Defending the Old Dominion

Virginia and Its Militia in the War of 1812

By (author) Stuart L. Butler

Publication date:

21 December 2012

Length of book:

672 pages

Publisher

University Press of America

Dimensions:

235x161mm
6x9"

ISBN-13: 9780761860396

Defending the Old Dominion describes historical events in Virginia during the War of 1812, examining how Virginia’s militia was organized, supplied, and financed by the Commonwealth. The book discusses the militia’s unpreparedness in training, its lack of adequate ordnance and arms, and how that affected its ability to defend the state against British incursions during the war. Political activities of the Virginia legislature and the U.S. Congress are examined with special reference to how the state financed the war and its relationship with the U.S. government. The book includes the fascinating story of nearly two thousand former slaves who fled to British ships to fight in Virginia with British forces.

Preface
List of Illustrations
Acknowledgements
Introduction
1. Prologue to War
2. Wrongs so Daring in Character
3. The Year of the Five Governors
4. May God Desert Those Who Now Desert Their Country
5. Thirty Years of Neglect
6. The Militia the Great Bulwark of Our Liberty
7. Virginians Debate the War
8. We Shall Be Victorious Because We Are Right
9. A Brigade of Hearty Athletic Men and Fine Soldiers
10. We Find This Place in a Most Defenceless Situation
11. British Strategy and the Defense of Norfolk
12. Legislative Initiatives
13. To the Mercy of Any Invader
14. The Result Has Been Most Glorious to Our Arms
15. They Acquitted Themselves as Becomes Virginians
16. Richmond Threatened
17. We have a Savage Enemy at our Threshold
18. There is reason to believe that he will be reinforced
19. Taxes and Embargoes
20. The Internal Foe
21. Our Weakness is Alarming
22. Determined to Ruin the Northern Neck
23. The Donation of Alexandria and the Battle of the White House
24. To Repel and Chastise the Invaders
25. Richmond in Peril
26. Those Gallant Virginians
27. The Last Months of the War
28. Its Conditions are Honorable to our Country
29. To the Tented Field
30. Epilogue
Appendix One
Appendix Two
Bibliography
Index

Butler should be complimented for having written what is undoubtedly the most extensive account of Virginia's role in the War of 1812. Those interested in the history of the Old Dominion or in this conflict in general will find something of value here.