ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I owe many people a debt of gratitude for their assistance in writing this book. My parents, Jack and Fran, began my lifelong interest in history. Not a Christmas passed without another history book from the Landmark Books series that my siblings and I shared and fought over. Many years later, they also supported my undergraduate education at Canisus College, where I majored in history and benefited greatly from the honors program run by Dr. James Valone and Dr. Walter Sharrow. Both professors taught me about the craft of history and discipline of historiography.

My particular interest in the War of 1812 stems from having lived the majority of my life in Buffalo, New York, and Washington, D.C. Long aware that the British Army had captured both villages during the war sparked my interest in the conflict. Pierre Bertons The Invasion of Canada, 18121813 was the first of many volumes that now occupy my shelves. I have enjoyed learning about the war through the writings of many other authors, such as Donald Hickey, J. Mackay Hitsman, Donald Graves, and J. C. A. Staggjust to name a few.

Several people were instrumental in the production of this book. Dr. Roger George of National Defense University provided a useful critique on an earlier draft, making suggestions for which I am truly grateful. At Potomac Books, Dr. Elizabeth Demers, Amanda Irle, Laura Briggs, Vicki Chamlee, and Elizabeth Norris were instrumental in turning my manuscript into a book. Ms. Beth F. MacKenzie, U.S. Army Center for Military History, pointed me to American Military History, Volume 1, The United States Army and the Forging of a Nation, 17751971 for the maps that appear in this book.

Most important, this book would not have been possible without the patience and love of my wife, Pam, to whom it is dedicated. With two careers and two sons, Sam and Daniel, consuming most of our waking moments, she provided the time and encouragement needed to research and write this volume. Any errors of fact, interpretation, and omission in the pages that follow are, of course, mine.