Ruminations over the War of 1812

The Muse has been head over heels learning how to publish and print books. The second edition of the novel that takes place during the prelude, the War of 1812 and its aftermath is finally done. Now we can enjoy a little respite before the next book.

Not that the respite mean rest! No, it means now the Muse can go to market, showing This is the House to booksellers, advertisers and reviewers, etc. It also means, since the Muse does know a thing or two about the War of 1812, that several lectures have been lined up, this being the be-centennial year of the start of said war. The Muse will tell all upon these occasions.

But the Muse notes that there is a shortage of enthusiasm for the bi-centennial. This may have to do with the fact that the United States didn't win the contest. The Canadians, from what we can see, are relishing the re-enactments at various forts in the Northwest Territory (Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, etc) because they won all but the most important battles and have more to brag about than we do. There's almost nothing going on in New England (at least at this point). We don't know if this is because of embarrassment about the north-east's flirtation with secession, or if it's the equivalent of pouting because, as mentioned above, American didn't win.

However, neither did she lose. The sectionalism that had become rather strident in these years melted away when the British finally did land on our soil, which was possible once war with Napoleon was over and there were troops and ships available to knock our socks off. Over they came, entered the Chesapeake Bay in August, beat up the Bladensberg militia, marched to Washington DC and chased the President out of the White House (which wasn't called that, at the time), set fires here and there and decided to buzz up to Baltimore and take the fort there. (The geography may be a little inaccurate there, but the intent of the British was clear). The states' militias, at last, coordinated their efforts and promised to give as good as they got. Up on Lake Champlain the British had been actually defeated and forced to retreat, and so the English, war-weary before they even arrived, decided against further incursions. It was time to call it a day, and that's exactly what happened. By November the treaty was drawn up and signed.

The Muse wishes to point out that this is not defeat! This is us, refusing to be pushed around dispite the size off the enemy, and if a little too rambuncious for our own good, vis-a-vis Canada, we did stand up for ourselves, impressment came to a stop, and it began to look like we were here to stay.That's not all bad, folks.

But if anyone out there know how to spell "rambuncious"  we'd like to know about it!