Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-10-23


baltimore, Oct. i5.-The funeral of Colon rl
Howard Will take place this morning at ten o.
,loch, from his late residence, Belvidere.
The following hssty sketch Of his life-of which
the youth was dedicated to the service Of his coun
t'y in arms, and the later days were speut amidst
the respect of his neigbbos. and in the confidence
OF tie most venerable names that distinguish our
bitory, may not be wholly uninteTesiing at the
iY9Urnt when we about TO consign him 10 the
tomb.
JouN EAGER HowARD was BON on the .th Of
June 1852, in Baltimore County, in this state His
grandfather, Joshua Howard, an Ensli-lman by
birth, having, while yet very young, left ms "a
theirs house In the vicinity OF Manchester To ioin
the army OF the Duke of York, subsequently James
H. during Monmou;hs insuuection, was after.
lis sfrail TO encounter his parents displea-ure
and came to seek his fortune in America. This
was in the year 1866 SO lie Obtained a grant
of he land in Baltimore County, un which Col
Howard was born. aud " hch is still in the family
and married Miss Joanna O'CanOl. whose father
hai lately emisrsted from Ireland. Cornelius one
of his sons by this lady, and father Of the subject
Ui this sketch, married Miss Ruth Eager the
granddaughter OF George Eager, whose estate ad-
Joined, and now makes considerable part OF this
city. The EageTs CANE from England probably
soon after the Charter to Lord Baltimore bu, Va.
records aft I'd little Information prior to IGGS when
the estate near baltimore purchased.
John Eager Howard not educated for any pari-
cuiar profession, lF9s determined TO that 81 arms
hy the circumstances of country. One OF the
hrst measures OF defence adopted by the colonies
against the mother country, was the assemblare of
bodies Of the militia, termed flying camps One
OF these was formed in MAJ ylaad in 1916, and Mr.
Howard was appoioed to CIptancy in the resi
ment OF Col. J. Carvil Hail. His commission
sSnei 10y Matthew Tlghman, the President of the
Convention of Marylsnd, is dated The 18Th of June
i776, few days after he had completed his TWEEN
ty"iour'h year This corps dismissed, how
ever, In the December Of the same year, Congress
having required OF each of The states 10 furnish
CERTAIN portion Of regular troops, as more effect
i've system of defence. On the organization of the
seven regiments which to be furnished by Ma
Iyland, Captain Howard, who had been retained b,
TIE wish OF the Con- ni-AioucIs empowered TO az
point officers, rather than his own, was promoted
60 Majority ia of lien, the Fourth, undo,
his 70, meT commander, Col. Hall IIis con,u,i,-
sion is dted the I3th OF April, i7f7 o.: tie Iii
OF June, l1Is, lie was appointed Lieutenant Colo
mel OF The FItIli, sld IN the following spring lie
was transferred to the SIKH and finally after the
battle OF iobkir'a Hill, he succeeded to the COM
mand OF the Sec, nd, III Consequence of The death
Of Lieutenant Colonel Ford, who never recovered
Of a wound received IN that battle.
Of the sefv;ces Of Colonel Howard during these
yeus, and throughout the war, we have not limits,
nor it rs necessary to speak. In The chyalIous and,
hazardous operations of Greene in the South he
WAS one OF his most cicient and conspicuous CO.
abiIiors That gallant General, an exact di,c.ii,,-
inator of h:c:it, pr nOuncei bin az good an ciicsr
ds tie world Afforded to have the best disDosi.- \
iior and conespGnde ability, TO promote the
,eryice and 10 have conferred great obligations on
himself, and greater on the public. {" lie de
serves" said Greene, " statue OF gold, no less
,han Roman and Gyecan heroes" - At the bat.
tie of Cowpsns," says Lee, lie seized The crit
zeal moment. and tUTned the fortune OF the day
JIa was alike conspicuous, though not alike sue
eessiul, at Guiiiord and the Euaws and at all
tines, and on all OCCASION, eminenuy USEFUL -
Resides the battles just mentioned, he in the
engagements oil White Plains OF Gcrnan.ogyn OF
Monmouth, Camden, HoLkick's Hill, and Others
wiich may be- known TO our readers. Having been
tsdined To the iHianiTy service, lie always enc
pl0y in that line and distinguished for push
!ng into close battle. and with fixed bayonei an
honorable evidence Of his in'repiiy, az it is we'll
snown how seldom b'yonets arc actually croJsed
IN battle, even with the most veteran ,roop- II !
was at Cowpens that This mode of lighting was re-
sorted to for the first time in The war and the
Maryland line was 30 frequently afterwards put 10
tlis service, almost to annihilate that q liant
corps. Ia this battle Colonel Howard, az one !
lime had in his hands the swod, Of seven oi!icers
who bad surrendered to him personally. During
the engagement, having ordered some movement oil
one OF the flank companies, it mistaken by the
men for order 10 retreat, While the line was
an the act Of falling back. Morgan rode up to him
excaiming, &c that the day was lost. " Look AT
thai lne,' replied Colonel Howard "inen who
can retreat in such order, are not beaten" Nor
gan then pointed out position which he ordered
Lin TO take, end make stand but hitting HE
men, and facing them about, he poured In a sudden
fire on the enemy, and then, on his own tesponsi-
b.lily, dashed on them with the bsyoRet. Il was
this occasion that he saved the life Of the Fri,
'sh general, O'Hara, whom he founl ringing to
his s,iriup, and claiming quarter. OTIsra aher-
wards addressed TO HIN several letters, thanlliag
dim for his life.
Colonel Howard continued in bis mmand iii
ne army was disbandsd when he retired 10 his pa
irimonisl estate near this city lie soon after
married Margaret Chew, The daughter of Benjamin
Chew. Of Philadelphia a lady whose couitgous
manners and elegant hospitality will long be re-
hembere1 BY the society Of this place, Of which
ell as Of the best company throughout The
country, her houye was the gay and easy resort
ia November, 1883, Colonel II jwarl vas chosen
he Governor Of Maryland, which post he filed
inf three years and having in ths autumn OF
1875, been elected 10 the Seosts Of the Unuedi
> stes, TO hl the vacancy occasioned By the re.
sgnation OF Mr.. Potts, he was. tie SINE sessi1n
chosen iof ne iuil term Of service, Which egp'red
w The 4ih % March. ISJ3
The fortunate sItI.ti u of Colonel TTOvafd's ss-
ate, in the immsdIsis vicinity ri Baltimore. no'
only placed bin shove The wsu, which has pursue.
,.is old age oi TOO many Of ogr veterans. ilt was
NE fOundauOn Of subsequent opuience. The in
considerable ,ovn Which, al The close q The war
nsmhere1 ess than ten Thousand souls, has since.
irr ne a icrcts r' hsi lir'v, which 10 t'fsd