Wikipedia

Henry Dearborn

For his son, seeHenry Alexander Scammell Dearborn.

Henry Dearborn(February 23, 1751 – June 6, 1829) was an American military officer and politician. In theRevolutionary War,he served underBenedict Arnoldin hisexpedition to Quebec,of which his journal provides an important record. After being captured and exchanged, he served inGeorge Washington'sContinental Army.He was present at theBritishsurrender atYorktown.Dearborn served on GeneralGeorge Washington's staff in Virginia.

Henry Dearborn
Portrait byGilbert Stuart,1812
5thUnited States Secretary of War
In office
March 5, 1801 – March 4, 1809
PresidentThomas Jefferson
Preceded bySamuel Dexter
Succeeded byWilliam Eustis
7thUnited States Minister to Portugal
In office
August 16, 1822 – June 30, 1824
PresidentJames Monroe
Preceded byJohn Graham
Succeeded byThomas L. L. Brent
10thSenior Officer of the United States Army
In office
January 27, 1812 – June 15, 1815
PresidentJames Madison
Preceded byJames Wilkinson
Succeeded byJacob Brown
Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
fromMassachusetts
In office
March 4, 1793 – March 3, 1797
Serving withPeleg WadsworthandGeorge Thatcher(1793–95)
Preceded byTheodore Sedgwick
Succeeded byIsaac Parker
Constituency4th district(1793–95)
12th district(1795–97)
Personal details
Born(1751-02-23)February 23, 1751
North Hampton,New Hampshire,British America
DiedJune 6, 1829(1829-06-06)(aged 78)
Roxbury,Massachusetts,U.S.
Political partyAnti-Administration(Before 1792)
Democratic-Republican(1792–1829)
Signature
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceContinental Army
United States Army
Years of service1775–1783
1812–1815
RankColonel
Major General
Battles/wars

He served asSecretary of Warunder PresidentThomas Jefferson,from 1801 to 1809, and served as a commanding general in theWar of 1812.In later life, his criticism of GeneralIsrael Putnam's performance at theBattle of Bunker Hillcaused a majorcontroversy.Fort Dearbornin Illinois,Dearborn Countyin Indiana, and the city ofDearborn, Michigan,were named in his honor.[1][2]

Early life

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Henry Dearborn was born February 23, 1751, to Simon Dearborn and Sarah Marston inNorth Hamptonin theProvince of New Hampshire.He was descended from Godfrey Dearborn, fromExeterin England, who came to theMassachusetts Bay Colonyin 1639. Godfrey Dearborn settled first atExeter, New Hampshire,and soon after atHampton,where four successive generations of his descendants lived. Henry spent much of his youth inEpping,where he attended public schools. He grew up as an athletic boy, notably strong and a champion wrestler.[3]He studied medicine under Dr. Hall Jackson ofPortsmouthand opened a practice on the square inNottingham, New Hampshire,in 1772.[4]

Dearborn was married three times: to Mary Bartlett in 1771, to Dorcas (Osgood) Marble in 1780, and to Sarah Bowdoin, widow ofJames Bowdoin,in 1813.Henry Alexander Scammell Dearbornwas his son by his second wife.[1]

Revolutionary War service

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When fighting in theAmerican Revolutionary Warbegan, Dearborn fought with the Continental Army as a captain in the1stand3rdNew Hampshire Regiments; he soon rose to the rank oflieutenant colonel.He was appointed DeputyQuartermaster Generalin July 1781 and served on George Washington's staff while inVirginia.[5]At age twenty-three, he organized and led a local militia troop of sixty men to theBostonarea, where he fought on June 17, 1775, at theBattle of Bunker Hillas a captain in ColonelJohn Stark's 1st New Hampshire Regiment.[6][7]During the battle, Dearborn observed that "Not an officer or soldier of the continental troops engaged was in uniform, but were in the plain and ordinary dress of citizens; nor was there an officer on horseback."[8][a]Dearborn years later would accuseIsrael Putnamof failing his duty during that battle, resulting in what has since been known as theDearborn-Putnam controversy.[9]

