Jacob Brown, the subject of the following memoir, was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, in the year 1775, of a highly respectable family of Quakers. His father inherited a valuable and flourishing estate, but anxious still to increase it, he imprudently embarked in some commercial transactions which proved unfortunate, and his whole property was sacrificed. This happened when our hero was about sixteen years of age, and, it is said, made a great change in his character and conduct; he was determined to devote himself to something that might be a support for himself, and enable him to retrieve the broken fortunes of his family.
At the age of eighteen he took charge of a large and respectable school at Crosswicks, New Jersey; at the same time endeavoring, by close study, to improve his own mind for future labors. At the age of twenty-two, he was employed in surveying and laying out lands, in that section of country now the state of Ohio. He also became agent for M. Le Roy de Chaumont, a distinguished Frenchman, who owned a large tract of that country, and was industrious in obtaining settlers. In 1798 he removed to the city of New York, where, by the urgent solicitations of his friends, he was induced again to take charge of a school; this, after a time, became irksome, and he commenced the study of law, but soon abandoned it as uncongenial with his active and adventurous pursuits. Having acquired a small property by his exertions in Ohio, he made a purchase of some land on the borders of Lake Ontario and the river St. Lawrence, now Jefferson county, in the state of New York. Here he built the first human dwelling within thirty miles of the lake, and after effecting some necessary improvements, he removed his parents to his new abode; and to the close of his life devoted himself to their happiness and comfort.
Brown, through his early life, had much to contend with. Thrown upon his own resources for subsistence and education, and the poverty of his beloved parents on his mind, he was repeatedly discouraged; but his energy never forsook him; his firmness and perseverance seemed to overcome every obstacle that surrounded him. In 1809, he was appointed a colonel of militia; and in the year following, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general. At the commencement of the war in 1812, he was appointed to defend the frontier of Lake Ontario and the river St. Lawrence, from Oswego to Lake St. Francis, an extent of coast reaching two hundred miles. He fixed his head-quarters at Ogdensburg, where he was attacked by a British force much superior to his own in numbers; but in this affair no one received the least injury, while the enemy lost several men in killed and wounded. In 1813, General Brown joined Colonel Backus, of the dragoons, stationed at Sacket’s Harbor, a demonstration against the post having been made by a British force from Kingston, under the command of Sir George Prevost and Sir James Yeo. General Brown had hardly time to arrive and dispose his brigade, before the enemy commenced the attack, which for a time was fierce and successful; but after a series of skillful and spirited movements, the British forces were completely vanquished, and retreated precipitately in their boats. The loss of the enemy was four hundred and fifty, while that of the Americans was one hundred and fifty-six. Among the slain was the gallant Backus, who fell while exciting his men by his own bravery. The same year General Brown was appointed a brigadier-general in the regular army of the United States, and soon after planned the expedition against Montreal, which, by a want of concert between the generals of the northern army, was entirely frustrated.
Early in 1814, General Brown was placed in command of the northern division of the army at French Mills, with the rank of major-general. The reputation of the military was at this time rather low; many enterprises had proved abortive, and a feeling of disappointment was fast spreading through the country, and unfavorable impressions against the military capacity of the generals, were gaining ground. General Brown was determined, with the aid of able coadjutors, to endeavor to retrieve the reputation of the army; to these arduous exertions are to be ascribed the brilliant triumphs which were subsequently achieved.
In the Spring of 1814, he crossed the Niagara river and carried Fort Erie, which surrendered without any resistance.
On the 5th of July, 1814, was fought the battle of Chippewa, the first in that series of battles by which the American army so eminently distinguished itself. The British commander made a rapid advance, supposing the American forces not prepared for the attack he was about to make. In this he found himself mistaken, for hardly had he formed his line, when the gallant Scott made an attack. The conflict was severe on both sides, and for some time seemed about even, when, on the approach of a second brigade, under General Ripley, the British made a precipitate retreat under cover of their works on the Chippewa creek. News having reached General Brown that the British were intending to cross the Strait at Niagara, for the purpose of seizing the depot of the American army, and cutting off supplies of ammunition and subsistence, he accordingly advanced General Scott, with his brigade, to divert the enemy from his purpose, and on the 25th instant General Scott came in sight of the enemy, and shortly after made an attack. General Brown was also on the field in a few minutes, and immediately after General Ripley with his brigade. The combat now became obstinate and bloody beyond all parallel: like the battle of Chippewa it was fought on an open field; but here, as at Chippewa, the American army was completely victorious.
Although the enemy had chosen his own ground, on a commanding position, sheltered by heights, superior in numbers, and flanked by numerous artillery, he was driven from his position at the point of the bayonet, his cannon captured, and completely routed. Being reinforced by additional troops, the enemy made three unsuccessful attempts to regain his former position, by charges on the American line; the two last of which are described as the most desperate in the whole history of the war, being decided entirely at the point of the bayonet. General Brown, although he had received two severe wounds, and was so much exhausted by loss of blood, that at one time he was obliged to be supported on his horse by members of his staff, evinced through the whole, coolness and intrepidity, seemingly determined to maintain his position with his last drop of blood, till the victory was complete. General Brown was born to excel in his military profession. A stranger to surprise or intimidation, he met every emergency with a moral courage, his safeguard on the most trying occasions. When dangers were greatest, his coolness and resolution shone most conspicuous. His plans, which were never rash or imprudent, were distinguished for energy and vigor.
History informs us, that no enterprise undertaken by General Brown ever failed, or which he caused to be executed under the direction of others. It was not until the beginning of September, that General Brown was sufficiently convalescent from his wounds to resume his command. Our hero then commenced making secret preparations, and on the 17th of September, made a sortie, drove the besiegers from their entrenchments, and either destroyed or rendered their works wholly unserviceable; the loss of the enemy was one thousand, that of the American army five hundred. On the 21st, the enemy abandoned his position, and retreated beyond the Chippewa.
The American army heretofore had been looked upon by the British as vacillating and dilatory, and therefore such firmness and vigor, accompanied by such offensive movements, were entirely unexpected, and may in some measure account for such signal success. It had been said that the “British bayonet was irresistible;” but on the Niagara, the tide of victory was turned by that very weapon on which lay their invincibility. At the close of the war, General Brown was retained in the army, and took up his residence at Washington; but he never recovered from the severe wounds received at Fort Erie. His health gradually declining, he died at his residence at Washington, 24th February, 1828.
By a resolve of Congress, November 3, 1814, a gold medal was struck and presented to General Brown, for his brilliant achievements in the battles of Chippewa, Niagara and Erie.