John Parker Boyd
Encyclopedia
John Parker Boyd was an officer in the United States Army
, from various periods from 1786 to the end of the War of 1812
. He commanded the troops defeated at the Battle of Crysler's Farm
in late 1813.
A New Englander of Scottish descent, Boyd was too young to serve in the American War of Independence. He began his military career when he joined the U.S. Army as an ensign in 1786. He resigned three years later, to serve as a Soldier of Fortune
in the army of the Nizam of Hyderabad, in Central India
. Boyd was considered to be a highly successful cavalry commander. He was discharged in July 1798, due to his "refractoriness, disobedience, and unreasonableness."
Boyd rejoined the U.S. Army on 7 October 1808 as colonel of the 4th U.S. Infantry. During the Battle of Tippecanoe
, he served as the infantry brigade commander and as second-in-command to William Henry Harrison
, with the acting rank of brigadier general
.
When the war of 1812 broke out, Boyd initially commanded a brigade under Major General Henry Dearborn
in camp at Albany, New York
and in some indecisive actions north of Lake Champlain
. He was formally promoted to Brigadier General at some point in July that year when Major General Peter Gansevoort
died, creating a series of vacancies in the general ranks of the United States Army.
In 1813, he successfully commanded a brigade at the Battle of Fort George
. As illness or disgrace removed many of his contemporaries, he eventually commanded the garrison of captured Fort George
, although the defeat at the Battle of Beaver Dams
forced him to remain strictly on the defensive.
Moving his troops from Fort George to Sacket's Harbour
, he participated in Major General James Wilkinson
's ill-fated attack on Montreal
. At the Battle of Crysler's Farm, the illness of Wilkinson and the army's second-in-command, Major General Morgan Lewis
made him the commander of the attack on a smaller British force. His troops, already dispirited, straggled into action on unfavourable terrain, and were repulsed.
Boyd remained in command of a brigade at the winter camp of the Army at Salmon Creek, New York. After a half-hearted attack by Wilkinson at Lacolle Mill
failed, he was sidelined into a rear-area assignment, and saw no further front-line service. He published a defence of his actions in 1816.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, from various periods from 1786 to the end of the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. He commanded the troops defeated at the Battle of Crysler's Farm
Battle of Crysler's Farm
The Battle of Crysler's Farm, also known as the Battle of Crysler's Field, was fought on 11 November 1813, during the Anglo-American War of 1812. A British and Canadian force won a victory over an American force which greatly outnumbered them...
in late 1813.
A New Englander of Scottish descent, Boyd was too young to serve in the American War of Independence. He began his military career when he joined the U.S. Army as an ensign in 1786. He resigned three years later, to serve as a Soldier of Fortune
Mercenary
A mercenary, is a person who takes part in an armed conflict based on the promise of material compensation rather than having a direct interest in, or a legal obligation to, the conflict itself. A non-conscript professional member of a regular army is not considered to be a mercenary although he...
in the army of the Nizam of Hyderabad, in Central India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Boyd was considered to be a highly successful cavalry commander. He was discharged in July 1798, due to his "refractoriness, disobedience, and unreasonableness."
Boyd rejoined the U.S. Army on 7 October 1808 as colonel of the 4th U.S. Infantry. During the Battle of Tippecanoe
Battle of Tippecanoe
The Battle of Tippecanoe was fought on November 7, 1811, between United States forces led by Governor William Henry Harrison of the Indiana Territory and Native American warriors associated with the Shawnee leader Tecumseh. Tecumseh and his brother Tenskwatawa were leaders of a confederacy of...
, he served as the infantry brigade commander and as second-in-command to William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison was the ninth President of the United States , an American military officer and politician, and the first president to die in office. He was 68 years, 23 days old when elected, the oldest president elected until Ronald Reagan in 1980, and last President to be born before the...
, with the acting rank of brigadier general
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
.
When the war of 1812 broke out, Boyd initially commanded a brigade under Major General Henry Dearborn
Henry Dearborn
Henry Dearborn was an American physician, a statesman and a veteran of both the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. Born to Simon Dearborn and Sarah Marston in North Hampton, New Hampshire, he spent much of his youth in Epping, where he attended public schools...
in camp at Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
and in some indecisive actions north of 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...
. He was formally promoted to Brigadier General at some point in July that year when Major General Peter Gansevoort
Peter Gansevoort
Peter Gansevoort was a Colonel in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He is best known for leading the resistance to Barry St. Leger's Siege of Fort Stanwix in 1777. Gansevoort was also the maternal grandfather of Moby-Dick author Herman Melville.-Early life:He was born...
died, creating a series of vacancies in the general ranks of the United States Army.
In 1813, he successfully commanded a brigade at the Battle of Fort George
Battle of Fort George
The Battle of Fort George was a battle fought during the War of 1812, in which the Americans defeated a British force and captured the Fort George in Upper Canada...
. As illness or disgrace removed many of his contemporaries, he eventually commanded the garrison of captured Fort George
Fort George, Ontario
Fort George National Historic Site is a historic military structure at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, that was the scene of several battles during the War of 1812...
, although the defeat at the Battle of Beaver Dams
Battle of Beaver Dams
The Battle of Beaver Dams took place on 24 June 1813, during the War of 1812. An American column marched from Fort George and attempted to surprise a British outpost at Beaver Dams, billeting themselves overnight in the village of Queenston, Ontario...
forced him to remain strictly on the defensive.
Moving his troops from Fort George to Sacket's Harbour
Sackets Harbor, New York
Sackets Harbor is a village in Jefferson County, New York, United States. The population was 1,386 at the 2000 census. The village was named after land developer and owner Augustus Sackett, who founded it in the early 19th century.The Village of Sackets Harbor is within the western part of the...
, he participated in Major General James Wilkinson
James Wilkinson
James Wilkinson was an American soldier and statesman, who was associated with several scandals and controversies. He served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, but was twice compelled to resign...
's ill-fated attack on Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. At the Battle of Crysler's Farm, the illness of Wilkinson and the army's second-in-command, Major General Morgan Lewis
Morgan Lewis (governor)
Morgan Lewis was an American lawyer, politician and military commander.Of Welsh descent, he was the son of Francis Lewis, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He graduated from Princeton in 1773 and began to study law on the advice of his father...
made him the commander of the attack on a smaller British force. His troops, already dispirited, straggled into action on unfavourable terrain, and were repulsed.
Boyd remained in command of a brigade at the winter camp of the Army at Salmon Creek, New York. After a half-hearted attack by Wilkinson at Lacolle Mill
Battle of Lacolle Mills (1814)
The Second Battle of Lacolle Mills was fought on 30 March 1814 during the War of 1812. The small garrison of a British outpost position, aided by reinforcements, fought off a large American attack.-Background:After the St...
failed, he was sidelined into a rear-area assignment, and saw no further front-line service. He published a defence of his actions in 1816.