On the 1st June 1812, 203 years ago today, US President James Madison sent a message to Congress detailing a list of grievances against Great Britain. At the time, Britain was fighting all of the Grey shown above - swap France for Germany and imagine 1939, but throw in Spain and Holland too, at the time themselves world superpowers. Madison’s message would begin a strange war, rightly fought with patriotic fervor by the United States but with little interest by Britain; here are some figures.
The number of soldiers in the British Army in 1812: 243,885. Of this figure, just 6000 were stationed in Canada. The number of soldiers in the United States Army in 1812 was just 7000, however, as one would expect of a nation fighting on home soil, the number of militia fighters was high - around 600,000 high according to estimates. Similarly, of the between 500 and 600 warships commissioned by the Royal Navy, just 80 were deployed to the Western hemisphere by the conflicts close, comprising only 11 ships of the line and some 30 frigates. Though the United States Navy had just 12 ships, their frigates were new and well built to a modern design, leading to a number of early successes. However, as more ships could be freed up from Europe, bringing the total toward that 80 mark, Britain’s naval blockade tightened and by 1813 its effects were being felt. As an example, during 1813 and 1814, the frigate USS Constellation was unable to leave its protected berth at Norfolk as British ships lurked beyond. In Britain, neither the politicians, nor the public - nor even many military leaders had much desire for a war with America which offered little reward and after its close, lucrative trade relations quickly warmed again. When 46 years later the American Civil War erupted, Britain remained impartial, choosing not to acknowledge the Confederacy.
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