Jacob Brown American

Jacob Brown was a Pennsylvania Quaker who undertook many trades before entering the army, including those of schoolmaster, surveyor, and smuggler. He moved to New York state near Lake Ontario and became an influential citizen. When offered a commission in the state militia, Brown abandoned his pacifist beliefs and accept the post. His success at organizing and training his men did not go unnoticed. Fellow officers of the state elected the tall and handsome Brown to the rank of brigadier general. Brown earned great renown with his defense of Sacket's Harbour in May of 1813. Brown outsmarted the British advance even though his militia initially abandoned the defense effort. As a result of his courageous stand, Secretary of War John Armstrong awarded him a regular commission as brigadier general. Soon after, Brown participated in the failed American attempt to reach Montreal in the fall of 1813. Though the U.S. Army had suffered at Chrysler's farm, for a brief time it seemed as though they could salvage the operation due to Brown's success in clearing the British from the Longue Saute rapids. Brown led the army downstream to rendez-vous with Major General Wilkinson as planned. But the indecisive Wilkinson would not advance on Montreal without support from Major General Wade Hampton. Wilkinson canceled the campaign and the army crossed back to the U.S. and spent two grueling winter months in French Mills. Brown's performance did not go unrecognized. Brown replaced Wilkinson as commander of the Army of the North in the spring of 1814. He set his sights on the Niagara Peninsula, a territory he believed was vulnerable if both he and Commodore Chauncey could mount a combined offensive. If he met with success on the peninsula, Brown felt that he could eventually take York and Kingston. In early July, Brown led 3500 men across the Niagara River and seized Fort Erie. Two days later the American army met with an unprecedented victory when they defeated the British on an open battlefield at Chippawa. The bulk of the British army was allowed to escape, and gained reinforcements in the following weeks. Brown pursued the British to their doorstep at Fort George but waited to attack in the vain hope that Chauncey would provide support. Brown retreated to Chippawa in order to regroup, but the British came looking for him. On July 25, the British advance was attacked by Winfield Scott's battalion and suddenly Brown had a major battle on his hands at Lundy's Lane. Brown directed the American offensive until he was seriously wounded by a musket shot and an artillery ball. He was removed from the field and command passed to Major General Eleazar Ripley until the battle ended in a bloody stalemate. The Americans retreated to Fort Erie and were holed up there while the British conducted a seven-week siege. Brown, who was far from fully recovered, refused to give up the fort. The British finally retired and the Americans had no choice but to return to the US side since food and supplies were dangerously low. As Washington burned and the British advanced into New York, Brown's persistence and bold obstinacy along the Niagara buoyed the sinking morale of the American public. Brown emerged from the conflict a national hero. When the US reduced its Army after the war, Brown was kept on and eventually became Commander General of the US Army in 1821. He held this position until his death in 1828 at the age of 53.