HISTORY

Professionalism

The required length of service for the regular British army was seven years and the average length of duty for British troops in Canada in 1814 was eight to ten years.

American regulars were required to serve for only one year, although this would be expanded by the war's end to a service period of three years. Average length of service for regiments in the American army was one to two years by 1814. This made the American army a much more amateur outfit that its opponent, and since experience is a combat multiplier it had a big effect on the outcome of most battles for the War of 1812.

Sgt. James Commins of the 8th Regiment of Foot wrote: "War was a new game to the Americans."

Another way to look at this is how well the American army actually did in the face of its limited experience and the indifference of the government supporting it.