, due in large part to the Militia Act of that year, while the end date brings to a close the general issue and use of the Lee-Enfield No.4 rifle. This 100-year period is unsurpassed for the design and invention of rifles. The book contains 13 appendices, a bibliography and end-notes. This is a must have addition for any firearms enthusiasts bookshelf.
Don’t Give Up the Ship!: Myths of the War of 1812
No longer willing to accept naval blockades, the impressment of American seamen, and seizures of American ships and cargos, the United States declared war on Great Britain. The aim was to frighten Britain into concessions and, if that failed, to bring the war to a swift conclusion with a quick strike at Canada. But the British refused to cave in to American demands, the Canadian campaign ended in disaster, and the U.S. government had to flee Washington, D.C., when it was invaded and burned by a British army.
By all objective measures, the War of 1812 was a debacle for the young republic, and yet it was celebrated as a great military triumph. The American people believed they had won the war and expelled the invader. Oliver H. Perry became a military hero, Francis Scott Key composed what became the national anthem and commenced a national reverence for the flag, and the U.S.S. Constitution, "Old Ironsides," became a symbol of American invincibility. Every aspect of the war, from its causes to its conclusion, was refashioned to heighten the successes, obscure the mistakes, and blur embarrassing distinctions, long before there were mass media or public relations officers in the Pentagon.
In this entertaining and meticulously researched book by America's leading authority on the War of 1812, Donald R. Hickey dispels the many misconcep-tions that distort our view of America's second war with Great Britain. Embracing military, naval, political, economic, and diplomatic analyses, Hickey looks carefully at how the war was fought between 1812 and 1815, and how it was remembered thereafter. Was the original declaration of war a bluff? What were the real roles of Canadian traitor Joseph Willcocks, Mohawk leader John Norton, pirate Jean Laffite, and American naval hero Lucy Baker? Who killed the Shawnee chief Tecumseh and who shot the British general Isaac Brock? Who actually won the war, and what is its lasting legacy? Hickey peels away fantasies and embellishments to explore why cer-tain myths gained currency and how they contributed to the way that the United States and Canada view themselves and each other.
Sale!
not rated
Original price was: $19.99.$9.99Current price is: $9.99.
Add to cart
Engines of War: How Wars Were Won & Lost on the Railways
The birth of the railway in the early 1830's revolutionized the way the world waged war. From armored engines with swiveling guns, to the practice of track sabotage, to the construction of tracks that crossed frozen Siberian lakes, the "iron road" facilitated conflict on a scale that was previously unimaginable. It not only made armies more mobile, but widened fighting fronts and increased the power and scale of available weaponry; a deadly combination.
In Engines of War, Christian Wolmar examines all the engagements in which the railway played a part: the Crimean War; the American Civil War; both world wars; the Korean War; and the Cold War, with its mysterious missile trains; and illustrates how the railway became a deadly weapon exploited by governments across the world.
Field of Glory: The Battle of Crysler’s Farm, 1813
One of the turning points in the War of 1812. In the fall of 1813 the largest army yet assembled by the United States invaded Canada, determined to capture Montreal. The courageous but ill-trained and badly led American forces were defeated by British, Canadian and native troops in two important encounters: the Battle of Chateuaguay and, above all, the Battle of Crysler's Farm, fought on a muddy field beside the St. Lawrence River.
Guns Across the River: The Battle of the Windmill, 1838
In 1838, seeing political unrest in Canada as an opportunity, American extremist groups invaded at several places, thinking Canadians would arise and join them to "throw off the British yoke." One of the most ambitious expeditions was the attack in November 1838 when hundreds of members of a secret organization, the Patriot Hunters, sailed down the St. Lawrence River and landed near Prescott, Ontario, where they occupied a stone windmill.It took five days of bloody fighting by British regulars and Canadian militia to defeat the invasion and capture the invaders. The prisoners were taken to Fort Henry in Kingston and tried, resulting in 11 executions and 40 deportations to Australian penal colonies. The Windmill stands today as a national historic site.The book is well illustrated with about 100 maps, archival pictures and original artwork by renowned marine artist Peter Rindlisbacher.
