John Brown of Pittsfield
Encyclopedia
Colonel John Brown often known as John Brown of Pittsfield because of his common name, was a Patriot
, spy, soldier, and military leader, in the American Revolutionary War
. He played a significant role as a courier between the Thirteen Colonies
and Province of Quebec
prior to the outbreak of the war, and then participated in military actions in Quebec and the frontiers of New York
, where was killed in action on his 36 birthday.
According to historian Christopher Ward, "Brown was one of those remarkable characters that one finds hidden in the crannies of history, almost unknown even to historians."
, Berkshire County
, Massachusetts, he graduated from Yale University
in 1771, where he first met Benedict Arnold
. He was a close friend to a classmate, David Humphreys
, who also went on to serve in the Continental Army
.
In March 1775, as a member of the Massachusetts Committee of Correspondence
, he was sent to Montreal to begin communications with citizens there interested in taking up the Patriot
cause. Meeting in April with Thomas Walker and other leading British-American merchants in Montreal unhappy with the British government and the terms of the Quebec Act
, he was ultimately met with supportive inaction.
He and his brother Jacob went on to serve with Benedict Arnold
during the war, participating in the important capture of Fort Ticonderoga
in May 1775. In July, General Philip Schuyler
sent him back to Montreal for a report on the military situation there. In August he returned, reporting that the British had only 300 soldiers at Fort Saint-Jean
, but were improving its fortifications and building boats. In mid-August he again went north to meet with James Livingston
, a Patriot sympathizer near Chambly. On August 25, General Richard Montgomery
received a letter from him indicating that the British had two war vessels nearly ready for launching on Lake Champlain
. Following receipt of this letter, Montgomery launched the invasion of Quebec
. Brown went on the serve under Montgomery and his successors in that campaign.
On September 17, 1775 Brown with 80 men opened action north of Fort St John but was driven back by 200 British and Canadians but not before he destroyed a key bridge and captured supplies en route to the Fort. He met with Ethan Allen
at Longueuil
on September 23, where they hatched a plan to capture Montreal. For reasons unknown, Brown failed to hold up his part of the plan, and Allen was later captured in the Battle of Longue-Pointe
.
While serving under Montgomery, he was instrumental in warning Montgomery of low troop morale and the possibility of mutiny during the siege of Fort Saint-Jean. On October 18, 1775, Brown joined with James Livingston, 50 Americans, and 300 Canadians, to lay siege and capture the British fort at Chambly
. This precipitated the end of the siege at Saint-Jean, and opened the route to Montreal. Brown and his troops crossed to the north shore of the St. Lawrence, isolating Montreal from Quebec City.
In action during the Battle of Quebec
, Brown and Livingston were responsible for diversionary tactics intended to distract the British defenders of the city. These tactics failed, and the attack ended in disaster, with Montgomery killed and Benedict Arnold wounded.
He was killed in action on his 36th birthday near the ruins of Fort Keyser in Stone Arabia, NY
, on the Mohawk Valley
frontier.
Patriot (American Revolution)
Patriots is a name often used to describe the colonists of the British Thirteen United Colonies who rebelled against British control during the American Revolution. It was their leading figures who, in July 1776, declared the United States of America an independent nation...
, spy, soldier, and military leader, in the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. He played a significant role as a courier between the Thirteen Colonies
Thirteen Colonies
The Thirteen Colonies were English and later British colonies established on the Atlantic coast of North America between 1607 and 1733. They declared their independence in the American Revolution and formed the United States of America...
and Province of Quebec
Province of Quebec (1763-1791)
The Province of Quebec was a colony in North America created by Great Britain after the Seven Years' War. Great Britain acquired Canada by the Treaty of Paris when King Louis XV of France and his advisors chose to keep the territory of Guadeloupe for its valuable sugar crops instead of New France...
prior to the outbreak of the war, and then participated in military actions in Quebec and the frontiers of New York
Province of New York
The Province of New York was an English and later British crown territory that originally included all of the present U.S. states of New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Vermont, along with inland portions of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine, as well as eastern Pennsylvania...
, where was killed in action on his 36 birthday.
According to historian Christopher Ward, "Brown was one of those remarkable characters that one finds hidden in the crannies of history, almost unknown even to historians."
Life
Born to Daniel Brown in SandisfieldSandisfield, Massachusetts
Sandisfield is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 824 at the 2000 census.- History :...
, Berkshire County
Berkshire County, Massachusetts
Berkshire County is a non-governmental county located on the western edge of the U.S. state of Massachusetts. As of the 2010 census, the population was 131,219. Its largest city and traditional county seat is Pittsfield...
, Massachusetts, he graduated from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1771, where he first met Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold V was a general during the American Revolutionary War. He began the war in the Continental Army but later defected to the British Army. While a general on the American side, he obtained command of the fort at West Point, New York, and plotted to surrender it to the British forces...
. He was a close friend to a classmate, David Humphreys
David Humphreys (soldier)
David Humphreys was a American Revolutionary War colonel and aide de camp to George Washington, American minister to Portugal and then to Spain, entrepreneur who brought Merino sheep to America and member of the Connecticut state legislature...
, who also went on to serve in the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
.
In March 1775, as a member of the Massachusetts Committee of Correspondence
Committee of correspondence
The Committees of Correspondence were shadow governments organized by the Patriot leaders of the Thirteen Colonies on the eve of American Revolution. They coordinated responses to Britain and shared their plans; by 1773 they had emerged as shadow governments, superseding the colonial legislature...
