Albion P. Howe

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Albion Parris Howe
United States of America
Union
Service/branchUnited States Army
Union Army
Years of service1841–1882
Rank Brigadier General
Brevet Major General
Commands held2nd Division, VI Corps
Artillery Depot, Washington, D.C.
4th U.S. Artillery
Battles/warsMexican–American War
American Civil War

Albion Parris Howe (March 13, 1818 – January 25, 1897) was an American officer who served as a Union general in the American Civil War. Howe's contentious relationships with superior officers in the Army of the Potomac eventually led to his being deprived of division command.

Early life and career

Howe was born in Standish, Maine. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1841. After serving in the 4th U.S. Artillery for two years, he taught mathematics at the U.S. Military Academy for three years.

Howe served in the

Harpers Ferry
.

Civil War

At the beginning of the Civil War, Howe served under

62nd New York, and the 93rd, 98th, and 102nd Pennsylvania regiments) Couch's 1st Division, Keyes's IV Corps during the Seven Days Battles, after Peck was promoted to command of Silas Casey's Division of the same corps. Howe received the brevet rank of major in the regular army for his role at the Battle of Malvern Hill. He was promoted to the rank of brigadier general
in the volunteer service on June 11, 1862.

In the subsequent campaigns of the

Mine Run Campaign
.

Howe was removed from command by Maj. Gen.

Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War, claiming Sedgwick spoke to him about retreating to Westminster, Maryland. Sedgwick's testimony before the committee contradicted Howe's without naming him. The committee did not pursue this contradiction.[3] What is clear is that Sedgwick sought the services of Brig. Gen. George W. Getty to replace Howe in command of the 2nd Division.[4]

After leaving the Army of the Potomac, Howe commanded the artillery depot in

.

Postbellum service

Mrs. Elizabeth M. Howe (Cecilia Beaux, 1903)

At the close of the war, Howe served in the honor guard that stood watch over the corpse of

Freedmen's Bureau
in 1865. Howe was mustered out of the volunteer service on July 15, 1866.

Howe retired from the Army on June 30, 1882, at the rank of colonel. He was a veteran companion of the Massachusetts Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. He died in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and is buried there in Mount Auburn Cemetery.[7]

Howe was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Andrew Mahaffey, a superintendent of the Pennsylvania Railroad, and Elizabeth McPherson. They had six children.[8]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Tagg, p. 112.
  2. ^ Hyde, p. 80,
  3. ^ Hyde, p. 83.
  4. ^ Winslow, pp. 141, 145.
  5. ^ Kauffman, n. 471.
  6. ^ Hyde, p. 79.
  7. ^ Eicher, p. 306.
  8. ^ Lot notes of the painting of Elizabeth Howe by Cecilia Beaux Christie's, 2014

References

External links