Brown was born in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania on 11 December 1841. He enlisted into the 50th Pennsylvania Infantry on 9 September 1861. While in that battalion he was promoted to Sergeant and went on to earn the Medal of Honor for capturing the battle flag of the 47th Virginia Infantry during the Battle of Globe Tavern on 19 August 1864. He was subsequently promoted to 1st Lieutenant and then captain in command of his company, having fought throughout the war. He mustered out of service on 30 July 1865. The flag he captured is on display at the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond, Virginia.