The Washington times., 1894-10-23
GEN. HOWARD'S RETIREMENT.
In About Two Weeks He win Reach the
Age Limit-His Military Record and
Religious Work

In About Two Weeks He viii Reach the
Age Limit-His Military Record and
Religious Work.
Major Gen. o. o. Howard will retire from
active service on November 8, when he will
have attained his sixty-fourth year. He out
ranks all officers except Major Gen. Scho-
field, his only equal being Major Gen. Miles,
who will probably succeed him in command
OF the Department OF the Atlantic. His re-
tirement. furthermore, will cause a vacancy
in the grade Of major general, to which Brig.
Gen. Thomas III. Reiger will probably sue
ceed.
Oliver o. Howard was admitted as 4 cadet
In the United States Military Academy, at
West Point, on September l. 1850. and was
graduated No. in class OF forty-six on July
l, 1854 From 1857 to 1851 he was assistant
professor os mathematics at West Point
Academy. He resigned his position 10 take
Volunteers. His commission as colonel bears
the date Of May o. 1861, and by September
of the same year ne was maj general of
volunteers. In the meantime he had been
twice severely wounded, and lost his right
arm. During the Pennsylvania campaign.
June to September, 1863 he commanded the
Eleventh Corps Of the Army OF the Potomac
for choosing and occupying, at the battle of
gettysburg the position on Cemetery Ridge,
for which action he also received the thanks
of Congress.
Mai. Gen. Howard was commissioned brig
adler general in the regular Army on Deem
Der q, 1864. and on March 13, 1865. received
his breyet major generalship '-for gallant and
meritorious services az the battle OF Ezra
Church and during the campaign against At
lanta, Ga.
Alter the close OF the war, during the first
year of the era of reconstruction, Gen. How
ard was appointed Commissioner of the BU-
reau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned
Lands. and remained in that capacity until
June 80 1872 The mismanagement of this
department-theF Freedman Bureau-during
the time that Gen. Howard was at its head is
a matter of history, and it is the one thing
which for time threatened to be remembered
to his discredit But Gen. Howard has lived
down the adverse criticism. and refers now
with pleasure and pride TO his acts while at
the head OF that department.
The empty sleeve attests his bravery, while
numerous gifts ald honorable mentions show
that his services were appreciated. Let
him who merits it bear the palm; 1t is thine, y
is the inscription In Latin on a beautiful
sword presented to Gen. Howard by his men
lust after the battle of Bull Run. Another
heavy sword was voted to the general at the
close OF the war IN q Contest dI washington,
d. c. to decide who was the most popular
commanding officer.
To show how the negroes look upon the
charges which were brought against him in
the matter of the Freedman's Bureau, Gen.
Howard likes TO speak of the piano and
piano cover which the negroes presented 10
him when the charges were made. On the
cover is embroidered: blessed are you when
men shall revile you, and persecute ycu, and
say all manner OF evil things against you,
falsely for my sake
Gen. Howard received the degree Of A. NJ.
from Bowdoin College in 1853. Waterville
College. Maine. made him an LID in 1865;
in the same year the degree of LID. was con-
ferred on him by Shurtliff College, Illinois,
and in 1865 q third LID. came for the gen
eral from the Gettysburg Theological Semi
| nary. The French government made him a
Cheyalier Of the Legion of Honor in 1884, and
he has received other degrees and decora-
tions in recognition of work done in the field
of literature and science. But there is title
higher in the estimation OF Gen. Howard than
either military hero or author, and he would
rather be known as a working Christian than
either he has been styled the Christian
hero, and has earned the title by work IN the
cause of Christianity since his boyhoOd. His
diary and letters abound IN religious allU-
sions. and mingled with his hopes 10 be un-
faltering in his work as a soldier are petitions
that he may continue active in the service Of
the Lord.