Cindy Vallar's Blog - Posts Tagged "war-of-1812"

Blue Water Scarlet Tide by John Danielski

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Royal Marine Captain Thomas Pennywhistle swims ashore in July 1814, to rescue a captured lieutenant who is scheduled to hang as a spy on the morrow. He succeeds in the endeavor, but not without cost, and the result adds to his haunting memories of war. Fighting had never been his goal, but an incident during his days at medical school forced him onto this path – one at which he is very good. Thus his next mission is to find a suitable landing site along the Chesapeake Bay for British troops from Admiral Cockburn’s flotilla. Unlike last time, he’s determined that the slaves who help him will secure their freedom.

He and Gabriel Prosser meet at a pre-arranged rendezvous near the Patuxent River, but are unexpectedly interrupted by four men. These Marylanders have come to move hidden gold, and from them he learns that they are responsible for the loss of a missing ship and her crew. Pennywhistle recovers the British payroll, locates a good place to land soon-to-arrive regiments of veteran infantry, and arranges to meet Gabriel at an extraction point. But a posse of slave hunters, with their hounds, track down the runaway slave, only to find themselves led into an ambush.

As the landing time nears for the British troops, Pennywhistle and his scouting party head toward Bladensburg, Maryland. One of their first objectives is to locate the U. S. Navy’s flotilla of gunboats – perhaps the only real impediment to the British advance on Washington. Like an unevenly balanced scale, war pits success against failure, each with its own consequences. This time an innocent soul deepens the indelible wound in his psyche, yet also brings him face to face with his doppelganger, an American Marine.

Captain John Tracy should have killed the British officer rifling through his papers, but is astonished to find himself looking at a man who could be his twin. Although the similarities are too close to be coincidental, he vows to avenge the slaying of six-year-old Molly. Duty must come first, however, and with the British on the march, he prevents them from using the flotilla against his fellow Americans. Then he must locate his commander to report what he knows. On the way to Washington, he encounters a group of drunken teens shooting at Redcoats as they come ashore. His conscience forces him to act, so he launches a daring rescue to save at least some of the lives of these miserable wastrels.

In the ensuing pages of this tale, which takes readers up to the moments before the Battle of Bladensburg, readers accompany the British as they endure marching through enemy terrain in wool uniforms on hot, humid, summer days. They witness surprising and bloody encounters with American marines and inexperienced militia, including an attack from the air in a hot-air balloon and an audacious escape through enfilading fire. They also experience the same frustrations and astonishments as Pennywhistle and Tracy when they encounter the stunning ineptitude of American leaders. Not to mention the startling, yet refreshing, introduction of a frontier sharpshooter, who almost succeeds in taking down Pennywhistle.

Most chapters in this third book in the Royal Marine Captain Thomas Pennywhistle series are of average length, but several are between twenty-five and forty-seven pages long. Readers will encounter occasional misspellings and missing words, as well as several instances where certain phrases may pull the reader out of the story. For example, in 1814, Washington is known as Washington City, rather than Washington, DC (45), and while the effects of adrenaline (415) are familiar, the word itself isn’t coined until its discovery in 1901 by a Japanese chemist. The inclusion of salicylic acid as the active ingredient in aspirin (106) also intrudes into the story.

On the other hand, Blue Water, Scarlet Tide is a thought-provoking and you-are-there recreation of the days leading up to the British invasion of our nation’s capital. Most of the action takes place on land, but a few water encounters provide edge-of-your-seat thrills and heart-stopping action. The story provides readers with a good understanding of the differences between the two armies and ably showcases the contrast between militia and professional soldiers.

