The National tribune., 1910-04-21
PENSION FOR MRS. HOWARD.

wife of the deceased General, pension
of $500 month was introduced in the
Senate by Senator Frye, of Maine. who
was n classmate of Gen. Howard at
Bowdoin College. The Senate Commit
| tee on Pensions has cut this amount to
| $50 a month. and included Mrs. How
ard with 25 others in general bill. 1t
certainly seems that the widow of a
| man who rendered such distinguished
service to the country, not only in the
| field during the war of the rebellion
and in the Indian Wars subsequently,
but in civil life, should receive a more
| liberal recognition by the Government
for the last few years of her life. We
cannot state this case more strongly
| from our good comrade, Gen. T. S.
Peck. of Burlington. Vt. who is fami-
! liar with all the circumstances:
Il may add that Mrs. Howard is the
! last of the widows of our leading COM
maHderS; in fact. the last commander
| of separate army, and after "a years
service lay the side of her distinguished
husband, except WREN separated by war
and Indian campaigns. she has reached
the advanced age of nearly so years in
a feeble. indeed almost helpless. Condi-
ton. with but 4 small private income
of not over 5000 per anuum and her
home. which is wholly inadequate for
her support. as, owing to her ili-health.
ii is necessary for her to have a nurse
continuously Some tire ago, under
stand. AIRS Howard had a stroke of
paralysis. and has since required con-
slant aid and attendance. and her con-
dition is really pitful. At most she has
put few years to live and needs speedy
relief. and ] hope she may receive as
large pension as possible, at least
500 per month. rs then the remaining
days of the widow of one of our great
est patriots and soldiers would he those
of comfort and peace. Furthermore, it
would please thousands who loved Gen.
Howard. not only for his army service,
but for his noble work since the war.
and who would be deeply pained did
they know of the present circumstances
of his Wife
1t would seem that nothing should be
necessary to add to this statement of
Gen. Peck's to convince Congress of the
justice and decency of Immediately pro-
viding for this venerable woman, who
suffered so much for her country. The
statement is still stronger fortified by
one from Mr.. H. S. Howard, one of the
Generals sons, in the Burlington Free
Press:
1T is hard for many to remember
arl' OFF
GERS of equal high command and re-
Spopsihilities have all passed away, that
Mrs. Howard. besides being separated
from her husband during Indian wars
from 1855 to 1879 and during the civil
war. enabled him by her loyalty, devo-
ton and self-sacridce to do a great and
varied work, and especially that of sue
cor to the negro race thru the Freed
mems bureau In this work alone Gen
Howard expended for the benefit of the
newly freed people over s12, ,000, 900 for
the Government. Mrs. Howard was a
tower Of strength to her husband thru
these days Of false accusations and trial
which swept away not only the Gener-
ais financial reserves. but all of her
property owned at the time. Mrs. How
ard has outlived almost all of her init
male friends and associates of her ac-
tive life. which Included Gen. and Mrs
Grant Gcn./and Mrs. Sherman, Senator
diiI -'ljS. OIuttGg, oeHdlOT POiand, OF
Vermont. and other leaders of those
stirring times.
In 1874 Gen. Howard began again. |
and by writing and other labor outside |
of his salary. paid his debts and kept |
up his modest life insurance. which was |
all ne was able TO leave to his widow.
at WIS hoped that the Senate COM
mittee would recognize this long SER
vice and show their gratitude by grant |
ing my mother such a pension as would |
supplement her small income and en-
able ner to continue her life In her
home here left 20 her by my father, but |
| regret TO say that in her feeble condi- |
ton, requiring extra care and assistance |
as she does, this viii be impossible with |
her slender means and the compare |
lively small pension. Therefore. unless |
this action of Congress is changed we |
will be obliged TO offer her homestead |
on Summit street for sale"
It must be remembered that Gen. !
Howard was a tower of strength in the |
dark days OF the wars beginning. He
was Regular Army officer. and while |
many of his brothers were hesitant or !
actually going over to the South he was !
decided and sta!wart in his adherence |
to the Union. His ardent loyalty was !
from tne very first, ano |
he left the Regular Army when officers |
were refused permission to command |
State troops. in order to become Col /
onel of the Sd Me. which he led with |
gallantry at Bull Run He |
lost his arm while in command of a |
brigade on the Peninsula, but was back |
on duty as soon as possible. and was !
promoted to division commander and I
then to that of the Eleventh Corps. He
received the unusual honor of the |
thanks Of Congress for his action at |
Gettysburg. and then, transferred to
the West, he commanded the Fourth
Corps until Sherman promoted him to
the command of the Army of the Ten
nessee. During the march to the sea
and thru the Carolinas he commanded !
one wing OF Sherman's army Such un-
usual service to the country should meet |
the generous recognition of Congress.
FRED GRANT A VETERAN.
The efforts of Comrade Mcdonald