Dearborn volunteered to serve under ColonelBenedict Arnoldin September 1775, during the difficultAmerican expedition to Quebec.Later Dearborn would record in his Revolutionary War journal their overall situation and condition: "We were small indeed to think of entering a place likeQuebec.But being now almost out of provisions we were sure to die if we attempted to return back and we could be in no worse situation if we proceeded on our rout. "[10]

On the final leg of the march, Dearborn was taken seriously ill with fever, forcing him to remain behind in a cottage on theChaudière River.Later he rejoined the combined forces of Arnold and Gen.Richard Montgomeryin time to take part in the assault on Quebec.[b][4]Dearborn's journal is an important record for that campaign. During the march he andAaron Burrbecame companions.[11]Along with a number of other officers, Dearborn was captured on December 31, 1775, during theBattle of Quebec,and detained for a year.[12][13]He was released onparolein May 1776, but he was not exchanged until March 1777.[1]

After fighting atTiconderogain July 1777, Dearborn was appointedmajorin theregimentcommanded byAlexander Scammell.

In September 1777, he took part in theSaratoga campaignagainstBurgoyneatFreeman's Farm.The first battle was largely fought by troops fromNew Hampshire,Dearborn's home state. The New Hampshire brigade under GeneralPoorand a detachment of infantry under Major Dearborn, numbering about three hundred, along with detachments of other militia, andWhitcomb's Rangers,co-operated with Morgan in the repulse ofFraser'sattack.[14]The cautious GeneralHoratio Gatesreluctantly ordered a reconnaissance force consisting ofDaniel Morgan's Provisional Rifle Corps and Dearborn's light infantry to scout out theBemis Heightsarea.[12]Gates later noted Dearborn's marked ability as a soldier and officer in his report. Thereafter Dearborn joined GeneralGeorge Washington's mainContinental ArmyatValley Forge,Pennsylvania,as a lieutenant colonel, where he spent the winter of 1777–1778.[4]

Dearborn fought at theBattle of MonmouthinNew Jerseyin 1778, following the British evacuation ofPhiladelphiato retreat to concentrate atNew York City,in the final major battle of theNorthern Theatre,and in the summer of 1779 he accompanied Major GeneralJohn Sullivanon theSullivan Expeditionagainst theIroquoisin upstateNew York[12]and in theBattle of Newtownagainst the Six Nations, thereafter laying waste to theGenesee Valleyand the various regions around theFinger Lakes.[4]

During the winter of 1778–1779, he was encamped at what is nowPutnam Memorial State ParkinRedding, Connecticut.Dearborn rejoined General Washington's staff in 1781 as deputy quartermaster general and commanded the 1st New Hampshire at thesiege of Yorktownwith the rank of colonel[15]and was present whenCornwallissurrendered in October of that year.[12]

In June 1783, Dearborn received his discharge from the Continental Army and settled inGardiner, Maine,where he became Major General of the Maine militia. Washington appointed him marshal of theDistrict of Maine.Dearborn served in theU.S. House of Representativesfrom the District of Maine, 1793 to 1797.[12][c]He was an original member of the New HampshireSociety of the Cincinnati.[16][17]

Revolutionary War journals

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During the American Revolution Dearborn maintained six separate journals where he recorded the various campaigns, battles, and other notable events from his point of experience. HisRevolutionary War journals of Henry Dearborn, 1775-1783,have provided historians of early American history with valuable first-hand information from the perspective of an officer who was engaged in the various battles and surrounding events. His journals were first published in 1939 by theCaxton Clubof Chicago and were edited from the original manuscripts by historians Lloyd A. Brown andHoward Henry Peckham;the publication includes a biographical essay of Dearborn by Hermon D. Smith. The six journals are enumerated as follows:

Journal I. The Quebec Expedition
Journal II. The Burgoyne Campaign
Journal III. Operations in the Middle Colonies
Journal IV. Sullivan's Indian Expedition
Journal V. The Yorktown Campaign
Journal VI. Peace Negotiations[18]

Dearborn also wroteAn Account of the Battle of Bunker Hill.Various scholars have cited the short work as being culturally important and greatly contributing to the knowledge base of early American history.[19]

Post-Revolution

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Dearborn was commissioned as abrigadier generalin theMassachusetts Militiain 1787 and was promoted tomajor generalin 1789. The same year he was appointed as the firstU.S. Marshalfor theDistrict of Maineunder the new Constitution of 1787 byPresident Washington.He represented this district as aDemocratic-Republicanin theThirdandFourthCongresses from 1793 to 1797.

PresidentThomas Jeffersonfrequently consulted Henry Dearborn on matters of military law and management.

In 1801, third PresidentThomas Jeffersonappointed DearbornSecretary of War,a post he held for eight years until March 7, 1809. Dearborn advised Jefferson in matters of military personnel when Jefferson was formulating theMilitary Peace Establishment Actin 1800-01, which outlined a new set of laws and limits for the military and also led to the founding of a national military academy atWest Point.[20]In April 1801, Dearborn askedGeorge Baron,an Englishman who was Dearborn's friend from Maine, to be the mathematics instructor at the academy. Dearborn also offered the superintendency of the school toJonathan Williams,[d]who had translated into English some European treatises on artillery and fortification.[21]

During the 1801 and 1802 period, Dearborn and Jefferson corresponded frequently, discussing various political and military matters. Notable among them was Dearborn's report of May 12, 1801 on the War Department,[21]and his recommendation for "designating the boundary line between the United States, and the adjacentBritish possessions,in such manner as may prevent any disputes in future... "[22]

During his tenure, he helped Jefferson form a policy onNative Americans,the goal being to establish a western boundary by procuring lands along theMississippi River.[23]

In 1805, while events in theBurr conspiracywere beginning to unfold,Aaron BurrandLouisiana TerritorygovernorJames Wilkinsonwere allegedly planning war with Mexico, with the aim of establishing a secessionist state in the Southwest in the process.[e]Hoping to incite war with Spain, Wilkinson in a letter to Secretary of War Dearborn urged him to attack WesternSpanish FloridafromBaton Rouge.Prompted by prevailing rumors of war, Dearborn ordered him to send threecompaniesof troops toFort AdamsinWestern Floridaas a precaution.[f]The prospect of war in turn was used by Wilkinson to justify sending an exploratory military expedition into the Southwest to find a route that would be used to supply a war effort at the U.S.-Spanish-Mexican border.[24][g]In May, Dearborn ordered Wilkinson to the Orleans territory, directing his general to "repel any invasion of the United States east of theSabine Riveror north or west of the bounds of what has been called West Florida... "Dearborn further maintained that any such movements across these borders would constitute" an actual invasion of our territorial rights ". This was the opportunity both Burr and Wilkinson were hoping for, thinking that Spanish officials were on edge over the prospect of confrontation with the U.S. and could easily be provoked into war.[25]When Wilkinson, however, had asked Dearborn to send an exploratory military expedition into the Southwest, Dearborn replied that, "you, Burr, etc., are becoming too intimate... keep every suspicious person at arm's length."[h]At this time Dearborn also warned his top general that "your name has very frequently been mentioned with Burr's." Shortly thereafter Burr was arrested fortreason.[27]

Dearborn was appointed collector of theport of Bostonby PresidentJames Madisonin March 1809,[28]a position he held until January 27, 1812, when he was appointed as theCommanding General of the United States Army.[2]

War of 1812

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PresidentJames Madisonappointed Henry Dearborn as Commanding General of the Northeastern theater.