Danielski’s strength in crafting stories lies in his knowledge of history and experience as a historic interpreter. These skills allow him to transport us back to a crucial time in the War 1812 to find ourselves marching alongside the troops, experiencing the scratch of wool against sweaty skin, the constant biting of insects, and the throat-parching thirst of trekking along dusty roads under a brutal sun. He also conveys with keen insight the physical and psychological toll war takes on men, especially those who have engaged the enemy for more than a decade. Interwoven through Tracy’s story is a curious mystery about a secret organization that could lead him down a traitorous path. For Pennywhistle, there is an alluring, but highly impractical (the captain’s conclusion, not mine), romantic twist. And then there’s the intriguing thread regarding an occurrence in the distant past that somehow unites these two men in the present. It is hoped that the fourth installment in the series, Capital’s Punishment, will provide resolutions to these storylines as the author once again transports us back to the fateful battle that preceded the burning of the White House.




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Capital’s Punishment by John Danielski

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The heat of August 1814 is unbearable, especially for soldiers wearing wool uniforms, yet Royal Marine Captain Thomas Pennywhistle explores the road ahead of the invasion force marching on Washington. At thirty years old, years of war have left him with a jaded heart and scarred soul, but chivalry remains as much a part of him as duty and honor. He quickly dispatches armed deserters from the Maryland Militia threatening an elderly woman trying to protect her farm animals from scavengers, before continuing with his mission. Along the way, he also contemplates the American marine who could almost be his twin. The truth tarnishes his idolized father, but he accepts that U. S. Marine Captain John Tracy must be his brother.

Tracy and his marines, as well as numerous other officers, find it difficult to prepare a defense of the capital because contradicting orders from their commanding officer and interfering politicians countermand army operations. Tracy is among the seasoned fighters who realize that they have no chance of winning the upcoming battle outside Bladensburg. The unknown is how badly they will lose it. For him, another question concerns him. If and when he meets his brother – a stranger until a short while ago – will he be capable of killing him?

Wherever Pennywhistle goes, fighting is sure to follow, so if Sammie Jo Matthews wants to shoot any high-ranking enemy officers, she only has to trail him. From her hiding space, she watches and waits for her chance. She’s as much aware of him as he is of her, which is why he spared her life after she tried to bushwhack him. She’s honor bound to not shoot him, but never promised to stop killing British redcoats. The problem comes when she shoots a fellow American to protect Pennywhistle. Not only has she given away her position, she’s betrayed her country. Which leaves her in a pickle. She may be beautiful, but she’s a backwoods sharpshooter and no way will she ever fit into his world. At least, that’s what Pennywhistle, his brother, and his friends believe. She’ll just have to convince them otherwise – a tough thing to accomplish on the eve of battle and when he’s washed his hands of her.

Capital’s Punishment is a fast-paced, galvanizing depiction of the devastating defeat of the Americans at Bladensburg and burning of the White House and other government buildings in Washington. The action, interspersed with lulls before storms, easily transports readers back in time to witness the most demoralizing event in the War of 1812. Rather than present a single perspective of what occurs, Danielski allows readers to experience history from a variety of British and American viewpoints, thus allowing us to gain a better understanding of why this unfolded as it did.

From time to time, there are chinks in the story: misspelled or missing words and disconcerting phrases that occur when the author interrupts to explain some point. Two such examples involve a soldier who decides it’s “time for some French leave, what would be labeled AWOL by future generations”, and the preacher whose “irresistible personal magnetism that enraptured a man almost against his will; later generations would call it ‘charisma.’” (235 and 279 respectively) The problem with these explanations is that they pull readers out of the story. Readers may also find the resolution of the “insidious secessionist conspiracy” unsatisfactory and the lengthy explanation of how Sammie Jo speaks tedious.

These are minor imperfections when weighed against the pivotal way Danielski brings to life three days of a war that spanned three years. He paints a graphic depiction of the realities of war, never glamorizing what transpires and always showing how it affects those who experience it. He vividly recreates the sights, sounds, and smells of the aftermath of battle. His interpretation of the storm that struck Washington and the surrounding area while the city burned unfolds in a way that places readers in the midst of the rain, wind, and terror. The colloquial dialogue some characters speak helps to round out the feel of the time period and provides readers with unique mental images that are easily grasped. One example comes when two former slaves are spying on Americans gathering to launch a counterstrike on the British. “Did you get a look at their faces? Every man jack in that column was as hungry for a fight as a dog spotting a steak bone.” (290)

Perhaps the most striking facet in Capital’s Punishment is the portrayal of war versus civility. Time and again, survival forces men and women to come to grips with realities that require them to do immoral acts, which are counter to the morals on which they’ve been raised. While the final confrontation between Pennywhistle’s veteran soldiers and common Americans led by a fire-and-brimstone preacher who imagines himself to be a modern-day Oliver Cromwell, is fictional, it is also heart-stopping, edge-of-your-seat, and breathtaking. The dénouement is poignant, unexpected, revealing, and indelible.




