Organizing The New Army

 The Secretary of War Eustis, desiring Lieut. Col. Macomb, to assist him in organizing the new Army, called him from his duties as Chief Engineer for the Southern States, and appointed him, on the 28th April, 1812, Adjutant General at the seat of Government. In this momentous exigency, he was charged with the most important trusts. Every thing was to be remoulded and cast into a warlike frame." [Source]

West Pointers, Heroism And Daring

Source

Upon his [Alexander Macomb's] arrival at the seat of government, he found that the corps to which he belonged had been disbanded, but that he had been retained, and attached to the 1st infantry, with the rank of first lieutenant. At the same time authority had been given to raise a corps of engineers...----which corps, when organized, was to constitute the Military Academy.  ....he was transferred to that corps, as a first lieutenant, in October, 1802.

This was the beginning of an institution, which has since made the world ring, with the heroism and daring of the gallant officers whose military character and education were there formed and acquired. [Source]

One Of The Great Rules Of Strategy

General Jackson Statue In New Orleans

"The battle of Plattsburg; a study in and of the war of 1812...General Macomb.... :

The same idea [as the British had before the Battle of New Orleans, to separate the country at the Mississippi River], combined with one of the great rules of strategy, was back of the battle of Plattsburg. The British believed — and had indeed good grounds for so believing — that if they won at Plattsburg, defeating both the fleet on Lake Champlain and the land forces, they could divide as regards military operations.

Captain Richard's Take On General Macomb

The reviewer of "Memoir of Alexander Macomb, By George H. Richards" thought it "wholly worthless."  "It appears to us that Captain Richards has produced either a very bitter satire on his hero, or a very tame and ineffectual panegyric."

Source

Perhaps Captain Richards had "issues."  From the life of William Beaumont:

"Of Beaumont's personal courage there can be no question. He was nearly involved in a duel with Captain Richards of the Artillery Corps, and indeed sent Richards a challenge, but the matter was smoothed over by mutual friends without bloodshed."

General Orders At Plattsburgh

Extracts From General Orders Issued By GEN. ALEX. MACOMB

At Plattsburgh, September 14, 1814 

"The Governor General of the Canadas and Commander in Chief of the British forces in North America, having invaded the Territories of the United States, with the avowed purpose of conquering the country as far as Crown Point and Ticonderoga, there to winter his forces with a view to further conquest, brought with him a powerful army and flotilla,--an army amounting to fourteen thousand men, completely equipped and accompanied by a numerous train of artillery and all the engines of war,--men who had conquered in France, Spain, Portugal, the Indies, and in various parts of the Globe, and led by the most distinguished Generals of the British army.  A flotilla also, superior to ours in vessels, men, and guns, had determined at once to crush us both by land and by water."

"The Governor General * * * appeared before the village of Plattsburgh, with his whole army, and on the eleventh, the day fixed for the general attack, the flotilla arrived."

From A List Of Pensioners...

Major General Alexander Macomb

Macomb's background from Wikipedia:

Source

The subject of this memoir was born at Detroit, on the 3d of April, 1782. Though not, like one of the heroes of antiquity, born on tapestry representing the scenes of the Iliad, he may yet almost literally be said to have been nursed in field and fortress, and rocked by the storms of war. Detroit, at this time, was a military post. [Source]

Court Martial Of Vindictiveness?

Such was the claim of the officer who was the subject of said court martial, General James Wilkinson.

Source

General Wilkinson's take on the reason for his court martial taken from his Memoirs of my own times, Volume 3, by James Wilkinson, Printed 1816:

"I [General James Wilkinson] had been arrested by President Madison, to gratify the personal policy, and vindictive passions, of his secretary of war, General Armstrong; but when I demanded Generals Scott and Macomb, as material witnesses in the cause, they were refused under pretexts of public duty..." .

A relevant document (from Fold3), "War Department, May 23, 1814," to General Wilkinson from Secretary of War Armstrong:

A list of witnesses from the same file:

Battle Of Lacolle Mills

Source

Pending the reply to his request for a court martial, [General] Wilkinson determined to strike a blow at Montreal as a last proof of his military ability. The road to the city was barred by small garrisons at St Johns and Isle Aux Noix and by outposts at Lacadie and Lacolle.

On March 30, Wilkinson crossed the boundary and made his way through the deep snow to the mill.

While the Americans were making this assault, two companies of British troops arrived from Isle Aux Noix whereupon the British commander made a vigorous sortie against Bissel and Smith, but after several desperate charges the British were repulsed.

General Eleazar Wheelock Ripley

A biography of the General:  Eleazar Wheelock Ripley of the War of 1812..."  Also here.

Source

After protracted and severe suffering. General Ripley so far recovered as to be able to travel, and started for Albany, where he arrived in January, 1815. During his long prostration, he received the constant and unremitted attention of his wife to whom he was married in 1811, and who was the daughter of the Reverend Thomas Allen, of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, a distinguished Revolutionary patriot.

The announcement of peace, which soon followed, rendered his presence unnecessary upon the frontier, and as soon as returning health permitted, he demanded and put in motion a Court of Inquiry as to his military conduct, which had been missrepresented and traduced.

The current of public opinion flowed strongly in his favor. Congress voted him a gold medal, for his gallant conduct at Chippewa, Lundy's Lane and Fort Erie, testimonials of esteem on every hand reminded him that his countrymen appreciated his services and at last, even Brown himself, whatever may have been his mental reservations and secret animosity, felt constrained to contribute the following letter to his vindication:

Upon the return of peace, the army was reduced to a peace establishment and was re-organized. Two Major Generals, Jackson and Brown, and four Major Generals by brevet, Macomb, Gaines, Scott and Ripley were retained in the service. 

The Genealogy of the Ripley Family here.

General Alexander Macomb, Samuel Champlain's Surety

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AT THE SECOND SESSION ...

...Major General Macomb became one of the sureties of Samuel Champlain, lieutenant of artillery, in a bond to the United States as a paymaster of the army;...a suit has been instituted against the memorialist and is now pending against him in the name of the United Stales for the recovery of the sum of $10,000. 

A character reference:

Source

General Alexander Macomb

Source

Alexander Macomb was born in Detroit on April 3, 1782, though he moved to New York and was schooled in New Jersey.

When however the war of 1812 broke out, he asked to be transferred to the artillery because there would be little opportunity of distinguishing himself in his old corps [of Engineers]. He was appointed a Colonel and given the command of the third regiment. ...in November 1812, Macomb was able to join the army on the northern frontier with his new command. Here he distinguished himself at Niagara and Fort George. In January, 1814, he was raised to the rank of Brigadier. The charge of the country bordering on Lake Champlain was now entrusted to him and it was here that he won the battle of Plattsburgh, one of the most gallant victories of the war. [Source]

He died on June 25, 1841.