Author on Deck – 1812: The Navy’s War
by George Daughan
March 1, 2012
WHAT: As part of the United States Navy Memorial’s Authors on Deck book lecture series, historian and award-winning author George C. Daughan will present his latest work, 1812: The Navy’s War (Basic Books; October 4, 2011). Guests are invited to learn about the often-overlooked history of what has been called our Second War of Independence. Encompassing political, diplomatic, economic and military history, Daughan brings the battles to life, putting them into context with the larger war, and showing how America could not have won without its foundling Navy. Following the presentation, Daughan will be available for a Q&A session and book signing.
WHEN: Thursday, March 1, 2012
12:00pm
WHERE: United States Navy Memorial
Naval Heritage Center
701 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20004
www.navymemorial.org
COST: Free and open to the public
CONTACT: 202-737-2300
Two hundred years ago, the United States and Great Britain fought each other in a conflict that changed the shape of the world. Daughan offers a comprehensive and vivid account of that conflict, arguing that it is impossible to fully understand the war without an appreciation for how a ragtag team of American commanders, seamen and privateers took on and defeated the most powerful navy in the world. According to Daughan, “The U.S. Navy’s role in bringing about Britain’s newfound respect for the United States was critical.”
George Daughan holds a Ph.D. in American History and Government from Harvard University and is a recipient of the 2008 Samuel Eliot Morison Award for his previous book, If By Sea: The Forging of the American Navy – From the Revolution to the War of 1812. He spent three years in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War and served as an instructor and director of the MA program in International Affairs at the Air Force Academy. Subsequently, he taught at the University of Colorado, University of New Hampshire, Wesleyan University and Connecticut College. He resides in Portland, Maine.
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This will be an outstanding read, especially as I’ve mentioned before, I have something of a physical affinity to the good ship USS Chesapeake.
Also posted as a comment previously, but repeated here lest anyone missed my very late addition to said tardiness, an amusing but most poignant lament from an old `sundodger` pal. Poignant indeed. `Don’t give up the Ship`:
The Royal Navy is proud of its new fleet of Type 45 destroyers.
Having initially named the first two ships HMS Daring and HMS Dauntless, the Naming Committee has, after intensive pressure from Brussels, renamed them HMS Cautious and HMS Prudence.
The next five ships are to be named HMS Empathy, HMS Circumspect, HMS Nervous, HMS Timorous and HMS Apologist.
Costing £850 million each, they meet the needs of the 21st century and comply with the very latest employment, equality, health & safety and human rights laws.
The new user-friendly crow’s nest comes equipped with wheelchair access. Live ammunition has been replaced with paintballs to reduce the risk of anyone getting hurt and to cut down on the number of compensation claims. Stress counsellors and lawyers will be on duty 24hrs a day and each ship will have its on-board industrial tribunal.
The crew will be 50/50% men and women, and balanced in accordance with the latest Home Office directives on race, gender, sexuality and disability. Sailors will only have to work a maximum of 37hrs per week in line with Brussels Health & Safety rules, even in wartime! All the vessels will come equipped with a maternity ward and nursery, situated on the same deck as the Gay Disco.
Tobacco will be banned throughout the ship, but cannabis will be allowed in the wardroom and messes. The Royal Navy is eager to shed its traditional reputation for; “Rum, sodomy and the lash”; so out has gone the occasional rum ration which is to be replaced by sparkling water.
Although sodomy remains, it has now been extended to include all ratings under 18. The lash will still be available but only on request. Condoms can be obtained from the Bosun in a variety of flavours, except Capstan Full Strength.
Saluting officers has been abolished because it is deemed elitist and is to be replaced by the more informal, “Hello Sailor”. All information on notices boards will be printed in 37 different languages and Braille. Crew members will now no longer be required to ask permission to grow beards or moustaches – this applies equally to women crew members.
The MoD is working on a new “non-specific” flag because the White Ensign is considered to be offensive to minorities. The Union Flag had already been discarded.
The newly re-named HMS Cautious is due to be commissioned soon in a ceremony conducted by Captain Hook from the Finsbury Park Mosque who will break a petrol bomb over the hull. She will gently slide into the water as the Royal Marines Band plays “In the Navy” by the Village People. Her first deployment will be to escort boat loads of illegal immigrants across the channel to ports on England ‘s south coast.
The Prime Minister said, “While these ships reflect the very latest in modern thinking, they are also capable of being up-graded to comply with any new legislation coming out of Brussels .” His final words were, “Britannia waives the rules.”
@ Hogday. LOL! Fwd’ing that straightaway to the Son&Heir — fresh off his first WesPac aboard the Rainbow Reagan.
Hogday, Priceless…many thanks for a great kick off to one cold ass day around here. Best
I share the good ones with my pals:) Most go in the trash can as it’s too tricky to work out senses of humour, but this one shouted out “Universal”
Ah, yes, Chesapeake vs. Shannon. It has long been my resolve, if I ever get there, to sneak a chisel into that building which has beams from Chesapeake and do a little “cutting-out expedition”, to re-patriate a few chips of that good old Georgia Live Oak.
I have read several accounts of the fight, and concluded that one reason for the large butcher’s bill was the presence of so many Irishmen on both sides.
Captain Broke’s being such an egregious gun nerd, even more so than American captains, had something to do with it too, of course: Everyone on Chesapeake’s quarterdeck was shot at least twice.
JTG:I’d be glad to show you around Chesapeake Mill, Wickham, Hampshire – my home village for 9 years until recently. Alas, I cannot part with the piece of purloined Chesapeake beam that was in my old house and many others in said hamlet. One piece of the ship I will most def NOT give up
PS re the Irish in the fight: If the SAS were made up entirely of Irish, the motto would be amended to “Who Cares Who Wins”
Hog, speaking of “several accounts of the fight…”, I most love the fictional one in which we almost did for Jack Aubrey. The interplay between him and the Doctor is at its best in that book, too, as well as that between the Doctor and Diana Villiers, my favorite half-aspies in all of literature. (It takes one to know one. Hell, they even had an autistic marriage, keeping separate households!)
It was Doctor Maturin who taught me not to provoke an Irishman who is a dab hand with a sword. This is one of the many reasons I try to be polite to Our Captain here.
P.s. I ‘specially liked the scene in which the Doctor quite literally cold-cocked that Frenchman.
No, wait… Aubrey was aboard Java when the USMC almost got him.
JTG: I’ve just started the one with the scrappin` yankees so I’ll keep me powder dry until I’ve gone into battle and tested their mettle. As for `Lady Di` Villiers, my mental image said, “My kind of gal – I THINK”. As for Cap’n Murphy O’ Lex, I stand shoulder to shoulder with him and will cover his six, even though we be 6000 miles apart, Arrr.
It’s a great book and I’d recommend it to anyone.
Just added the event to my calendar
The Irish….
War-battered dogs are we,
Fighters in every clime,
Fillers of trench and of grave,
Mockers, bemocked by time.
War-dogs, hungry and grey,
Gnawing a naked bone,
Fighters in every clime,
Every cause but our own.
(E. Lawless)
“Something they saw, above the sullen shields.”