Forgotten Soldiers: The War of 1812 in the North

During the thirty months that the War of 1812 lasted, the heaviest fighting took place along the northern border of the United States, between Lake Champlain and Buffalo. Forgotten Soldiers is a three-volume trilogy that tells the story of the military campaigns that took place in this area from the spring of 1813 to the end of the war and of the men of all nations who fought in them. Two volumes have already been published -- Volume 1 is Field of Glory: The Battle of Crysler's Farm, 1813 and Volume 2 is Where Right and Glory Lead: The Battle of Lundy's Lane, 1814 -- and a third volume is in preparation. The first volume is described below.

Publisher: Robin Brass Studio, Toronto, Canada, 1999
ISBN: 1-896941-10-9

Details: Hardcover and quality softcover; 6" x 9"; 425 pages; about 80 illustrations and maps; notes; bibliography; index; and appendices with detailed orders of battle, weapon characteristics, the fate of the battlefield and a list of medal recipients. Also contains a foreword by Colonel John Elting of the United States Army.

Suggested Retail Price (may vary): Hardcover is $44.95 Cdn/$39.95 US; softcover is $22.95 Cdn/$18.95 US.

In the autumn of 1813, the United States staged the largest military operation of the War of 1812. Two American armies, one marching north from Lake Champlain through swamp and forest, the other sailing down the St. Lawrence River in a flotilla of three hundred small boats, invaded Canada -- their objective, the city of Montreal. Field of Glory is the story of this offensive and of the two battles -- Chateauguay and Crysler's Farm -- that decided its outcome. An epic of long marches and hard fighting, of courage and cowardice, Field of Glory is a fascinating panorama of one of the most dramatic periods in North American history.

Excerpt from Field of Glory
copyright ©1999 by Donald E. Graves and must not be reproduced without the author's permission.

As the American infantry advanced through the small woods between the two camps, they emerged into an open area of plouged and muddy fields cut across by ravines and saw a line of British and Canadian infantry drawn waiting for them. Also waiting was Captain Henry G. Jackson of the Royal Artillery with three 6-pdr. field guns ......

Morrison did not have to tell an officer of Jackson's experience that the performance of his artillery would be crucial to the outcome of the battle. His guns were the only weapons that could hit the enemy at long range, and, as the odds in these opening minutes of the action appeared to be at least four to one in favour of the Americans, the more casualties Jackson inflicted on the enemy, the less pressure they would be able to exert on Morrison outnumbered infantry. The gunner officer's task was simple - he had to kill as many Americans as he could as fast as he could.

To do so, he had three different projectiles to choose from: case shot, round shot and spherical case shot. The most useful against closely-packed infantry formations was case shot, or canister, but it was only effective at short ranges, between 100 and 350 yards, and the American infantry spilling out of the trees between 600 and 1,000 yards from his guns, were too distant. Some of the enemy units were within the maximum effective range of roundshot but the conditions were not the best as the ground around Crysler's farm was wet and muddy. Gunners liked to land roundshot in front of an infantry target and bounce it through the ranks in a series of "grazes" or ricochets that doubled and redoubled its effect, but wet ground acted as a cushion, slowing it down and reducing its range and effectiveness. Jackson, therefore, turned to his third projectile, spherical case shot.'

The central section of "Climax of the Action at Crysler's Farm," the mural by
Adam Sheriff Scott at the Battle of Crysler's Farm Visitor Centre, Crysler Park.

Commonly called shrapnel, spherical case was a hollow, thin-walled iron sphere filled with a bursting charge of powder and twenty-seven musket balls (in the 6-pdr. variety) exploded above the target by a fuze. Spherical case provided Jackson his best chance to do harm to the Americans ...... [and] the British artillery commander transmitted his firing order to his gun commanders in the formula of target, type of projectile and number of rounds, as in, "Infantry column in front; two rounds spherical case, fire when ready." He did not concern himself with the loading, aiming and firing of the weapons. That was the province of the NCO commanding each gun detachment - his job and that of Kersteman, was to position their weapons properly, ensure they were supplied with ammunition, observe and correct the fall of shot and identify targets.