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The Liberty Bride by MaryLu Tyndall

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Mixed emotions assault Emeline Barratt as her father’s merchant brig nears Baltimore, Maryland in August 1814. She’s been in England for two years, sent there after her father tired of her passion to paint and refusal to find a prospective husband. He thought her great aunt would teach her to be a proper lady willing to settle down; if only she could, then perhaps God would cease punishing her for her rebellious ways. But that desire is not to be. She still has her dreams. Perhaps that is why the Royal Navy blockading the Chesapeake Bay intervenes. Instead of setting foot on the docks at home, Emeline steps aboard a navy frigate as a prisoner of war. Only her medicinal knowledge prevents her from being locked away in the brig with her father’s privateers.

First Lieutenant Owen Masters curses the day Emeline and the Americans are captured. For eight years he has successfully navigated dangerous waters as a spy aboard Royal Navy ships, seeking information to aid America’s fight for continued freedom. With an invasion imminent that knowledge is within his grasp, but the presence of the prisoners, especially Emeline, endangers his mission and his life. Already Lieutenant Dinsmore watches his every move. The marine officer’s attraction to Emeline seems a good way to thwart his nemesis until Emeline declares that her loyalties lie with them rather than the country of her birth.

Only after the burning of Washington are both Owen and Emeline given the opportunity they each desire. Her supposed loyalty to England makes her an ideal candidate to glean much-needed information for an assault on Baltimore, but in reality she can escape the clutches of the English, warn authorities, and hopefully cease to anger God. He can finally return home and turn in a traitor. But Dinsmore is determined to prove that Owen is a spy and save Emeline for himself.

The Liberty Bride is the sixth book in the Daughters of the Mayflower series and is set during the final stages of the War of 1812. This fast-paced inspirational romance vividly portrays the many perils both Emeline and Owen face at sea and on land. Dinsmore is the epitome of a villain readers truly dislike, in spite of his good looks and charm. From the depths of despair to the joys of true love and finding God, this is grand adventure spiced with pinches of humor, sorrow, and intrigue.




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The Greatest Fury: The Battle of New Orleans and the Rebirth of America by William C. Davis

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


It was a war few wanted, but President Madison’s declaration, with Congress’s stamp of approval, in June 1812, brought the fledging nation into conflict with its former overlord. It was the culmination of a number of grievances, not least of which was the forcible seizure of seamen from American ships. Becoming embroiled in war with the United States wasn’t high on Britain’s want list; it was already mired in a conflict with a greater foe, Napoleon, and would fight on whatever front threatened to upend its efforts to cripple the French emperor once and for all.

By 1814, both sides were tired of fighting, but neither was willing to give up. Negotiations for peace were ongoing in Ghent, Belgium. The United States still had not taken Canada – one of its major objectives – but it met with some success on both land and sea. As the year unfolded, key events set the stage for what would become the last major conflict of the war. In March, Andrew Jackson and his army won the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. In April, Napoleon abdicated and went into exile. In August, the British invaded Washington and burned the White House and other public buildings. The following month, the Americans prevented the enemy from taking Baltimore and killed Major General Robert Ross, whose loss was greatly felt by the British and impacted the outcome of a battle still to come.

