| JACOB BROWN, |
13 |
| Situation of the country at the commencement of the war with
Great Britain—Parentage of General Brown—Early Vicissitudes—Teaches
school—Commences the Study of the Law—Abandons
his studies, and removes to Jefferson county,
New York—Settlement at Brownville—Attack on Ogdensburgh—Gallant
conduct of General Brown—Offered the command
of a regiment in the Regular Service—Declines it—Brave
defence of Sacketts Harbor—Appointed a Brigadier
General—Expedition down the St. Lawrence—Promoted to
the rank of Major General—March to Buffalo—Invasion of
Canada—Capture of Fort Erie—Battles of Chippewa and
Niagara—Severely Wounded, and temporarily surrenders the
command—Siege of Fort Erie—Successful Sortie—Close
of the war—Appointed General-in-chief—His Death. |
|
| EDMUND PENDLETON GAINES, |
61 |
| The “Old Dominion”—Birth and Early History of Gaines—Receives
his first commission as an ensign—Claim of the
Spanish Government—Projects of Aaron Burr—His arrest
and trial—Temporary retirement of Gaines from the army—Obtains
a regiment—Abortive Expedition against Montreal—Made
a Brigadier-general—Siege of Fort Erie—The
Assault—Gallant defence of Gaines—Brevetted a Major-general—War
with the Seminoles—The “Black Hawk War”—Outbreak
in Florida—The War with Mexico—Patriotic
conduct of General Gaines—Personal appearance and traits
of character. |
|
| WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON, |
88 |
| His Popularity—Benjamin Harrison—Anecdote—Birth and
Education of General Harrison—Enters the army—Kentuckeè—Campaign
under Wayne—Defeat of the North
Western Indians—Fortunate incident—Is married—Civil
career—Secretary under Governor St. Clair—Delegate to
Congress—Improvement of the Land System—Appointed
Governor of Indiana Territory—Important services—Frontier
Life—Designs of Great Britain—Subornation of the
Indian tribes—Attack on the Chesapeake—Speech of Harrison—Council
at Vincennes—Tecumseh—Indian Depredations—Battle
of Tippecanoe—Declaration of War against
England—Patriotism of the citizens of the West—Harrison
invested with a military command—Expedition of General
Hopkins—Defence of Fort Harrison—Destruction of Indian
Towns—Harrison appointed Brigadier-general—Dispositions
for the Campaign—Difficulties and Embarrassments—Massacre
at Frenchtown—Siege of Fort Meigs—Narrow
Escape—Defence of Fort Stephenson—Perry’s Victory—Pursuit
of Proctor—Battle of the Thames—Fruits of the
Victory—Letter to General Vincent—Demonstrations of
Respect—His Gallantry—Resigns his commission—Senator
in Congress—Minister to Colombia—Retires to Private Life—Elected
President—Sudden Illness and Death—His character. |
|
| ANDREW JACKSON, |
163 |
| Of Irish descent—English oppression—His Father Emigrates
to America—Birth of Andrew Jackson—Youthful Adventures—War
of the Revolution—Invasion of South Carolina—Patriotic
conduct of young Jackson and his brothers—Anecdotes—His
Daring and Resolution—Attack on the
Waxhaw settlers—Taken as a prisoner to Camden—Sufferings
of the Prisoners—Battle of Hobkirk’s Hill—A Mother’s
Devotion—Release from Captivity—Close of the War—Praiseworthy
Resolution—Andrew Jackson studies law—Emigrates
to Tennessee—Life in the Log Cabin—Incidents
of the Wilderness—Establishes himself at Nashville—The
Debtors—Married to Rachael Donelson—Member of the
Tennessee Convention—Representative and Senator in Congress—Judge
of the Supreme Court—Difficulty with Governor
Sevier—Duel with Dickinson—Altercation with Colonel
Benton—Aaron Burr—War with Great Britain—Jackson
tenders the services of his Division—Expedition to
Natchez—The Southern Indians—War with the Creeks—General
Jackson takes the field at the head of the Tennessee
volunteers and militia—Difficulty in obtaining supplies—Battle
of Talluschatchee—Lincoyer—Battle of Talladega—Destitution
of the Troops—Mutiny—Firmness and determination
