John Brown of Pittsfield

[2] Brown was a close friend to Yale classmate David Humphreys, who went on to be staff officer in the Continental army, a diplomat, George Washington's private secretary, and one of the Connecticut Wits.

Humphrey's lengthy poem "Address to the Armies of the United States of America" mentions Brown's death as a notable and tragic event in the Revolution.

In March 1775, as a member of the Massachusetts Committee of Correspondence, Brown was sent to Montreal by way of Lake Champlain to meet with Canadians interested in joining the other 13 colonies in their dispute with the British government.

He received support from Thomas Walker and other leading British-American merchants, but concluded, "There is no prospect of Canada sending Delegates to the Continental Congress."

"[4][5] As part of the Pittsfield militia company commanded by Colonel James Easton, Brown participated in the successful surprise attack on Fort Ticonderoga on May 10, 1775.

[6] Allen selected Brown to carry the news of the victory to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, an honor given to a young officer who has distinguished himself.

[7] In his The Natural and Political History of the State of Vermont (1798), Allen's brother Ira added Colonel Seth Warner to the plan.

[9] On October 18, 1775, Brown joined with James Livingston, 50 Americans, and 300 Canadians, to lay siege and capture the British Fort Chambly along with six tons of gun powder, 6000 musket cartridges, and 134 barrels of pork.

"[10] On November 19–20, at Sorel on the St. Lawrence River, Brown forced the surrender of a British fleet of 11sails by exaggerating the size and number of the guns in the American batteries.

But Brown took command of a small regiment made up of those who remained and accompanied General Montgomery to Quebec where they joined with Benedict Arnold in besieging the city.