The Continental Army of 1776-83 is what won the war, a well trained, skilful army trained by Americans with experience and European officers drafted in. NOT the myth of poor farmers with pointed sticks.
The US forces may have been ragtag at first, but the myth of poor farmers in rags fighting the Briddish with pitchforks and gumption is not only dreadful history, it ignores the rise of an efficient and skilful US army in the war. And for people (not you) to suggest the US army in 1812-14 was again some rag-wearing poor old army is ridiculoius.
I will search out the book you mentioned.
The fact that you haven’t read the book I suggested makes it quite clear that you are not as well-researched as you pretend. That is a primary source. I am a northeastern American - raised to visit every Revolutionary War battlefield in my state and others - and we all know who and what made up our fighting men at that time. Of course, they evolved into a good fighting force. But to deny the rebellious, amusing raggle-tag army that so plagued General Washington in the war’s early years, is to deny history. I don’t know who mentioned “pitchforks” to you, but most of us know they were supplied with gunpowder and arms.
Off the subject, I want to remind you that your remark about losing Viet Nam was uncalled for and shameful - not to mention, vulgar. There are hundreds of Viet Nam vets on this site, some of them grievously injured. While the wounds of the War of 1812 are well-healed (or should be), the wounds of Viet Nam are open and bleeding. And since there were plenty of allies involved in that action, I would think you’d show more respect.