The War of 1812 in the Chesapeake: A Reference Guide to Historic Sites in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia (Johns Hopkins Books on the War of 1812)

I purchased this book for my son, who lives around D.C. and he is very interested in the War of 1812. The book arrived promptly and was promptly tossed into a backpack, so it was handily available. The week after receiving this book, my son had gone to a re-enactment, somewhere in Maryland, that was mentioned in this book. To my son's surprise, Mr. Ralph E. Eshelman was at the event, signing this book. My son, told the author that he had his book in the car and asked if he would agree to autograph it for him. Mr. Eshelman, smiled and said to my son that his life must be very dull if he traveled around with his book in the car. A nice man who naturally agreed to autograph his book. My son explained to me that it was a good distance from the field where the re-enactors were to the car and after hearing how far it was, I would have forgone the autograph but my son is an history enthusiast, so he made the trek. However, I think that this incident proves that the book is a very good source for those who want to explore the physical areas where history was made and obviously, it validates the expertise of the author, Mr. Ralph E. Eshelman.

While this book advertises itself as a reference to 1812 sites in the Chesapeake region, it is a great deal more than the description implies. The three co-authors are very well known authorities on the War of 1812 with numerous highly-regarded books on the subject to their credit. This latest offering includes not only a list of over 800 sites but also detailed information about the sites themselves and the events that occurred there drawing on period sources and including maps, prints, drawings and photos. It also includes historical overviews, a detailed War chronology and a list of over 700, 1812 veteran gravesites. The book brings together and presents in readable fashion more detailed, interesting, and helpful information on the title subject than I have heretofore found compiled in any one document.

The book is an amazingly comprehensive list of 1812 sites in the Chesapeake. The research is dead on. The book is well designed and edited. I only wish they had included the Del. Bay as well.