During theWar of 1812,while President Madison was urgingFederaliststo join in "united support" against Britain in a war they were given little reason to cooperate in, he gave Henry Dearborn senior command of the northeast sector which ranged from theNiagara Riverto theNew Englandcoast. Dearborn had favor with Madison as a Revolutionary War veteran who rose to the rank ofcoloneland for serving as Secretary of War under President Jefferson,[29]and especially for helping Jefferson draft the Military Peace Establishment Act, which served to remove many Federalist officers from the ranks of the military. Subsequently, Madison's choice for commanding general of the northeast theater was not well received by most Federalists.[30][i]At age 61, however, Dearborn was now overweight, slow and insecure, and he found it difficult to inspire confidence among the men under his command. In March he suffered a minor injury from a fall, and it is suggested that Dearborn took his time recovering. When the war broke out he spent even more time in Boston, fearing, as did Vice PresidentElbridge Gerry,that the Federalists were once again plotting a northeastern secession[j]and ready to install a"Hanoverian"-like monarchy in opposition to them.[30]

Needing to present Congress with reports of progress, Secretary of WarWilliam Eustisurged Dearborn to promptly embark forAlbanyand plan and make preparations for an invasion ofMontrealin Canada. Dearborn maintained, however, that he must first get to New England and secure the militia for defending the New England coast, which would free up the regular troops of the region for thecoming campaign against Canada,and before the Federalists effected an open revolt there. After disputes with New England's several Federalist governors, who refused to supply the militia for coastal defense, Dearborn reluctantly left New England for Albany with regular troops in late July, leaving the coast almost defenseless against British coastal attacks.[32][k]

On August 9, while GeneralWilliam Hullwas expecting a diversionary attack by Dearborn in the Niagara area, the latter was still at his headquarters atGreenbush,just outside of Albany, and was having great difficulty amassing troops for the coming offensive in Canada. At this timeGeorge Prévosthad sent British ColonelEdward Baynesto negotiate a temporaryarmisticewith Dearborn. Dearborn learned thatLord Liverpoolwas giving the American government time to respond. Lacking the means to adequately engage the British in Canada, Dearborn was not eager for battle, welcomed the delay, and rushed news of the armistice to Madison for approval. In the meantime Dearborn gave orders to GeneralVan Rensselaerto avoid any engagements along the Niagara. The truce, however, was short-lived when on August 15 Madison repudiated Dearborn's agreement and orders were issued to renew the offensive.[32][33]

The War of 1812,Niagara RiverandLake Ontariotheaters

Dearborn prepared plans for simultaneous assaults onMontreal,Kingston,Fort Niagara,andAmherstburg,but the execution was imperfect. A half-hearted advance intoLower Canadain November 1812 simply collapsed after a very minor engagement at theBattle of Lacolle Mills.Some scholars believe that Dearborn also did not move quickly enough to provide sufficient troops to defendDetroit.Hull, without firing a shot, surrendered the city to British GeneralIsaac Brock.[l]Hull wascourt-martialedand sentenced to death, but the sentence was commuted. Dearborn headed the court martial.[34]

On April 27, 1813, American forces onLake Ontariounder Dearborn and CommodoreIsaac Chaunceygained success at theBattle of York,occupying the town for several days and capturing many guns and stores. Thereafter the American army was transported across the lake in Chauncey's ships to Fort Niagara. Dearborn assembled 4,500 troops at Fort Niagara and planned to attackFort Georgenext, and entrusted the attack to ColonelWinfield Scott,[35]but his army required rest and reorganization. No preparations had been made to accommodate the troops at Fort Niagara, and they suffered considerable shortages and privations for several days.[36]

Although Dearborn had minor successes at thecapture of York(nowToronto) on April 27, 1813, and at thecapture of Fort Georgeon May 27, 1813, his command was, for the most part, ineffective. He was recalled from the frontier on July 6, 1813, and reassigned to an administrative command inNew York City,[37]and married his third wife, Sarah Bowdoin.[1]

Dearborn was honorably discharged from the Army on June 15, 1815.[38]