No longer focused on fighting its primary foe, Britain turned its full attention on the United States in an effort to bring a resounding defeat on its former colonies. There was one weak spot that would confine the United States within a relatively small area, preventing further westward expansion. At the same time, Britain would gain control of the mighty Mississippi, connecting the northern realm of its empire to its islands in the Caribbean, and the wealth that flowed into New Orleans as people and product traversed the river. Thus, the British focused their attention and resources on Louisiana’s Gulf Coast. What they didn’t factor into their equation was a wily, imperious general determined to stop the British no matter the cost; a motley group of people willing to set aside their differences to protect what they held dear; and a weather pattern bringing an unusual amount of precipitation and subnormal temperatures to a land ill-suited for traversing with heavy ordnance and supplies or typical combat strategies.

Davis skillfully lays the groundwork for the series of skirmishes collectively known as the Battle of New Orleans. Readers see events unfold from both American and British perspectives, predominantly from people present at the time of the fighting. The narrative is intricately interwoven with these firsthand accounts to provide insights not included in other histories on this topic. Davis also deftly strips away the myths from the action, choosing to address them near the end of the book and providing a clearer picture of what happened when.

Within the twenty-two chapters, readers become familiar with well-known and lesser-known participants. Among the former are Major General Andrew Jackson, Governor William C. C. Claiborne, Jean and Pierre Laffite, Vice Admiral of the Red Sir Alexander Cochrane, and Major General Sir Edward Pakenham. The latter include Master Commandant Daniel Todd Patterson, Edward Livingston, Major General Sir John Lambert, Brigadier General John Coffee, Brigadier General John Adair, Brigadier General David Bannister Morgan, Ensign George Gleig, and Major Robert Rennie. A center section of black-and-white plates showcase portraits of people and illustrations of places pertaining to the Battle of New Orleans, or the war in general. Twenty-six pages of primary resources and only six of secondary appear in the bibliography, demonstrating the depth of Davis’s research and effort to strip away myth from reality. Additional details, as well as source citations, are found in the endnotes, while a comprehensive index provides quick access to material within the text.

Aside from summarizing events leading up to the final confrontation, Davis describes New Orleans, the sixth largest city in the United States at the time and a melting pot of 25,000 people with disparate traditions and cultures, where language identified a person’s politics and loyalties. From the opening salvos of the gun battle on 13 December 1814, seventy-five miles from New Orleans, to the British capture of the garrison at Mobile Bay in February 1815, to the weeks and months afterward, readers come away with a better understanding of what happened and why, as well as why the Battle of New Orleans was so important to Americans and how they saw themselves in decades to follow.

For readers thinking to pass up this book because they read The Pirates Laffite, don’t. The role of the Baratarians and Laffite brothers is shown here, but isn’t as strongly detailed. This book gives another perspective of the battle, but with heavier and more detailed emphasis on the British, Jackson and his army, and the locals who defended their city and homes. Davis also shares the ineptness of some, the mistakes of others, and the egos that interfered with the successful carry through of orders, and those who were left to suffer as a result.

Davis shares what happens to individuals, many of whom were everyday people, and what they endured. At the same time, he incorporates statistics and details of what transpires, but personalizes the events and shows what occurs from all perspectives. The inclusion of so many quotes from contemporary sources makes the events more real and vivid descriptions allow readers to feel, for example, as if they walk alongside British forces, slogging through bayous, swamps, and cypress forests, or enduring hunger and cold while sleeping in frigid temperatures and soggy clothing.

What makes The Greatest Fury a valuable addition to any collection on this historical event is its reliance on contemporary accounts to convey what happened and why. Equally compelling are the many components with which readers today will readily identify – business at a standstill, a legislature that refuses to work together, people coming together to support one another, fear and panic.





