John B. Campbell (March 13, 1777– August 28, 1814) was an American soldier during the

War of 1812 The War of 1812 (18 June 1812 – 17 February 1815) was fought by the United States of America and its indigenous allies against the United Kingdom and its allies in British North America, with limited participation by Spain in Florida. It be ...

, famous for his expedition to destroy the

Miami Indian Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a coastal metropolis and the county seat of Miami-Dade County in South Florida, United States. With a population of 442,241 at th ...

villages along the

Mississinewa River The Mississinewa River is a tributary of the Wabash River in eastern Indiana and a small portion of western Ohio in the United States. It is long and is the third largest tributary behind the White and Little Wabash Rivers, only slightly larger t ...

and perhaps most infamous for ordering the destruction of private houses and other property in Dover, Canada, including the stocks of grain and mills, which led to a Court of Enquiry and an unprecedented letter to the enemy explaining himself. He was mortally wounded at the

Battle of Chippawa The Battle of Chippawa, also known as the Battle of Chippewa, was a victory for the United States Army in the War of 1812, during its invasion on July 5, 1814, of the British Empire's colony of Upper Canada along the Niagara River. This battle ...

in July.

Early life and career

Campbell was born in Virginia. However, his family moved to Kentucky about 1807, and he became a lawyer in

Hopkinsville, Kentucky Hopkinsville is a home rule-class city in and the county seat of Christian County, Kentucky, United States. The population at the 2010 census was 31,577. History Early years The area of present-day Hopkinsville was initially claimed in 1796 ...

. He was a son of Colonel Arthur Campbell, a soldier of the Revolutionary War and Indian Wars whom

Campbell County, Tennessee Campbell County is a county in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is located on the state's northern border in East Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, its population was 39,272. Its county seat is Jacksboro. Campbell County is included in the K ...

was named after, and a nephew of General William Campbell. His brother, James H. Campbell, died also in the War of 1812 at

Mobile, Alabama Mobile ( , ) is a city and the county seat of Mobile County, Alabama, United States. The population within the city limits was 187,041 at the 2020 census, down from 195,111 at the 2010 census. It is the fourth-most-populous city in Alabama ...

War of 1812

Western Frontier

On March 12, 1812, he was appointed from Kentucky as lieutenant-colonel of the 19th infantry. He was brevetted colonel on Dec. 18, 1812, for gallant conduct while commanding a detachment in the campaign against the Mississineway Indians. On April 9, 1814, he was promoted colonel and transferred to the 11th infantry.

Canada

After the

Raid on Port Dover The Raid on Port Dover was an episode during the War of 1812. American troops crossed Lake Erie to capture or destroy stocks of grain and destroy mills at Port Dover, Ontario, which were used to provide flour for British troops stationed on t ...

, British Major General

Phineas Riall General Sir Phineas Riall, KCH (15 December 1775 – 10 November 1850) was the British general who succeeded John Vincent as commanding officer of the Niagara Peninsula in Upper Canada during the War of 1812. In 1816, he was appointed Governor ...

addressed the commanding officer of the United States troops by letter, asking explicitly if the landing and the "acts of outrage on private property" at Port Dover were authorised by the United States military. The answer came under General

Jacob Brown Jacob Jennings Brown (May 9, 1775 – February 24, 1828) was known for his victories as an American army officer in the War of 1812, where he reached the rank of general. His successes on the northern border during that war made him a nationa ...

's seal, but without any communication from Brown. Instead, it was a letter from "Colonel John B. Campbell, of the 11th Regiment United States troops," possibly the only instance of such correspondence between officers of opposing armies in time of war. ''Niagara Frontier, 16 June 1814.'' ''Sir,—I have the honour to receive your communication of the 9th current. I commanded the detachment of the United States army which lately made a landing at Dover on lake Erie. What was done at that place and its vicinity proceeded from my orders. The whole business was planned by myself and executed upon my own responsibility.'' Colonel Campbell also commanded the 11th Infantry Regiment in the

Capture of Fort Erie The Capture of Fort Erie by American forces in 1814 was a battle in the War of 1812 between the United Kingdom and the United States. The British garrison was outnumbered but surrendered prematurely, in the view of British commanders.Joseph Whiteh ...

. He was mortally wounded at the

Battle of Chippewa The Battle of Chippawa, also known as the Battle of Chippewa, was a victory for the United States Army in the War of 1812, during its invasion on July 5, 1814, of the British Empire's colony of Upper Canada along the Niagara River. This battle ...

, Canada, July 5, 1814, where he commanded the right wing of Brigadier General

Winfield Scott Winfield Scott (June 13, 1786May 29, 1866) was an American military commander and political candidate. He served as a general in the United States Army from 1814 to 1861, taking part in the War of 1812, the Mexican–American War, the early s ...

's army. He died on August 28, 1814.

References

* Powell, William Henry, ''List of officers of the army of the United States from 1779 to 1900'', L. R. Hamersly & co., 1900. * Heitman, Francis Bernard, ''Historical register of the United States Army: from its organization, September 29, 1789, to September 29, 1889'', The National Tribune, 1890. * Brown, John Howard, ''Lamb's biographical dictionary of the United States,'' Volume 1, James H. Lamb Co., 1900. * Quimby, Robert S., ''The U.S. Army in the War of 1812: an operational and command study,'' Volume 2, Michigan State University Press, 1997. * Kingsford, William, ''The history of Canada,'' Volume 8, Roswell & Hutchinson, 1895. * Drake, Francis Samuel,''Dictionary of American biography, including men of the time: containing nearly ten thousand notices of persons of both sexes, of native and foreign birth, who have been remarkable, or prominently connected with the arts, sciences, literature, politics, or history, of the American continent'', J.R. Osgood and company, 1876. * Walton, Eliakim Persons, ''Records of the Governor and Council of the State of Vermont: Record of the Governor and Council ... 1813-1822 Volume 6 of Records of the Governor and Council of the State of Vermont, Vermont. Council of Safety, 1777–1778,'' Authors Vermont, Vermont. Conventions, 1775–1777, Vermont. Council of Safety, 1777–1778, Vermont. Governor, Vermont. Supreme Executive Council, Vermont. Board of War, 1779–1783, J. & J. M. Poland, 1878. {{DEFAULTSORT:Campbell, John B. United States Army officers United States Army personnel of the War of 1812 American military personnel killed in the War of 1812 1777 births 1814 deaths People from Kentucky in the War of 1812