Gameplay
How do you get your unit to fix the bayonet to his musket?
Pressing the "B" button on your keyboard will fix a bayonet to your units musket. The only musket armed unit that does not have a bayonet are the First Nations Warriors. If you press "B" while using one of these units, he will go through the animation process of fixing a bayonet but nothing will be put at the end of his musket.

How do the tomahawk and spear weapons work in the War of 1812 mod?
The tomahawk and spear are both ranged and melee weapons in the mod. When your unit is in fire mode the tomahawk and spear can be thrown. You get a supply of 2 of each weapon. When your unit is in melee mode then the tomahawk is swung by your unit like an ax and the spear functions similar to a bayoneted musket.

How is the superior accuracy of the American long-rifle balanced in the game?
There is a significantly longer reload time for the long-rifle compared with other rifles. Also, the long-rifle has a longer delay in ignition when the trigger is pulled which simulates the more careful aiming required to use this weapon.

How is the superior rate of fire of the Native bow balanced in the game?
Arrows fired from the Native bow do much less pierce damage then bullets and the Bowman is only given a supply of 15 arrows. However, they can be retrieved and reused after having been loosed.

Historical
Why are the US cannon in War of 1812 black with light blue carriages?
US cannon were made of iron instead of brass because iron was cheaper and more easy to find in North America, even though it was heavier than brass. They were painted black to prevent corrosion. The standard color that the US Artillery used to paint their carriages was light blue in 1812.

Why do all the 21st US Infantry, Grenadier Company units have corporal stripes on their arms?
The stripes on their arms do not specify rank. They indicate their status as members of the regiment's elite grenadier companies, of which the 21st had two. There were no regulations in the US army with regard to the formation of elite light or grenadier companies. It was done at the discretion of the colonel commanding the regiment. The means by which they were identified, if by any, were also up to the regiment's commander. In 1812 NCO rank in the US Army was distinguished by the wearing of shoulder epaulets, two for sergeants, and one for a corporal.

Why are some US Infantry units wearing uniforms of black, brown, or gray instead of the regulation blue?
There was a shortage of indigo dye in America due to the British naval blockade and the quartermaster's department had to use whatever color of cloth was available, which was often black, brown, or gray, to make uniforms.

Why are the early war Canadian Incorporated Militia Battalion dressed in green instead of red?
There was a temporary shortage of red dye and green cloth was was used as a substitute for a brief time early in the war.

Why do the 15th US Infantry have Pikemen armed with short muskets and swords?
The 15th US Infantry was trained to use unique tactics by it's first colonel Zebulon Pike. This regiment fought in a three deep line formation instead of the regular two. In order for all men of the regiment to employ cold steel in an assault, the third rank was issued with the longer pike along with handier short muskets that they could use to add to the regiment's firepower. Swords were used by the Pikemen as a back-up weapons for the pike during melees. The short muskets fire buck shot instead of ball to increase their hit probability at close range.

Why are the 1st Foot (Royal Scots) equipped like a highland regiment instead of a normal line regiment?
Because of the limitations of the module system we had to retain the highland equipment (claymores, pipes, and highland garb for musicians) for the Royal Scots. It was either this or we would have had to remove them from the regiment that replaces them in the late war configuration, the 93rd Sutherland Highlanders, which would have been a more glaring inaccuracy.

Why is face customization enabled for the rankers of the 5th West India Regiment when they were historically an all black regiment, with only white officers and NCO's?
The West India Regiments were raised mostly from former slaves in the Caribbean in order to prevent having to send white regiments to a region that had proven very harmful to their health, Europeans having a very low resistance to tropical diseases like malaria. They fought in many of the War of 1812's later actions along the east coast of the United States and in the New Orleans campaign. Face customization had to be enabled on this late war regiment because they are replaced in the early war troops list by the Incorporated Militia Battalion of Upper Canada.

What is the distinction between Canadian units described as Fencibles, Incorporated Militia, and Sedentary Militia?
Fencibles were troops who served for a regular term of 6 years but with limits on the scope of their service. For example, the Canadian Fencibles were only liable for service in defense of British territory in North America. Incorporated Militia units were made up of volunteers recruited from the Sedentary Militia. They agreed to serve actively for the duration of a year and could be sent to take part in combat actions anywhere in the Canadian theater. They were usually garrisoned in forts and uniformed and equipped like regular regiments if supplies permitted. Sedentary Militia were only obligated for service near their homes and were ordered to assemble on the approach of an invading enemy force. They often did not have uniforms and used field signs like a strip of white cloth tied around an arm for identification. Arms were either provided from local arsenals or they used their own personal weapons if they had them.

What are the time periods roughly covered by the early and late war module configurations?
Early war runs for about the first year of the war and late war the remaining year and a half.