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Inside the US Navy of 1812-1815 by William S. Dudley

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Near the end of this book, Dudley writes: “The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the importance of logistics for the US Navy in the War of 1812. Logistics were important in all the far-flung campaign areas, and it was as true for the British forces as it was for the American. Those in charge had to have a proper grasp of logistics in order for the navy’s operations to succeed. Logistics included all the elements of naval war except the fighting – administration, communications, finance, shipbuilding, acquisition of timber, hemp, and sailcloth, recruitment, training, supply (requisitions, provisions, and material), transportation, ordnance (guns, powder, related equipment), medical necessities, and competent leadership.” (290)

When President Madison declares war in June of 1812, the United States is ill prepared. Six months earlier, the US Navy numbered just over 7,000 men. Comparing the number of their ships with those of the enemy is akin to a goldfish confronting a whale. Dudley, by viewing the war through a different lens, masterfully succeeds in demonstrating how and why administration and logistics were so key. He draws on period documents, some of which are quoted within the text, to showcase how Paul Hamilton and William Jones, the two civilians who hold the post of Secretary of the Navy during this period, do their jobs without sufficient staff and with limited funds. The task before them isn’t easy and each has his own challenges to deal with, but in spite of some losses and failures, the US Navy holds its own against a battle-hardened, veteran maritime force. By the time war ends, more than 15,000 men serve and the navy is on a far better footing than when hostilities began.

Paul Hamilton is Madison’s first Secretary of the Navy, serving as such from March 1809 until the end of 1812. His background – serving in the Revolutionary War and South Carolina’s legislature, as well as being governor of that state, and his knowledge of finances and having congressional friends – provides administrative experience, but he lacks actual expertise in ships and sailing. William Jones, on the other hand, is a former privateer during America’s first war with Britain, has sailed to a number of foreign ports as captain of merchant ships, and personally knows officers who serve in the navy.

The book is divided into fifteen chapters that interweave the logistics and administration of the navy with what occurs in the war. What follows is a summary of what each chapter encompasses.

“The Resources for Naval War” discusses the infancy of the US Navy and the establishment of the Navy Department, its participation in the Quasi-War with France and war with Tripoli, initial aspects of logistics – navy yards, ships, personnel, pay, rations, and weaponry – and contentious encounters that are harbingers of the War of 1812 (the Chesapeake-Leopard Affair and the Little Best Incident).

Paul Hamilton’s tenure as Secretary of the Navy is the focus of chapter two. Aside from medical needs of the navy and Jefferson’s gunboats, Hamilton’s interactions with his staff and Congress, Isaac Chauncey’s command of the navy yard at Sackets Harbor, and naval patrols between June 1812 and April 1813, are explored.

“William Jones’s Challenge” shows how he is chosen to serve as the chief administrator of the Us Navy and how he reforms his department. One quandary he has to face is that of a second front. Not only do his ships and men sail the seas, they also have to fight on the Great Lakes, including participation in two joint amphibious operations (York and Niagara).

Oliver Hazard Perry, the Battle of Lake Erie, and the Lake Huron Expedition are the primary foci of chapter four. The logistics of manning the navy’s ships, competition with privateers, and where munitions are obtained in order to arm naval vessels are discussed in the fifth chapter.

“The British Blockade of 1813-1814” analyzes the enemy’s experience with and effect of blockading American seaports along the Atlantic coast. Additional topics include smuggling and the cruise and loss of the USS Essex.

Supplies, provisions, agents, pursers, and medical needs on ships at sea are spotlighted in chapter seven, while the subsequent chapter focuses on innovation and inventions, especially Robert Fulton and his experiments in undersea warfare.

“Chauncey’s War on Lake Ontario” returns to the Naval Base at Sackets Harbor and campaigns on the Great Lakes during 1814, as well as plans for continued fighting in the new year. Afterward, Thomas Macdonough’s activities on Lake Champlain, smuggling, and the two opposing naval forces are discussed in chapter ten.

The spotlight on the war moves from the Canadian theater to that of Maryland, Virginia, and Washington in chapter eleven. Primary emphasis is placed on Joshua Barney and the US Navy’s Chesapeake Flotilla, but the British invasion of Washington, the ransom of Alexandria, the successful defense of Baltimore, and the Royal Navy’s withdrawal are reviewed.

After the attacks on the nation’s capital and Baltimore, attention shifts to the southern seaports in chapter twelve. Particular attention is placed on Britain’s new objective – capturing New Orleans and controlling the Mississippi River – and the role the US Navy plays in protecting the area both before and during the Battle of New Orleans.