Later life

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Dearborn was an original member of theSociety of the Cincinnati,[39]and was elected a member of theAmerican Antiquarian Societyin 1816, now the oldest historical society in the United States.[40]

Dearborn ran forGovernor of Massachusettsin 1818 against incumbentJohn Brooks.Because Dearborn was aDemocratic-Republicanin a predominantly Federalist state, he needed favorable press to help his campaign. Subsequently, Dearborn accepted an offer from Charles Miner, the editor ofThe Port Folio,a Philadelphia political magazine, asking him to verify and edit a British soldier's map depicting the Battle of Bunker Hill. Dearborn saw this as a chance to win public favor and seized the opportunity.[41]However, his efforts backfired when he also wrote a "correct account" of the battle in the article, which was reprinted in 1818, accusingIsrael Putnamof inaction and cowardly leadership during the battle, which sparked a major and long-lasting controversy among veterans of the war and various historians.[9][42]

On March 1, 1815, PresidentJames Madisonnominated Dearborn for reappointment as Secretary of War,[when?]but the Senate rejected the nomination, and in the face of fierce criticism over Dearborn's performance during the War of 1812, Madison withdrew the nomination.[2][43]Dearborn was later appointedMinister Plenipotentiary to Portugalby PresidentJames Monroe,serving from May 7, 1822, until June 30, 1824, when, by his own request, he was recalled.[2]

He retired to his home inRoxbury, Massachusetts,where he died in 1829. He is interred inForest Hills CemeteryinJamaica Plain(outside of Boston at the time; annexed to the city in 1874).[1]

Legacy

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Lewis and Clark,appointed by Thomas Jefferson, named theDearborn Riverin west-centralMontanaafter Dearborn in 1803.Dearborn County, Indiana;Dearborn, Michigan;andDearborn, Missouri,were also named for him, as wasFort DearborninChicago,which in turn was the namesake for Dearborn Street, a major street in downtown Chicago. There was also aFort DearborninAdams County, Mississippi,in the early 1800s; seeLeonard Covington.

Augusta, Maine,was so renamed after Henry's daughter, Augusta Dearborn, in August 1797.

A U.S. military armory, initially named "Mount Dearborn", was planned in the early 1800s to be built on an island near the confluence of theCatawbaandWatereerivers, adjacent toGreat Falls, South Carolina.The facility was never constructed, but the island name stuck, and after the town was founded in 1905, its main thoroughfare was named Dearborn Street.

DuringWorld War II,a coastal defense fort namedFort Dearbornwas established in Henry Dearborn's home state ofNew Hampshire,to guard the approaches toPortsmouth.

General Dearborn's son,Henry A. S. Dearborn,was a U.S. congressman representingMassachusetts's 10th congressional districtfrom 1831 to 1833.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^In 1822 Dearborn wrote an anonymous plea in theBoston Patriotto urge the purchase of the site of the Bunker Hill battlefield, which was listed for sale.[9]
  2. ^During the battle Montgomery was killed and Arnold seriously wounded.
  3. ^Maine then being a part ofMassachusetts.
  4. ^A grandnephew ofBenjamin Franklin;John Adamsappointed Williams a major in the Corps of Artillerists and Engineers in February 1801. President Jefferson appointed him the Army's Inspector of Fortifications.
  5. ^Both Burr and Wilkinson, with large land holdings and other interests in theLouisiana Territory,claimed that most Louisiana residents, who were recently ruled by France, preferred to be separate from the United States.
  6. ^Present-day southern Louisiana
  7. ^Burr and Wilkinson, with the support of GeneralAndrew Jackson,were earnestly promoting the idea (e.g. via newspapers) in the Southwest that war with Spain was imminent and that he would use "Mexican treasure" to entice the Western states along theMississippiandOhiorivers into secession.[24]
  8. ^This is when Wilkinson realized that knowledge of his plotting with Burr was becoming commonplace, confirming similar reports coming out of New Orleans.[26]
  9. ^The Federalists viewed the war as a political plot against them, while the Democratic-Republicans portrayed the Federalists as traitors for their concerted efforts to oppose the war effort.[30]
  10. ^Timothy Pickeringand the Federalists once attempted a northeastern secession during Jefferson's first term.[31]
  11. ^No British coastal attacks occurred for the first year of the war — presumably a favor from the British for New England's open opposition to the war.[32]
  12. ^While governor, Hull's repeated requests to build a naval fleet onLake Erieto properly defend Detroit,Fort Mackinac,andFort Dearbornwere ignored by Dearborn, which contributed to Hull's overall unpreparedness.

