New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-10-21


tic There a.ill be many changes in the Army
this wear many officers will be retired, nut the
,qlthdrawal of General Howard from active duty
Is for many reasons the most important from
the fact that he outranks all officers except Major
General John NJ Schohed. his only equal being
Maior-lieneral Nelson \. Miles. OF the Department
of the Missouri, who will probably succeed zen
cral Howard az commander Of the department OF
the Atlantic Furthermore, the retirement Of Cen
cral Howard will cause vacancy In the grace
~ r,,ior-gencral to which BriSadier-General
Thomas II Ruger Of the Department OF the Pa
cnc viii succeed ii HIS claim is respected.
oliver o. Howard vas admitted as a cadet in
IN. United states Military Academy at West Point
ON Sent. rlher l. 1850 and was graduated No. 1 in
class Of fortv-six on July J. 1854. He was stationed
~ Waterylict Arsenal. with the rank OF second
Lieutenant for year. and then was transferred
20 Kennebec Arsenal az commander during the
Seminole Indian hostilities IN Florida IN loo'' ne
was chief Of ordnance on the stan OF HeheraI
Uarney and from 1851 to sol was assistant profes-
sor If r,athematics at the West Point Academy.
H.. resig. ed his position to take command OF the
81 Maine Regiment Of Volunteers HIS comin's-
sion AS colonel bears the date OF May y 1851 ana
bv September Of the same year he was a major
general % volunteers. In the mean time ne had
been twice severely wounded. and lost his right
arm, During the Pennsylvania campaign. June TO
s,n,ouber lS63 he commanded the 18th Corps
Of the Army Of the Potomac. ana was hlshIy
commended by General Mead for choosing ana oc
clpyinr at the battle % Gettysburg the position
on Cemetery Ridge. FOR which action ne also re-
celved the thanks OF Congress.
Maior-General Howard was commissioner briga-
dier-Cieneral in the regular army on December H.
1874 ami on March 49, 1885, received his Brevet
N,t,r-o;,neraship FOR gallant and meritorious ser
vices a, the battle OF Ezra Church and during the
campaign against Atlanta Ga
After the close Of the war during the hrst year
i'm
,pnpoini.d Commissioner OF the Bureau OF Refugees
Freedmen and abandoned Lands, and remained In
that capacity until June So 1872. The mismanage-
nent Of this department-the Freefmans Bureau
during the time that General Howard was az It's
head IS a matter ot history. and 1t Is the one thing
,,h.ch for a time threatened 10 be remembered 10
his di,rr.llt But General Howard has lived down
,h. adverse criticism and refers now with pleasure
and pril. t. his acts while At the head OF mat de-
partm,nt
Iu February. 1872. no appointed Special Indian
Commissioner to the hostile Apaches Of New-MeXico
and Arizona. and in September. 1874. was assigned
to TN, department OF the columbia. Indian lighting
from ;hen until January. 1881. when he was assigned
t. the command of the Department OF West Point
anI superintendent Of the United States Military
Academy. had not changed General Howards IDEAS
a. to the possibility OF Outstanding the Indians.
and despite his many encounters with them he is
stl OF the opinion that under the proper influences
by the employ mrnt OF correc; methods, much good
IN the Indian may be developed.
General Howard came 70 Governors Island from
the Department Of the Platte. 10 which he was as
signed in jay. 1852.
The foregoing Is N brief the history of o. o. How
ards military career. which. II dealt with In detail
would iii a large volume The empty sleeve atte'tS
his bravery. while numerous gifts and honorable
mentions show that his services We're appreciated
"I", him who merits # bear the palm; 1t is thine,
is the inscription in Latin beautiful sword pre-
seu:e cd % raj
battle OF Bull Run. Another heavy sword was voted
TO the General at the c,ose of the war in contest
at Washington. u. G.. to decide who was the most
popular commanding officer.
70 show how the negroes look upon the charges
which were brought against him in the matter OF
the Freedman's Bureau General Howard likes to
speak OF piano and piano cover which the ne
groes presented to him when ne charges were mad
men shall revile you. and prosecute you ana say
all manner Of EVIL things against you. falsely FOR
one OF the Generals biographers. in speaking of
General Howard Will long be remembered both
by those who were with him in campaign, and by
those who have encountered him under more peace
oilicers in the service lie took his stand this
question white sti cadet at West Point in
paper in when he discussed the relative advantages
Of the martinez system as contrasted with the pa.
,ernal attitude Young Howard insisted that a
practice OF the latter policy was certain 10 secure
tn most satisfactory results and ms practice IN
formy To his other convictions =,
General Howard received the degree OF A. NJ
from Bowdoin College in 1883 Waterye College,
Maine. made him an LI'p In 1865 In the same
s SSG OF Goaic nU %ss ana n 1855 on
third Iii. f. came for the General from the Get
tyshurg Thcolosical seminary, The French Coy,
Honor in lSi ami he has received other degrees
The nrld o. literature and science But there is
title. higher in the estimation OF General Howard
rather be- known AS MIrE ,h ,rsstan nro
fla hNs NDrk he -,
Christianity since his boyhood; His diary and
letters abound In relgious illusions. and ming ed
with his hopes to be unfa.tering in his work as a
soldier are petitions that he may continue active
His diary while he was Instructor at West Point
gives evdcnce Of The young ocers i TeS'T bus
thoughts tending:
Friday. Oct . lS7-Whatt, Is wanting? More
listened with pleasure to things said about lady
How far my spirit gets from my itedeemer; To-
day went to the Solders Hospital and nv VI, VISITED
Of Hlyi:and who has the go consumption talkei
tried to draw him TO the true Saviour But did
not read pray with him He seemed pleased a,
to visit him and bring him things to read
His letters to his wife from the field, his COM com;
ences and show that Christianity is General How
ards predominating Characteristic HIS boundess
charity" says one of his blographers, should be
the made by the
the greatest OF all virtues is charity. and In his
constant effort to inculcate this lesson upon his
mind he has streng thened 1t In himself In his In
terco,rse with his children he has Systematically
endeavored To release them from the misfortune OF
a critical spirit and the subject OF many OF the
children's hours has been this important theme:
II has been the custom OF General and Mrs. Howard
Tor many years to devote the hour succeeding the
evening meal to the children. and Il has never been
neglected. 1t has made the relationship between |
these parents and their children beautiful one |
and dignhed 1t with spiritual significance not |
common in families In all his association with his
children General Howard has, as a natural conse-
quence. impressed upon them the chidlike faith ne