HOWARD, OLIVER OTIS An Ameri can soldier. He was born in Leeds, Maine: graduated at Bowdoin in 1s5u, and at \\ est Point in 1854; served as chief of ordnance during the Seminole troubles of 1857 ; and was assistant professor of mathematics at West Point from 1857 to 1861. Leaving the Regular Army in June. 1861. he became colonel of the Third Maine Vol unteers, and commanded a brigade in the first battle of Bull Run. He was promoted to be brig adier-general of United States volunteers in Sep tember; participated in the Peninsular cam paign; and in the battle of Fair Oaks (June 1, 1S62) received a wound which necessitated the amputation of his right arm. After a short leave of absence he rejoined the Army of the Potomac: took a prominent part in the battle of Antietam; was promoted to he major-general of volunteers in November; and was engaged in the battle of Fredericksburg (December 13th). In April, 1863, he was placed in command of the Eleventh Army Corps, and as such took a conspicuous part in the battles of Chancellorsville and Get tysburg. He then served in the Chattanooga campaign, taking part in the battle of Chatta nooga, and accompanying Sherman on his march for the relief of Knoxville. From April to Jul', 1864, he commanded the Fourth Army Corps of the Army of the Cumberland. and during the march to the sea and the campahm in the Carolinas commanded the Army of the Tennessee, which constituted the right wing of General Sherman's army. In December, 1864. he was appointed brigadier-general in the
Regular Army, and in March. 1865. was brevetted major-general for services at Ezra Church and during the Atlanta campaign. From May, 1865. to July, 1874, lie was commissioner of the Bureau of Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Within less than three years 1400 schools (not including 70)l Shbliath schools) had been estab lished, and many of the freedmen had been en abled to buy and maintain homesteads of their 0 \VII. (See FREED)MEN'S BUREAU.) In 1874 How ard was placed in command of the Department of the Colombia, and in this capacity conducted the operations against the Nez Perces Indians in 1877, and against the liannocks in 1S7S. He subsequently was superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point (1881 S2), and commanded successively the depart ments of the Platte. of California. and of the East. in 1886 he was appointed major-general in the Regular Army. and in November. 1894. retired from the service. in 1895 he founded the Lincoln Memorial University at Cumberland Gap, Tenn. Besides numerous magazine articles, his publica tions include: Donald's School Days (1879) ; Chief Joseph, or the Vez Pcro's in Peace and ThUr : General Zal hart/ Taylor (1892), in "Great Commanders Series," Isabella of Cas tile ( Istf4 I ; lighting for Humanity; and Henry in the War. Consult Stowe, Men of Our Times (New York, 1868).