Harvey Brown ( officer ) Harvey Brown ( September 6 , 1795 – March 31 , 1874 ) was an American military officer who fought in the Black Hawk and Seminole Wars , the Mexican - American War and the American Civil War . He was also in command of military forces in New York City and later assisted in putting down the New York Draft Riots in 1863 . His son Harvey E . Brown , Jr . also had a prominent military career as a surgeon and later historian of the U . S . Army Medical Department . Early life and career . Brown was born in Bridgetown ( part of present - day Rahway , New Jersey ) . He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point , New York on July 24 , 1818 , as a second lieutenant of light artillery . He spent the first years of his military career on garrison duty in Boston , Massachusetts and New London , Connecticut as well as commissary duty in St . Augustine , Florida . Upon the reorganization of the U . S . Army in 1821 , Brown was assigned to the 1st United States Artillery and was officially promoted to first lieutenant on August 28 , 1821 . From 1824 to 1825 , he served as an aide - de - camp to Major General Jacob Brown , then commanding general of the U . S . Army , and was assigned to quartermaster duty for three years . In 1831 , Brown was made a captain and participated in the Black Hawk War the following year . Brown also took part in the Second Seminole War as a lieutenant colonel , participating in the Battle of Wahoo Swamp , and was brevetted a major for " gallant conduct " on November 21 , 1836 . Between 1839 and 1841 , he suppressed a series of disputes on the United States - Canadian border . During the Mexican - American War , Brown served as a major under Generals Zachary Taylor and Winfield Scott . He won distinction at the battles of Monterey , Cerro Gordo , Contreras , and the Gate of Belén during the fall of Mexico City , brevetted a lieutenant colonel and colonel in the last two engagements respectively . Involved with military recruitment from 1848 to 1852 , he fought in the Third Seminole War and remained in Florida until 1857 . Brown served in various duties and was Inspector of Artillery prior to the American Civil War . Civil War . In January 1861 , Brown was appointed military commander of Washington , D . C . , and Fort McHenry and remained in this capacity until war broke out four months later . He was initially assigned to the 4th United States Artillery but , declining promotion to brigadier general , he was appointed commanding officer of the 5th United States Artillery on May 14 , 1861 . Placed in command of the expedition to hold Fort Pickens in Confederate held Florida , he successfully defended Santa Rosa Island on October 9 and repulsed an attempt by the enemy to capture the fortress during November 22 – 23 , 1861 . He was brevetted a brigadier general for " gallantry and good conduct during the engagement of November 22 and 23 , 1861 between Fort Pickens and the rebel batteries " and later appointed commander of New York Harbor in April 1862 and full military commander in January 1863 . He remained in New York for over a year and , during the New York Draft Riots , Brown oversaw military operations against the rioters and was especially involved in the final suppression of the rioters . He retired from active duty on August 1 , 1863 , but was brevetted a major general on August 2 , 1866 , for his efforts during the riot . Postbellum life . Brown was awaiting orders from June 29 , 1864 , to November 9 , 1866 , then served as superintendent of the Army recruiting service until April 5 , 1867 . He died at Clifton , New York , and is buried in Hazelwood Cemetery , Rahway , New Jersey .