United States Army 1812–15

James L Kochan spent nearly two decades as a museum director and curator, with the US National Park Service and Army Museum System and George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate. He also formed his own antiques business and historical consultancy, including film and television technical advisory work, which is based at Harper's Ferry, West Virginia. The co-author of Don Troiani's Soldiers in America, 1754-1865, he has written innumerable articles and has organized important exhibitions, including ‘Treasures from Mount Vernon: George Washington Revealed’.David Rickman is the exhibits co-ordinator for the US State Parks System. He is also a freelance illustrator specializing in historical and ethnographic subjects. His works are in the collections of the National Park Service, Parks Canada and various other museums and historic sites. The son of a US Navy aviator, he grew up in California and has lived in Japan. He now lives in Wilmington, Delaware with his wife, Deborah.

• Background to the American War; chronology; regular units of the United States Army; infantry; cavalry; artillery.