Howard commanded the 3rd Regiment of Foot again, under the Duke of Cumberland, at the Battle of Falkirk Muir in January 1746 and the Battle of Culloden in April 1746 during the Jacobite Rebellion and was accused of treating the defeated highlanders unduly harshly. He then returned to the continent and fought at the Battle of Lauffeld in July 1747. He succeeded his father as colonel of the 3rd Regiment of Foot in August 1749. He went on to take part in the Raid on Rochefort in September 1757 and, having been promoted to major-general on 24 January 1758, he commanded a brigade, under the Marquess of Granby, at the Battle of Warburg in July 1760 during the Seven Years' War. He was promoted to lieutenant-general on 14 March 1761.