In a message dated 9/21/04 8:50:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time, VolonteW@aol.com writes: > I think the War of 1812 was a draw. I tend to agree with this statement. We ended up here we started sad did the British. There was, however, many great building blocks for the USA. The fallacy of depending on a "militia" was discovered, and a professional army was aborning. WE see the first glimmering of the steam engine Naval period. The need for the individual states to "truly" band together in a Federal government to preserve and grow the country was discovered. Thinking about it as I write I would say that the Nation discovered itself during this period. Barry--- Look for Dickey's soon to publish book that sill say we lost the War.