The War of 1812 — America’s first declared war — lasted only two years. In these years, however, communication flowed undisturbed. 
President James Madison disregarded calls from fellow party members to censor newspapers that covered the war.¹ Although there were few, if any, war correspondents at the time, Americans were able to express their ideals freely without worry of being tried or otherwise punished.
It is worth nothing that mass communication at this time is incomparable to what it is during later wars, so censorship was not as necessary here. Though certainly still possible, there is much less of a chance for troop movements to be leaked.