of General Jackson—Patriotic letter to Governor
Blount—Battles of Emuckfaw and Enotochopco—Arrival
of Reinforcements—Battle of Tohopeka—Terrible slaughter
of the Creeks—Termination of Hostilities—Return Home—Jackson
appointed a Major-general in the Regular Army—Capture
of Pensacola—Expedition of the British against
New Orleans—Defences of the city—Arrival of Jackson—Landing
of the Enemy—General Jackson attacks them with
a part of his command—Fortifications—Battle of the Eighth
of January—Complete Rout of the British Army—The enemy
retire to their Shipping—Treaty of Peace—Fine imposed
by Judge Hall—Gratitude of the citizens of New
Orleans—The Seminole War—Appointed commissioner to
receive the Territory of Florida—Resignation of his commission—Again
elected Senator—Chosen President—Important
Events of his Administration—Final Retirement—Death
and character. |
|
| ALEXANDER MACOMB, |
295 |
| Military Institution at West Point—Ancestors of General
Macomb—His Youth—Education—Enters the army as a
Cornet of Dragoons—Military Education and Accomplishments—Promotions—Marriage—Superintends
the Construction
of Coast Defences—Prepares a work on Courts Martial—Appointed
Colonel of Artillery—Raises a Regiment—Stationed
at Sacketts Harbor—Projected Attack on Kingston—Participation
in the Capture of Fort George—Expedition
under Wilkinson—Promoted to Brigadier-general—Attack
on La Cole Mill—Invasion of New York by the British
under Sir George Prevost—Skirmishing—Battle of Plattsburg—Attack
and Repulse of the Enemy—Victory of Commodore
Macdonough—Thanks of Congress and State Legislatures—Macomb
appointed Chief Engineer—General-in-chief
of the Army—His Death. |
|
| ZEBULON MONTGOMERY PIKE, |
323 |
| His family and Education—Receives a Commission—Fondness
for reading and study—His Marriage—Expedition to
the sources of the Mississippi—Ordered to explore the interior
of Louisiana—Hardships and Sufferings of his party—Loses
his way—Taken prisoner to Santa Fe and Chihuahua—Permitted
to Return Home—Publishes Narratives of
his Expeditions—Rapid Promotions—Deputy Quarter Master
General—Appointed Colonel of Infantry—Mode of drilling
his regiment—Incursion into Canada—Raised to the
rank of Brigadier General—Expedition against York—His
Gallant Conduct—Explosion of the Magazine—Death of
Pike—Bravery and Heroism. |
|
| WINFIELD SCOTT, |
338 |
| Napoleon’s Remark in regard to Turenne—The Pretender—Scott’s
Ancestors—His birth—Education—Enters the legal
Profession—Commences Practice—Obtains a commission as
captain of Artillery—Difficulty with General Wilkinson—Promoted
to Lieutenant Colonel—Attack on Queenston—Scott
crosses the river and takes the command—The Enemy
driven off—Arrival of General Sheaffe with reïnforcements,
and surrender of the Americans—Encounter with the Indian
Warriors—Interference in behalf of Irish prisoners—Is exchanged
and returns to duty—Colonel of the second artillery—Attack
on Fort George—Scott commands the advanced
guard—Capture of the Fort—Wilkinson’s Expedition—Skirmishing—Appointed
a brigadier general—Camp
of Instruction at Buffalo—Invasion of Canada—Battle of
Chippewa—Scott’s charge—Battle of Niagara—His heroic
conduct—Is severely wounded—Complimentary Resolutions—Visit
to Europe—Return Home and Marriage—Military
Reports and Publications—Controversy in regard to
brevet rank—War with the Sacs and Foxes—Campaign in
Florida—Disturbances in Canada, and on the frontier—Removal
of the Cherokees—The North Eastern Boundary—Raised
to the chief command of the Army—The War with
Mexico—Expedition against Vera Cruz—Reduction of the
city and the castle of San Juan de Ulua—Battle of Cerro
Gordo—March to Puebla—Advance to the Mexican Capital—Contreras
and Churubusco—El Molino del Rey—Capture
of the City of Mexico—Treaty of Peace concluded—Return
of General Scott—Reflections. |
|