The Evening Gun

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The year is 1814, the final year of the War of 1812. With the Atlantic seaboard closed by the British blockade, Isaac Biggs, Jack Clements and Jake Tate, fresh from their harrowing adventures in Canada, find berths with Joshua Barney's Gunboat Flotilla in the Chesapeake Bay. These swift and shallow-draft little vessels have become a thorn in the side of the British fleet and the British command is determined to destroy them.

Barney's Flotilla is eventually chased up the Patuxent River to find temporary refuge in Benedict, Maryland, where Isaac falls in love with the daughter of a militia colonel. After several exciting forays against the British fleet, the flotilla must be scuttled and burned. Its men are called ashore to fight at the Battle of Bladensburg in an futile effort to halt the invasion of Washington, then are sent to defend Baltimore against the British siege of the harbor. Isaac, Jack and Jake witness the historic and horrifying bombardment of Fort McHenry from the outer harbor, aboard a British warship in the company of Francis Scott Key.

Continuing in the tradition of its predecessors and carefully crafted, The Evening Gun is written from the American seaman's perspective and brings to life, with historical accuracy, the final year of a little-known war - the only time our country has been invaded by a foreign power.

The War of 1812 is a forgotten war. Few Americans recall much except there were some naval engagements and we won the Battle of New Orleans. Many don't realize that Washington was burned, let alone know about the battles on the Patuxent. Bill White has brought this neglected period of our history alive with all the drama, panic, and confusion that gripped Washington, Baltimore and the Chesapeake region as a whole in 1814. The description of the attack on Baltimore and the writing of the "Star Spangled Banner" humanize an event that we don't think about when we sing our national anthem. The War of 1812 and the sacrifices that were made to preserve our liberty will be better understood after reading The Evening Gun. An enjoyable way to learn history. - C. Douglass Alves, Jr., Director, Calvert Marine Museum

About the Author
William H. White, a life-long sailor and amateur historian, has been a commercial banker, professional photographer and served as an officer in the U.S. Navy during the 1960s. He is involved in both sail racing and cruising, primarily on the East Coast in one-designs and offshore boats. He resides in New Jersey with his wife of thirty-four years. They have three grown sons. The War of 1812 Trilogy was born out of his love for history and the sea. More information on the author and his books can be found on his website.

About the Artist
Paul Garnett began drawing before he could write his name. He was a shipwright on the vessel Bounty built for MGM's 1962 remake of "Mutiny on the Bounty" and his paintings have been published twice by the foundation which now owns the ship. His art has also been showcased on A&E's television program "Sea Tales" and the History Channel's "Histories Mysteries: What Really Happened on the 'Mutiny on the Bounty'," and by Nautical World magazine.

More information about the artist and his work can be found at his website.