Egbert B. Brown was born in Brownsville, New York, on October 4, 1816. In 1852 he moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where he engaged in the railroad business. In August 1861 he was commissioned lieutenant colonel of the 7th Missouri Infantry, but resigned the following May to accept an appointment as a brigadier general in the Missouri State Militia. Brown was appointed a brigadier general of U.S. volunteers on November 29, 1862.

Brown successfully defended Springfield, Missouri against an attack by General John S. Marmaduke on January 8, 1863, but was severely wounded in the left shoulder and lost the use of the arm. Later that year, he assumed command of the District of Central Missouri, combating guerrilla raids and skirmishing with raiding Confederates. On October 13, 1863, Brown defeated Colonel Joseph Shelby at Marshall, Missouri, forcing Shelby to terminate his raid through the state. Brown commanded a brigade of cavalry in the fall of 1864 and participated in the Battle of Westport.

After the Battle of Westport, General Alfred Pleasanton relieved Brown of command for allegedly failing to obey an order to attack. No charges were brought, and Brown assumed command of the District of Rolla in January 1865, a position he held until the end of the war.

Brown was appointed United States pension agent in St. Louis in 1866; resigning two years later, he moved to Illinois to farm. Brown died on February 11, 1902, in West Plains, Missouri.

Carte-de-Visite by E.A. Anthony, New York, N.Y.

Image Courtesy Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield; WICR 31447