Howard

3, 1871, and in the Detroit Daily Post of the same
date; R. B. Ross, The Early Bench and Bar of Detroit
(1007): Am. Biog. Hist. . . . Mich. Vol. (1878), pt.
I, p. 79; H. M. Dilla, The Politics of Mich., 1865-78
(1912); W. C. Harris, Public Life of Zachariah Chan-
dler (1917) ; Life of Zachariah Chandler (1880), by the
members of the Post and Tribune staff, Detroit. The
Burton Hist Coll. in the Detroit Public Lib. has thirty
bound volumes of manuscript letters, etc., by Jacob M.
Howard.] J.O.K.

HOWARD, JOHN EAGER (June 4, 1752-
Oct. 12, 1827), Revolutionary soldier, was born
at "Belvedere," in Baltimore County, Md., the
son of Cornelius and Ruth (Eager) Howard.
His ancestor, Joshua Howard, served in the army
of James II at the time of Monmouth's Rebel-
lion (1685), and soon after that event emigrated
to America, receiving a grant of land in Balti-
more County. Cornelius Howard, a planter, gave
his son a good education. John served through-
out the Revolutionary War, starting as captain
in the "Flying Camp." He was commissioned
major of the 4th Maryland Regiment on Feb. 22,
1777, lieutenant-colonel of the 5th, Mar. n, 1778,
and was transferred to the 2nd Maryland, on Oct.
22, 1779. He fought at the battles of White
Plains, Germantown, Monmouth, and Camden.
At the battle of Cowpens, Jan. 17, 1781, he was
particularly distinguished, leading a charge at
the critical moment of the conflict. For his con-
duct in this battle he received a medal and the
Thanks of Congress. He had a prominent part at
Guilford Court House and Hobkirk's Hill, and
at Eutaw Springs, Sept. 8, 1781, he again led a
spirited bayonet charge, and was wounded.

After the war Howard held various offices.
He was a delegate to the Continental Congress,
governor of Maryland, 1788-91, and United
States senator, 1796-1803. President Washing-
ton tendered him in 1795 the position of secre-
tary of war, which he declined; and in 1798 at
the time of the prospective war with France, he
was recommended by the President for appoint-
ment as a brigadier-general. In the War of 1812
he raised a corps of veterans (which, however,
was not called into service) and his patriotism
was outspoken during the threatened attack on
Baltimore in 1814. He was a leader of the Fed-
eralists, and candidate for vice-president in their
last unsuccessful campaign in 1816. Howard was
very wealthy, owning much land now covered by
the city of Baltimore. He had married, May 18,
1787, Peggy Oswald Chew, the daughter of Chief
Justice Benjamin Chew [g.v.], of Pennsylvania,
and the Howard mansion was the scene of much
hospitality. Howard was highly regarded by his
superior officers Washington and Greene, and by
the public, and his reputation for chivalry and
valor has come down in the lines of "Maryland,

Howard

my Maryland." A statue in his honor was erect-
ed in Baltimore in 1904. Benjamin Chew How-
ard [#.z>,] was his son.

IA Memoir of the Late Col John Eager Howard
(1863), repnnted from the Baltimore Gazette of Oct
51' X?27y ,M> PC A^ews Tercentenary History of
Maryland (1925), vol. I; Henry Lee, Memoirs of the
Wary, the Southern Dept. of the U. S. (1812), I, 407-
oo ; Elizabeth Read, memoir in Mag. of Am. Hist.,

2V-?1 *.?•.?• ?U(*holz> Ow. of Md. (1908) ; C.
P. Keith, The Provincial Councillors of Pa. (1883).]

E.K.A.

HOWARD, OLIVER OTIS (Nov. 8, 1830-
Oct 26, 1909), soldier, was born at Leeds, Me.
His father, Rowland Bailey Howard, a well-to-
do farmer, was descended from John Howard,
one of the founders of Bridgewater, Mass. He
died in 1839. His widow, Eliza M. (Otis) How-
ard, remarried two years later. The boy lived
with his uncle, John Otis, at Halkwell, Me. He
attended Monmouth Academy, a school at North
Yarmouth, and Bowdoin College, where, sup-
porting himself by teaching during vacations, he
graduated in 1850. Entering West Point that
summer, he graduated fourth in his class in 1854.
After brief service at the Watervliet and Ken-
nebec arsenals, he was made chief of ordnance of
the department of Florida, and a year later, pro-
moted to first lieutenant, he returned to West
Point as instructor in mathematics, remaining
there until June 1861, when he resigned to be-
come colonel of the 3rd Maine Regiment. He
was promoted to brigadier-general of volunteers
in September 1861 and major-general in 1862,
and in 1864 became a brigadier-general in the
regular army with brevet rank of major-general.
In Virginia Howard participated in the first
battle of Bull Run and the Peninsular campaign,
losing his right arm at Fair Oaks. Quickly back
in the field, he commanded the rear guard at
Second Bull Run, was present at South Moun-
tain, Antietam, Fredericksburg — where he com-
manded a division — Chancellorsville, and Get-
tysburg. Although his personal bravery at
Chancellors ville has never been disputed, the better
military critics assign to him much responsibility
for the Union reverse in the first day's fighting.
He was in command of the XI Corps, composed
largely of Germans who, because he had dis-
placed General Sigel, did not like him, and were,
in addition, not impressed with his reputation as
a great Biblical soldier, "the Havelock of the
Army/' Holding the right, he was in spite of
warning surprised by Jackson and routed. Liver-
more accuses him of "persistent negligence and
blind credulity" (post, p. 151, passim). Bige-
low (post, p, 297) admits his neglect and dis-
regard of orders ; and Hooker charged him with
disobeying an order, which Howard always de-

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