Eleazer Wheelock Ripley
Encyclopedia
Eleazer Wheelock Ripley (1782–1839) , was a graduate of Dartmouth College
, a distinguished Brigadier General in the War of 1812
, and a U. S. Representative from Louisiana
from 1835 until 1839.
Ripley, served a term in the Massachusetts state legislature. When the Anglo-American War of 1812 broke out, he founded the 21st United States Infantry Regiment
in August 1812. Most of the Regiment's soldiers came from Massachusetts and Maine. Soldiers from the regiment took part in several battles including York
and Sacketts Harbor
. Ripley commanded them at the Battle of Crysler's Farm
.
Early in 1814, Ripley was promoted to Brigadier General. (Lieutenant Colonel James Miller
, late of the 4th US Infantry Regiment was appointed to succeed him in command of the 21st Infantry.) Ripley was appointed to command a brigade (including the 21st Infantry) in Major General Jacob Brown
's Left Division on the Niagara River
. At the Battle of Lundy's Lane
, Ripley's brigade captured and held the British guns until the American withdrawal. However, he was blamed by Brown for losing the guns during the withdrawal and later demanded a court martial to clear his name.
He briefly commanded the division during the Siege of Fort Erie
after Brown was wounded at Lundy's Lane, but was superseded by Brigadier General Edmund Pendleton Gaines. He was conspicuous in the repulse of a British assault on 16 August, and in an American sortie on September 17, in which he was wounded.
Ripley was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the precursor to the Medal of Honor for his wartime service. He left the army in 1820 to enter his career in politics. He was the subject of a United States Supreme Court decision U.S. v Ripley which was decided in 1833. As a result of this decision, Ripley owed the United States a sum of money that he had expended while serving as a Major General by brevet. The building involved in the lawsuit is the oldest building in Uptown New Orleans
His efforts during the war were recognized by the renaming of village of Staunton, Ohio to Ripley, Ohio
, in his honor. Other places named after him are Ripley County, Indiana
, Ripley County, Missouri
, and Ripley, New York
.
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
, a distinguished Brigadier General in the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, and a U. S. Representative from Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
from 1835 until 1839.
Ripley, served a term in the Massachusetts state legislature. When the Anglo-American War of 1812 broke out, he founded the 21st United States Infantry Regiment
21st Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 21st Infantry Regiment is a United States Army infantry regiment.-Lineage:*Constituted 3 May 1861 in the Regular Army as the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry*Organized 20 May 1862 at Fort Hamilton, New York...
in August 1812. Most of the Regiment's soldiers came from Massachusetts and Maine. Soldiers from the regiment took part in several battles including York
Battle of York
The Battle of York was a battle of the War of 1812 fought on 27 April 1813, at York, Upper Canada . An American force supported by a naval flotilla landed on the lake shore to the west, defeated the defending British force and captured the town and dockyard...
and Sacketts Harbor
Battle of Sackett's Harbor
The Second Battle of Sacket's Harbor or simply the Battle of Sacket's Harbor, took place on 29 May 1813, during the War of 1812. A British force was transported across Lake Ontario and attempted to capture the town, which was the principal dockyard and base for the American naval squadron on the lake...
. Ripley commanded them at the Battle of Crysler's Farm
Battle of Crysler's Farm
The Battle of Crysler's Farm, also known as the Battle of Crysler's Field, was fought on 11 November 1813, during the Anglo-American War of 1812. A British and Canadian force won a victory over an American force which greatly outnumbered them...
.
Early in 1814, Ripley was promoted to Brigadier General. (Lieutenant Colonel James Miller
James Miller (general)
James Miller was a member of the United States House of Representatives from New Hampshire, the first Governor of Arkansas Territory, and a Brigadier General in the United States Army during the War of 1812....
, late of the 4th US Infantry Regiment was appointed to succeed him in command of the 21st Infantry.) Ripley was appointed to command a brigade (including the 21st Infantry) in Major General Jacob Brown
Jacob Brown
Jacob Jennings Brown was an American army officer in the War of 1812. His successes on the northern border during that war made him a hero. In 1821 he was appointed commanding general of the U.S. Army and held that post until his death.-Early life:Born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Jacob Jennings...
's Left Division on the Niagara River
Niagara River
The Niagara River flows north from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. It forms part of the border between the Province of Ontario in Canada and New York State in the United States. There are differing theories as to the origin of the name of the river...
. At the Battle of Lundy's Lane
Battle of Lundy's Lane
The Battle of Lundy's Lane was a battle of the Anglo-American War of 1812, which took place on 25 July 1814, in present-day Niagara Falls, Ontario...
, Ripley's brigade captured and held the British guns until the American withdrawal. However, he was blamed by Brown for losing the guns during the withdrawal and later demanded a court martial to clear his name.
He briefly commanded the division during the Siege of Fort Erie
Siege of Fort Erie
The Siege of Fort Erie was one of the last and most protracted engagements between British and American forces during the Niagara campaign of the American War of 1812...
after Brown was wounded at Lundy's Lane, but was superseded by Brigadier General Edmund Pendleton Gaines. He was conspicuous in the repulse of a British assault on 16 August, and in an American sortie on September 17, in which he was wounded.
Ripley was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the precursor to the Medal of Honor for his wartime service. He left the army in 1820 to enter his career in politics. He was the subject of a United States Supreme Court decision U.S. v Ripley which was decided in 1833. As a result of this decision, Ripley owed the United States a sum of money that he had expended while serving as a Major General by brevet. The building involved in the lawsuit is the oldest building in Uptown New Orleans
His efforts during the war were recognized by the renaming of village of Staunton, Ohio to Ripley, Ohio
Ripley, Ohio
Ripley is a village in Brown County, Ohio, United States, along the Ohio River 50 miles southeast of Cincinnati. The population was 1,745 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, in his honor. Other places named after him are Ripley County, Indiana
Ripley County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 26,523 people, 9,842 households, and 7,273 families residing in the county. The population density was 59 people per square mile . There were 10,482 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile...
, Ripley County, Missouri
Ripley County, Missouri
Ripley County is a county located in the Ozarks of Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 13,509. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 13,485. The largest city and county seat is Doniphan...
, and Ripley, New York
Ripley, New York
Ripley is a town on Lake Erie in the westernmost part of Chautauqua County, New York, USA. The population was 2,636 at the 2000 census. The town was named after General Eleazer Wheelock Ripley. There are no incorporated villages in the town, but there is one CDP: Ripley.- History :Ripley was...
.