In the Midst of Alarms: The Untold Story of Women and the War of 1812
The War of 1812 between the United States and Britain has been covered in detail by many historians, but its impact on the lives of women has been largely overlooked. After years of research, Dianne Graves has produced a marvelous study of how the war affected women at all levels of society, from high society in Washington and Quebec to the women who followed their husbands to the front lines. She brings to life the untold stories of wives, daughters, heroines and harridans, as revealed in memoirs, diaries and letters of the time. The book is well illustrated with portraits, cartoons of social comment and styles of dress of the time.
Lords of the Lake: The Naval War on Lake Ontario, 1812-1814
Of all the struggles that took place along the border between the United States and Britain's provinces in Canada during the War of 1812, the one that lasted the longest was the battle for control of Lake Ontario. Because the armies depended on the lake for transportation, controlling it was a key element in the war on land. Both Britain and the US threw manpower and resources into efforts to build inland navies, culminating on the British side in a ship larger than Nelson's "Victory." This is the first full-length study of this aspect of the War of 1812
Mary Rose – King Henry VIII’s warship 1510-45: Insights into the construction, operation, rescue and restoration of a great Tudor ship and its contents
From the time that Henry VIII's warship Mary Rose was raised from the Solent in 1982 after 437 years on the seabed, to the present day, she has been constantly in the public eye. The Tudor ship and the 19,000 artifacts recovered from within her are a fascinating time capsule of life in Tudor times as well as offering unique insights into life in Henry's navy.
Merry Hearts Make Light Days: The War of 1812 Journal of Lieutenant John Le Couteur, 104th Foot
A personal memoir by Lieutenant John Le Couteur, a British officer of the war in North America. The author provides us with an interesting, humourous portrait of 19th century Canadian society, as well as many of his own sketches and watercolours.
Our Little Army in the Field: The Canadians in South Africa, 1899-1902
The Boer War, 1899-1902, saw the first Canadian troops sent overseas to fight. Many units of the present Canadian army first distinguished themselves in South Africa, and still proudly bear the Battle Honours earned there.This is the story of the Canadian soldiers in the Boer War, how they overcame the limitations of the old-style British army, and how they defeated very tough, unconventional warriors. The author uses extensive archival research to shed new light on some of the failures and controversies, as well as the obvious successes, of the Canadians in South Africa.
Scarlet to Green: The Colours, Uniforms, and Insignia of the Grey and Simcoe Foresters
This is a photographic history of American military aircraft.
Contents cover:
Superfort
Bomber force
Hot pursuits
Top trainers
Cargo classics
Scarlet to Khaki: Uniforms and Equipment of the Canadian Militia, 1885-1915
Clive M. Law Hardcover 246 pages
The British at the Gates: The New Orleans Campaign in the War of 1812
In 1814, the final year of the War of 1812, Britain mounted a massive seaborne assault against the United States. The British burned Washington, forcing President Madison and his cabinet to flee, but the Americans succeeded in fending off an assault on Baltimore (commemorated in the words of the American National Anthem). By the end of 1812 the British had sailed southward to launch a bold attack on New Orleans, which was defeated by the Americans under the inspired leadership of Andrew Jackson.Reilly's account of the Battle of New Orleans and the events that led up to it was first published to great acclaim in 1974. It is still regarded by many experts as unsurpassed.
The Tide of War: The 1816 Invasion of Upper Canada
Throughout 1812 and 1813, Upper Canada had been the principle target for a succession of American invasions and attacks. Fortunately they all had been repulsed, but at a high cost in lives and the devastation of property on both sides of the border. By the beginning of 1814, both sides were determined to bring the war to an end with a decisive victory through an escalated commitment of men and military resources. Continuing the story already detailed in The Call to Arms, The Pendulum of War, and The Flames of War, The Tide of War documents the first six months of 1814 and the ongoing fight for the domination and control of Upper Canada.
The True Glory: The Story of the Royal Navy over a Thousand Years
A history of the Royal Navy divided into periods of British History: Anglo Saxon, Tudor, Stuart, Hanoverian, George III, Waterloo to Crimea, Crimea to WW1, Inter War Years, WW2 to Hiroshima, and 1945 to the Present Day.
Warships of the Civil War Navies
Warships of the Civil War Navies presents statistical data, war service, and histories of all the ships that participated in the Civil War.
Where Right and Glory Lead!: The Battle of Lundy’s Lane, 1814
One of the most controversial battles of the War of 1812. Experts still argue over who won. This account of the desperate battle that took place in sight of Niagara Falls has become a military history classic. The author narrates the events in detail while providing an examination of the weapons, tactics and personalities of the opposing armies.