Ships of oak, guns of iron : the War of 1812 and the forging of the American navy /Ronald D. Utt.

"During the War of 1812, America's tiny fleet took on the mightiest naval power on earth, besting the British in a string of victories that stunned both nations. Ronald Utt not only sheds new light on the naval battles of the War of 1812, but tells the story of the War of 1812 through the portraits of famous American war heroes."--Provided by the publisher.