Background
Howe was born in Standish, Maine, in 1818. He was the son of Dr. Ebenezer Howe, a native of Massachusetts, and Catherine Spring, of Conway, N. H. He was descended from John Howe who settled at an early date in Sudbury, Massachussets.
Howe was born in Standish, Maine, in 1818. He was the son of Dr. Ebenezer Howe, a native of Massachusetts, and Catherine Spring, of Conway, N. H. He was descended from John Howe who settled at an early date in Sudbury, Massachussets.
He began his education with the intention of going to college, and in 1836-37 taught at the Standish Academy, but he later became interested in military affairs and through the governor of the state secured an appointment to West Point, where he entered July 1, 1837. He was graduated in the class of 1841, eighth in a class of fifty-two, and was commissioned second lieutenant of the 4th Artillery.
From 1843 to 1846 he was detailed at West Point as assistant professor in mathematics, but when the Mexican War began he was sent to his regiment, reaching Vera Cruz with Scott's army. He was present at the siege of this city and took part in the more important battles of the war. He was brevetted captain, August 20, 1847, for gallant and meritorious service at Contreras and Churubusco. After the war he was stationed in various parts of the country, especially in the South and West, then from 1856 to 1860 he was for the most part in garrison at the artillery school at Fortress Monroe. During John Brown's raid, he was sent with his battery to Harper's Ferry, where he remained on duty until peace was restored.
Upon the outbreak of the Civil War Howe reported to McClellan and served through the West Virginia campaign. Then, after duty in Washington, D. C. , he went with McClellan to Yorktown and took part in the Peninsular campaign. He later served in the siege of Yorktown and in the battles of Williamsburg, Manassas, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Marye's Heights, Salem, and Gettysburg. For gallant and meritorious service at Malvern Hill, where his division held an important position in the defense, he was later brevetted major in the regular army. For similar services at Salem Heights, Va. , he was brevetted lieutenant-colonel in the regular army, and for his conduct at Rappahannock Station, Va. , he received a brevet as colonel in the regular army. Subsequently he was engaged at Mine Run and afterward put in command of the large artillery depot at Washington, D. C. , where he served from March 2, 1864, to August 2, 1866.
When Lincoln was assassinated, Howe was one of the guard of honor which stood watch over the remains at the White House and later accompanied the body to Springfield. On his return to Washington, he was made a member of the commission that tried the conspirators. In 1866 he was a member of the Artillery Board and, with General Hardie, appointed inspector of all arms and military stores in the forts and arsenals of this country. Later he was made a member of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. On June 30, 1882, while stationed at Fort Adams, R. I, commanding his old regiment, the 4th Artillery, he was retired from active service. He died at Cambridge, Massachussets, and was buried at Mt. Auburn Cemetery.
He was married, in 1859, to Elizabeth Law Mehaffey of Gettysburg, Pa. They had six children.