, he was sent to Montreal to begin communications with citizens there interested in taking up the Patriot
Patriot (American Revolution)
Patriots is a name often used to describe the colonists of the British Thirteen United Colonies who rebelled against British control during the American Revolution. It was their leading figures who, in July 1776, declared the United States of America an independent nation...
cause. Meeting in April with Thomas Walker and other leading British-American merchants in Montreal unhappy with the British government and the terms of the Quebec Act
Quebec Act
The Quebec Act of 1774 was an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain setting procedures of governance in the Province of Quebec...
, he was ultimately met with supportive inaction.
He and his brother Jacob went on to serve with Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold V was a general during the American Revolutionary War. He began the war in the Continental Army but later defected to the British Army. While a general on the American side, he obtained command of the fort at West Point, New York, and plotted to surrender it to the British forces...
during the war, participating in the important capture of Fort Ticonderoga
Capture of Fort Ticonderoga
The Capture of Fort Ticonderoga occurred during the American Revolutionary War on May 10, 1775, when a small force of Green Mountain Boys led by Ethan Allen and Colonel Benedict Arnold overcame a small British garrison at the fort and looted the personal belongings of the garrison...
in May 1775. In July, General Philip Schuyler
Philip Schuyler
Philip John Schuyler was a general in the American Revolution and a United States Senator from New York. He is usually known as Philip Schuyler, while his son is usually known as Philip J. Schuyler.-Early life:...
sent him back to Montreal for a report on the military situation there. In August he returned, reporting that the British had only 300 soldiers at Fort Saint-Jean
Fort Saint-Jean (Quebec)
Fort Saint-Jean is a fort in the Canadian La Vallée-du-Richelieu Regional County Municipality, Quebec located on the Richelieu River. The fort was first built in 1666 by soldiers of the Carignan-Salières Regiment and was part of a series of forts built along the Richelieu River...
, but were improving its fortifications and building boats. In mid-August he again went north to meet with James Livingston
James Livingston (American Revolution)
Colonel James Livingston was born in the French province of Canada to New York-born parents. He was living in Quebec when the American Revolutionary War broke out...
, a Patriot sympathizer near Chambly. On August 25, General Richard Montgomery
Richard Montgomery
Richard Montgomery was an Irish-born soldier who first served in the British Army. He later became a brigadier-general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War and he is most famous for leading the failed 1775 invasion of Canada.Montgomery was born and raised in Ireland...
received a letter from him indicating that the British had two war vessels nearly ready for launching on Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain is a natural, freshwater lake in North America, located mainly within the borders of the United States but partially situated across the Canada—United States border in the Canadian province of Quebec.The New York portion of the Champlain Valley includes the eastern portions of...
. Following receipt of this letter, Montgomery launched the invasion of Quebec
Invasion of Canada (1775)
The Invasion of Canada in 1775 was the first major military initiative by the newly formed Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. The objective of the campaign was to gain military control of the British Province of Quebec, and convince the French-speaking Canadiens to join the...
. Brown went on the serve under Montgomery and his successors in that campaign.
On September 17, 1775 Brown with 80 men opened action north of Fort St John but was driven back by 200 British and Canadians but not before he destroyed a key bridge and captured supplies en route to the Fort. He met with Ethan Allen
Ethan Allen
Ethan Allen was a farmer, businessman, land speculator, philosopher, writer, and American Revolutionary War patriot, hero, and politician. He is best known as one of the founders of the U.S...
at Longueuil
Longueuil, Quebec
Longueuil is a city in the province of Quebec, Canada. It is the seat of the Montérégie administrative region and sits on the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River directly across from Montreal. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census totaled 229,330, making it the third largest city in...
on September 23, where they hatched a plan to capture Montreal. For reasons unknown, Brown failed to hold up his part of the plan, and Allen was later captured in the Battle of Longue-Pointe
Battle of Longue-Pointe
The Battle of Longue-Pointe was an attempt by Ethan Allen and a small force of American and Quebec militia to capture Montreal from British forces on September 25, 1775, early in the American Revolutionary War. Allen, who had been instructed only to raise militia forces among the local inhabitants,...
.
While serving under Montgomery, he was instrumental in warning Montgomery of low troop morale and the possibility of mutiny during the siege of Fort Saint-Jean. On October 18, 1775, Brown joined with James Livingston, 50 Americans, and 300 Canadians, to lay siege and capture the British fort at Chambly
Fort Chambly
Fort Chambly is a historic fort in the Canadian La Vallée-du-Richelieu Regional County Municipality, Quebec. The fort is designated as a National Historic Site. Fort Richelieu was part of a series of five forts built along the Richelieu River. Fort Richelieu is at the mouth of the Richelieu River....
. This precipitated the end of the siege at Saint-Jean, and opened the route to Montreal. Brown and his troops crossed to the north shore of the St. Lawrence, isolating Montreal from Quebec City.
In action during the Battle of Quebec
Battle of Quebec (1775)
The Battle of Quebec was fought on December 31, 1775 between American Continental Army forces and the British defenders of the city of Quebec, early in the American Revolutionary War. The battle was the first major defeat of the war for the Americans, and it came at a high price...
, Brown and Livingston were responsible for diversionary tactics intended to distract the British defenders of the city. These tactics failed, and the attack ended in disaster, with Montgomery killed and Benedict Arnold wounded.
He was killed in action on his 36th birthday near the ruins of Fort Keyser in Stone Arabia, NY
Palatine, New York
Palatine is a town in Montgomery County, New York, United States. The population was 3,240 at the 2010 census. The named is derived from the Palatinate in the Rhineland, the homeland of the early settlers of this region....
, on the Mohawk Valley
Mohawk Valley
The Mohawk Valley region of the U.S. state of New York is the area surrounding the Mohawk River, sandwiched between the Adirondack Mountains and Catskill Mountains....
frontier.