To better understand what it is like to serve on navy ships during this time period, “Sailors’ Life and Work” examines everyday life at sea, discipline and punishment, and casualties. Also covered are Blacks in the US Navy and what happens when sailors become prisoners of war.

The last two chapters – “War Finance and the Blockade” and “Renewal of the US Navy” – pertain to Albert Gallatin and the country’s war debts, the impact of the Royal Navy’s blockade, peace negotiations, Washington in the aftermath of the British invasion, William Jones’s legacy, demobilization, and the final naval engagements at sea.

Dudley includes illustrations, maps, and tables that help to put a human face on the US Navy in the second decade of the nineteenth century. Notes, which include full source citations, and an index complete the study. The only drawback in this addition to Johns Hopkins Books on the War of 1812 series, is the font; if it was larger or darker, it would cause readers less eye strain.

Inside the US Navy of 1812-1815 serves a vital function, illuminating an aspect of the war that is often glossed over in other studies. Dudley makes a compelling and engaging argument for the importance of administration and logistics, which, in turn, makes this book an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the second war between the United States and Great Britain.




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No Sacrifice Too Great by William C Hammond

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


It is August 1812, and Americans are once again at war with Great Britain. Lieutenant Jamie Cutler serves under Captain Isaac Hull aboard the USS Constitution. On the nineteenth, lookouts spot an enemy frigate, HMS Guerrière. The ensuing battle pits an unseasoned crew against veterans who have been fighting for two decades. Hardly a fair fight, yet the Americans achieve the impossible and sail home to Boston with a prize.

The annexation of Canada is a much sought-after goal of many Americans. To that end, brother Will Cutler serves under Captain Oliver Hazard Perry on the Great Lakes. This new assignment will test the young lieutenant and his fellow Americans as they fight for control of Erie and Ontario.

Worries and finances snap at their father Richard’s footsteps during his retirement. The family business is on the brink of collapse as a result of the embargoes and the war which have greatly crippled trade. This is the life’s blood of many New Englanders who rely on the sea to sustain them. It is why brother Caleb is so opposed to the current administration in Washington. At times, his words and actions border on treason. Richard’s beliefs are too ingrained to go against his country, which is why, when asked to rejoin the navy as a special emissary and renew an old acquaintance with Jean Laffite, he heeds the call.

Cousin Seth is a lieutenant aboard HMS Seahorse, one of the vessels in Rear Admiral Sir George Cockburn’s fleet. They seek enemy privateers in the Chesapeake Bay. Plans are also afoot to strike a blow that the Americans will long remember and will finally exact payback for transgressions in Canada.

Conflict demands sacrifice, which comes in many different colors, and each Cutler pays a price for their devotion to duty and honor in this sixth volume of The Cutler Family Chronicles. Spanning two and a half years, these men bear witness to the lesser-known, but equally important, events of the War of 1812: an amphibious assault on the Niagara River, Cockburn’s raids along the Chesapeake, the Hartford Convention, the duel between USS Chesapeake and HMS Shannon, the invasion of Washington, and the Battles of the Thames, Plattsburgh, Northpoint, and Fort Saint Philip. Aside from the historical personages already mentioned, appearances are made by Tecumseh, Commodore Isaac Chauncey, and Colonel Winfield Scott.

Every once in a while, a scene steps away from the story’s action to explain the past and provide background for the present. One example occurs in the opening scene of the fourth chapter. Although a work of fiction, there are a few minor historical bobbles. For example, Governor Claiborne was based in New Orleans, rather than Baton Rouge, which didn’t become the capital of Louisiana until 1849. Nor did Jean Laffite stay true to his promise to earn an honest living. While those familiar with the characters and series will easily forgive these weaknesses, newcomers may not find this title as riveting as previous ones. All readers will agree, however, that the poignant ending clearly shows why no sacrifice is too great to those who willingly fight for what they believe in.