At each field piece, the experienced gun commander would probably have anticipated the choice of spherical case and had a round ready for loading. On receiving the firing order, the detachment swung into action. Spherical case was a tricky projectile that required experience and nice judgement to use properly - if the shell exploded too soon or too low in its trajectory, its bullets ploughed harmlessly into the earth in front of the target; if too high, they fell behind it. The ideal was to achieve what modern gunners call an "air burst" above and just in front of an enemy infantry formation, sending a lethal spray into the crowded ranks. To do that required the right choice of fuze. In 1813 artillery fuzes were tapered hollow beechwood tubes, about six inches long, tightly packed with a combustible mixture that burned at a predictable rate. The outer surface was ribbed, each rib representing a half second's burning time. The correct time of flight having been estimated, the gunner cut the fuze at the rib that most closely corresponded, and inserted it into the aperture at the top of the shell using a wooden setter and mallet to make sure it was tight.

While the shell was being fuzed, another gunner brought the propellant, three-quarters of a pound of black powder in a stiff flannel bag, to the front of the gun, inserted it in the muzzle and stepped back to let his opposite number shove it home to the bottom of the bore with the rammer. The shell, now fuzed, was next loaded and pushed firmly home by the rammer. When both were seated securely, a gunner at the rear of the piece reached over and shoved a brass priming wire down the vent (the aperture on top of the breech of the gun by which the charge was ignited) to "prick" or break open the flannel bag of the propellant charge in the bore. He then inserted a tube, a three-inch, hollow length of tin or goose quill packed with mealed powder, into the vent. At the end of this procedure, which took less than a minute from the setting of the fuze to the insertion of the tube, the gun was ready to be aimed and fired.

"Laying" or aiming an artillery piece required experience, knowledge of the weapon and projectile, and an appreciation of the rudiments of ballistics. This being the case, it is likely that Jackson's gun commanders laid their own weapons as they were the most experienced men in the three detachments. Since their targets were brigades of infantry in column or starting to deploy into line, the gunlayers would not have worried too much about traversing, or aligning their weapon in the horizontal plane - the 6-pdrs. would have simply been pointed at the approximate centre of the target, marked by the blue and buff colours of each American infantry regiment, using a handspike inserted in the end of the trail of the gun carriage. Satisfied, the layer would then step close to the breech and elevate, or align his weapon in the vertical plane. Now he would take more care, because judging elevation correctly was essential to firing spherical case with effect. With one hand on the screw beneath the breech that raised or lowered it, he would look down the length of the barrel and using the computer that is the human brain take into account all the variables that might affect his trajectory, compensate for them and arrive at a correct solution for the elevation.

There were many variables to be considered. Because the day was damp, the powder in the propellant charge would probably burn less evenly and its force would be weaker, so the gunlayer would increase the elevation to compensate, sending the shell on a higher and hopefutly longer journey. On the other hand, there was a stiff wind blowing towards the target and, if the elevation was too high, it might carry the shell over it, so perhaps the variables of damp powder and wind cancelled each other out. Then again, the moisture in the air on this grey, wet day would act as a "drag" on the shell in flight, affecting its range, so maybe it was better to add that extra twist of elevation. But the layer also had to consider that, since the position of his gun was just slightly higher than the target, he needed less elevation. On the other hand, the weapon he was firing might be an older piece, coming to the end of its useful service life of five to six hundred rounds at full charge, with a bore so worn it needed an extra bit of elevation to compensate for the fact that more of the explosive gases of the propellant charge escaped around the projectile and reduced its velocity. All this, and more, went through the gun commander's head in a split-second as he made his adjustments until he was satisfied and stepped back. After making sure his men were clear of the wheels, the gun commander gave the command, "Fire!"