References

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  1. ^abcdeU.S. Army Center of Military History
  2. ^abcdU.S. Biographical Directory
  3. ^Dearborn, Smith, 1939,p.4
  4. ^abcdMalone, Allan, 1930,p. 174
  5. ^N.Y. Public library: Archives division
  6. ^Willey, 1903,p. 161
  7. ^Philbrick, 2013,chap.10
  8. ^Dearborn, Peckham, 2009,p. 5
  9. ^abcCray, 2001
  10. ^Dearborn, Smith, 1939,p.50
  11. ^Dearborn, Smith, 1939,p.19
  12. ^abcdeWilley, 1903,p. 162
  13. ^Dearborn, Peckham, 2009,pp. 36-37
  14. ^Willey, 1903,p. 9
  15. ^Willey, 1903,p. 13
  16. ^Proceedings of the General Society of the Cincinnati, 1784-, Volume 1 (1887),p. 98
  17. ^"Henry Dearborn | New Hampshire Society of the Cincinnati".nhsocietyofthecincinnati.org.RetrievedMay 17,2019.
  18. ^Dearborn, Peckham, 2009,pp. i - vii5
  19. ^Dearborn, 2016
  20. ^Thomas Jefferson to the Senate, March 25, 1802
  21. ^abHenry Dearborn's Report on the War Department, May 12, 1801
  22. ^Dearborn's December 5, 1801 letter to Jefferson
  23. ^Thomas Jefferson Foundation: Henry Dearborn (Physiognotrace)
  24. ^abWheelan, 2005,p. 128
  25. ^Stewart, 2011pp. 148-149
  26. ^Stewart, 2011,p. 111
  27. ^Stewart, 2011,pp. 110-111, 209
  28. ^McDonald, 2004,p. 115
  29. ^Daughan, 2011,p. 28
  30. ^abcTaylor, 2010,pp. 180-182
  31. ^DiLorenzo, 1998, Yankee Confederates
  32. ^abcTaylor, 2010,p. 182
  33. ^Daughan, 2011,p. 95
  34. ^Hickey, 1989p. 84
  35. ^Taylor, 2010,p. 217
  36. ^Elting, 1991,p.119
  37. ^Hickey, 1989p. 88
  38. ^Dictionary of American Biography, Vol. V,p.174
  39. ^Metcalf, Bryce (1938).Original Members and Other Officers Eligible to the Society of the Cincinnati, 1783-1938: With the Institution, Rules of Admission, and Lists of the Officers of the General and State Societies.Strasburg, Va.: Shenandoah Publishing House, Inc.
  40. ^American Antiquarian Society Members Directory
  41. ^Journal of the American Revolution
  42. ^Purcell, 2010,pp.164-168
  43. ^Fredriksen, 1999,p. 210

Bibliography

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Website sources

Further reading

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U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of theU.S. House of Representatives
fromMassachusetts's 4th congressional district
1793–1795
Served alongside:George Thatcher,Peleg Wadsworth 		Succeeded by
New constituency Member of theU.S. House of Representatives
fromMassachusetts's 12th congressional district
1795–1797 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by United States Secretary of War
1801–1809 		Succeeded by
Military offices
Preceded by Senior Officer of the United States Army
1812–1815 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic-Republicannominee forGovernor of Massachusetts
1817 		Succeeded by
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by United States Minister to Portugal
1822–1824 		Succeeded by
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