The author, a former director of the Naval Historical Center, is an expert on the sailing era of the Continental and U.S. navies and original editor of "The Naval War of 1812: A Documentary History." While numerous books describe the naval action as of the War of 1812, this book gives the backstory of the U.S. Navy's war effort, and the inner workings of the Department of the Navy as it struggled to man, train, equip and provision the fleet that was sent out against the then-greatest navy in the world, the Royal Navy. Despite the pressures of British invasion, the Navy Department innovated its operations and built up its industry, logistics and shore establishment to support its ships, Sailors and Marines. The crucible of the war resulted in a stronger, more professional Navy that contributed to victory.
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