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The Hated Cage: An American Tragedy in Britain's Most Terrifying Prison by Nicholas Guyatt

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


6 April 1815. The War of 1812 is over, yet many American prisoners of war remain confined within the granite walls of Dartmoor Prison. The POWs are in the yard when a fight breaks out. Eventually, British guards open fire. Those who attempt to flee inside the prison blocks find the doors locked. When peace returns, nine are dead and more than thirty suffer from serious wounds.

This incident, which opens The Hated Cage, is perhaps the only aspect of the most feared prison in the world that is remembered today. Like the war itself, few Americans know much about this enormous detention facility or the 6,553 Americans who lived within its confines between 1813 and 1815. The few remnants of their memory are either vague references in history books, or the 271 graves where bodies of these citizens are buried. All this is in spite of the fact that indelible records of these people, the majority of whom were privateers, do exist and Guyatt delved into archival records about and personal memoirs and journals from these POWs to change these deficits. He also shines a light on the men of color, of which there were nearly 1,000 yet not one left a written account of his time spent in America’s first racially segregated prison. One of these, a man history remembers as King Dick, serves as the nucleus around which the POW experience unfolds, because much of what has been written about him is steeped in mythology. Within these pages, the truth about Richard Crafus, the prison, life as a POW, and the massacre are explored.

Prior to 1809, the British incarcerated POWs in prison hulks (ships) and repurposed buildings. A change in social thinking and the large numbers of prisoners – a result of fighting with the French and the Americans in two separate conflicts – necessitated a change. Thomas Tyrwhitt, private secretary to the prince, decided to build a purpose-built prison and received permission to do so on a foggy, barren moor in the middle of nowhere. Dartmoor was designed by Daniel Asher Alexander. Bordered by a granite wall nearly a mile round, the northern portion of the prison consisted of large dormitories arrayed like wheel spokes where the POWs would reside. South of these structures were the other buildings needed to care for the captives and house those who oversaw and guarded them.

The most notorious of the blocks was Prison Four. It became the domain of the men of color, although all prisoners spent time there, spending money and whiling away idle time in pursuits such as staging plays or gaming. Supposedly, this was where King Dick reigned.

To reach Dartmoor, POWs walked from Plymouth in all types of weather. Once inside, each man had to dress in a yellow uniform sporting a diagonal arrow. The first man to enter its gates, over which was chiselled “Spare the Vanquished,” was a Frenchman named Etienne Pagert on 22 May 1809. The oldest prisoner was born in England in 1745; his name was Edward Johnstone. The youngest Black POW was James Johnson, a lad of thirteen who was aboard a privateer when it was taken by the British in February 1814. The first agent (warden) to oversee these men was Isaac Cotgrave; when he retired, Thomas Shortland took his place and oversaw the refurbishing of the prison before it began to house only American POWs beginning halfway through 1814. Frank Palmer, who wrote about his captivity, served aboard a privateer for less than a day before he was taken prisoner; he remained such for 545 days, some of which were spent in this prison.

Throughout the pages of this book, readers learn what it was like to be a POW both physically and emotionally. Also discussed are the problems encountered by both the POWs and the agents. This includes the original inhabitants of Prison Four who were collectively known as Romans, feral men who never wore clothes except a blanket if they went elsewhere in the prison. Daily life, prejudices, published narratives, escape attempts, the massacre and its aftermath, reasons as to why the POWs remained incarcerated for so long, and how some individuals came to be residents of Dartmoor are discussed, as are what became of these people after they returned home and how the prison was repurposed to house hardened criminals, which it continues to do until it closes in 2023.

The Hated Cage is an eye-opening and absorbing history of Dartmoor and the POWs, both French and American, who resided within its walls. Guyatt provides a wealth of details that clearly show the differences between expectations and realities. Although he includes the surprising detail that women and children (camp followers and captives) lived within Dartmoor’s walls, he doesn’t share much about these people. He does provide vivid imagery about what it was like to live within the prison blocks without many of the creature comforts we’ve come to expect. This is a must read for anyone with a general interest in the War of 1812 and those with a specific interest in privateering. It is not only a compelling account of what happened to those men who didn’t return from successful ventures, but it provides a more comprehensive and detailed experience than recent titles on privateering.



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