Painting by G.A. Embleton, courtesy Parks Canada

At this, a gunner at the left rear of the piece reached over the gun wheel and ignited the tube in the vent in the top of the breech by means of a portfire, a tightly rolled stiff paper tube filled with a flammable composition that burned slowly and steadily. The tube in turn set off the propellant charge and the 6 pdr. discharged with a loud, deep bang that pushed on the eardrums; a shower of sparks and flaming matter was ejected from its muzzle; and weapon and gunners were surrounded by a cloud of dense, acrid powder smoke as the weapon recoiled several feet. It was immediately run back up to its firing position as the shell flew toward its target, a faint trail of wisping smoke from the burning fuze (which had been ignited by the explosion of the propellant charge) marking its progress. When the fuze burned down, the shell exploded in a flash of white smoke sending twenty-seven musket bans with enough velocity, as its inventor proudly asserted, to penetrate a wooden board two inches thick, slicing through leather and wool, skin, muscle, bone and tissue.

Jackson's gunners were right on target. In his promotional literature, Henry Shrapnel claimed that under optimum conditions forty rounds of his product (albeit from calibres larger than 6-pdr.) fired at a range of 800 yards had hit a target representing the frontage of an average infantry company with 1,213 balls and seventeen shell splinters. Some allowance must be made for exaggeration in advertising and conditions at Crysler's Farm were not optimum, but on the other hand Jackson's gunners had a much larger target. The British artillery commander recorded with satisfaction that his detachments' shooting was good and that the American columns "suffered dreadfully from our firing Shrapnell shells."

 

 

What Reviewers say about Field of Glory

The author or editor of numerous books, articles, reports, and documents, Graves has done more to illuminate the military history of the War of 1812 than anyone else, and just about anything with his name on it can be read with profit. ..... This is a first-class study that presents ample background material; excellent sketches of the leading personalities in the campaign and their fate afterwards; useful information on tactics and weapons as well as geography and terrain; illuminating maps and illustrations; informative tables showing British and American military organization; and unusual information on contemporary slang, popular songs, and military medicine, subjects that are usually ignored in battlefield studies. Above all, this work presents a clear and compelling account of how the two battles in the campaign unfolded and thus shows Graves at his best.
Donald Hickey, "The Top 25 Books of the War of 1812," War of 1812 Magazine, Issue 7, September 2007

Amazon 5-star rating
Graves's writing is excellent. He can make the movements of armies clear, and still go into detail about the travails of the common soldiers. The battle descriptions are very good, helped by several excellent maps that make it easy to follow the flow of the battle. Having read this book, I ordered Where Right and Glory Lead ... and Red Coats and Grey Jackets ... by the same author. I can't wait to read these books.
Robert Zebian, Amazon Reviews

Donald E. Graves may be the most competent of the modern Canadian military historians. His preference, as shown in his earlier works, has been to bore into a single battle and relate it in great detail. Having completed a study of the battle of Lundy's Lane, Graves now turns to a more obscure battle at Crysler's Farm in November 1813. Because it is obscure, Graves spends a lot of time setting the stage for the battle until the battle (he does not get to the actual battle until the second half of the book). Graves ... pays great attention to details, both in his narrative and in appendices, relating to organization, ammunition and weapons, order[s] of battle, and strength of each side. While the average reader might find some of the details tedious, military buffs will be delighted. ...... [Graves's work is ] an excellent account in the finest traditions of military history. [It is] replete with maps and illustrations. {The] coverage is comprehensive but perhaps on some occasions excessively detailed. ...... This is, however, only a minor complaint. Scholars particularly will welcome [Field of Glory] as will readers who have a strong interest in military history.
C. Edward Skeen, Journal of American History, March, 2002

