Egbert B. Brown
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Egbert Brown | |
|---|---|
| October 4, 1816 – February 11, 1902 (aged 85) | |
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| Place of birth | Brownsville, New York |
| Place of death | West Plains, Missouri |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1865 |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
| Commands held | District of Central Missouri / District of Rolla |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War *2nd Battle of Springfield *Shelby's Raid (1863) *Battle of Westport |
Egbert Benson Brown (October 4, 1816 – February 11, 1902) was a Union general in the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War.
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[edit] Early life and education
Egbert Brown was born in Brownsville, New York, and as a young man sailed on a whaler before settling in Toledo, Ohio, in the early 1840's. He was a respected grain dealer and built the first steam elevator in town. After successively working his way to Mayor of Toledo, he moved to St. Louis, Missouri, in 1852 and engaged in the railroad business.
[edit] Civil War
In August 1861, Brown was commissioned as the lieutenant colonel of the 7th Missouri Infantry. He resigned the commission in May 1862 to become a brigadier general of the Missouri state militia (Union), and was appointed a brigadier general of U.S. Volunteers to rank from November 29, 1862.
Brown's command duties primarily involved suppressing Confederate guerrillas and opposing raids from Arkansas and the Indian Territory. Among the high points of his career were two victories over Joseph Shelby, at the Second Battle of Springfield during Marmaduke's first raid, and at Marshall, Missouri, during Shelby's Great Raid of 1863. In the Springfield battle, Brown was severely wounded in the shoulder and lost the use of an arm. He received command of the District of Central Missouri during 1863 and through 1864.
Although successful in many engagements, Brown was condemned by some for lack of vigor. This came to a head during Sterling Price's 1864 raid of Missouri. At the Battle of Westport, Union Major General Alfred Pleasonton relieved Brown of command and arrested him for failure to promptly obey an order to attack. Brown assumed command of the District of Rolla in January 1865 until the end of the war.
[edit] Post-war
Brown was the United States pension agent in St. Louis from 1866 to 1868. He resigned to operate a farm in Illinois. He died in the home of a granddaughter at West Plains, Missouri, on February 11, 1902, and was buried next to his wife in Cuba, Missouri.
[edit] References
- Warner, Ezra, Generals in Blue, Louisiana State University Press, 1964/2002.
[edit] External links
- Denny, James M., "The Battle of Marshall" http://mmcwrt.missouri.org/2001/default0112.htm