"Graves's blow by blow account of the battle is aided by a series of clear maps which show the topography of the area of Crysler's Farm ...... sumptuously illustrated with period illustrations and modern impressions of the soldiers. Photographs of the battleground also help give the reader the impression of the area where the battle was fought. The book is rounded out with ample and interesting footnotes and complete rundowns of the weapons and personnel involved in the battle. In all, the book is a very welcome addition to any War of 1812 library."
Christopher T. George, Journal of the War of 1812, January 2002

"Based on extensive research ... this work should remain the definitive account of the Battle of Crysler's Farm, it can be enjoyed by general readers as well as scholars."
Wesley Turner, Canadian Book Review Annual, June 2001

"Donald Graves is "the preeminent military historian of the war" of 1812. "Graves's account of this campaign is superb. He presents a fine description of the leaders, men, and weapons, and a clear account of the battles and their aftermath. ... This work fills a significant gap in 1812 studies, and it is a pleasure to read."
Donald Hickey, Journal of Military History, February 2001

"Graves has a marevelous ability to marshal many facts without interrupting the flow of his narrative. For history buffs, everything he writes is well worth reading."
Chris Raible, Beaver, August/September 2000

"In the hands of a lesser historian, such an utter defeat might prompt a certain amount of chauvinistic gloating, but Donald Graves, who owns the War of 1812, knows facts loom larger than any posturing and simply tells the story. But what a story it is! ...... Two decades of 1812 research have given Graves astoninishing command of his material and he brings that erudition to Field of Glory. It's a remarkably dense carpet he weaves. Each page brimming with detail and considered insight. ...... The battle sequences are crisp and logically presented without impeding the dramatic flow of the conflict, leaving readers with the real sense they've been afforded an almost cinematic view of events. ...... Graves "is an historian at the peak of his powers and there are certainly no shortage of battle that could do with his intellectual searchlight."
James Elliott, Hamilton Spectator, 26 February 2000

Sketch by Peter Rindlisbacher, copyright © the artist, 1999

"Believing that history can only be created and not re-created, Graves makes estensive use of all source material: manuals, primary source documents and a surprising large number of personal accounts to bring events to life. His studies are often the first serious re-examination since the early twentieth century and as a result always bring new interpretations and revelations. As such, his books are an important addition to the literature and written with the intelligent general reader in mind. No armchair general, Graves has a pragmatic common sense approach to soldiering and analysis of military problems.
John Grodzinski, Canadian Military Journal, Spring 2000

"Graves, who has earned his niche as a leading 1812 authority, demonstrates in Field of Glory a mastery of the primary documents, particularly the correspondence among American officers, medical records on both sides, loss claims filed by civilians and the newspaper articles that described the troop movements. Graves provides a good blend of traditional military history -- which regiments went where and did what. But by delving into the personalities of the men involved and the affected civilians, the book gives a balance of academic and popular history-writing techniques. ...... Credit goes to publisher Robin Brass for putting together an attractive volume, particularly in the reproduction of maps and illustrations of the officers, whose backgrounds Graves so vividly describes. Also Brass's publishing house deserves credit for keeping [the price] affordable ......
Corey Laroque, Niagara Review, 19 June 1999

"Graves, Canada's leading expert on the conflict, is a first-rate battlefield historian, and he weaves masterfully through the fog of war to explain events ....... Graves's fine book, the first full account of the campaign, is a fitting tribute to a key moment in the life of Canada."
Brian Bethune, Maclean's Magazine, 11 October 1999

"Field of Glory proves that Don Graves is the foremost War of 1812 historian in this decade, perhaps in this century. ..... Graves's narration ... is a masterpiece of storytelling. The cold, wet conditions leap off the page and send shivers down the reader's spin. When I finished the book I had an irrestible urge to run outside to knock the mud from my boots and brush the dirt from my clothes. ...... Hardcore War of 1812 aficionados or readers with only a casual interest in history will want to add this book to their library."
Robert Foley, The Downtowner, Holiday 1999

"There is no more readable and reliable Canadian military historian than Donald E. Graves."
Chris Raible, Bulletin of the Ontario Historical Society, November 1999