CHAPTER XV.

OLIVER O. HOWARD.

Can there be a Christian Soldier?-General Howard's Birth-His Military Education-His Life Before the Rebellion-Resigns in Order to get into the Field -Made Brigadier for Good Conduct at Bull Run-Commands the Eleventh Corps and Joins the Army at Chattanooga-His Services in the Army of the Potoinac-Extreme Calmness on the Field of Battle-Services with Sherman -Sherman's high Opinion of him-Col. Bowman's Admiration of Howard's Christian Observances-Patriotic Services while Invalided at Home-Reproves the Swearing Teamster-Placed over the Freedmen's Bureau-The Central Historic Fact of the War-The Rise of Societies to Help the Freedmen-The Work of the Freedmen's Bureau-Disadvantages Encountered by it, and by General Howard-Results of the Bureau thus far-Col. Bowman's Description of Gen. Howard's Duties-Gen. Sherman's Letter to Gen. Howard on Assuming the Post-Estimate of Gen. Howard's Abilities.

THE spirit of Christ is all love; it seeks only to enhance the highest good of existence, and to give to every being its utmost of happiness. The spirit of war is all wrath. It seeks to destroy by violence, and as fast as possible, whatever and whoever may oppose it. These two principles would seem so diametrically opposed to each other, that no man could be at once a Christian and a soldier, any more than he could ride at once on two horses going in opposite directions, or turn his back on himself, and at once go forward and backward. Indeed, the cases where the two professions have been united are rare, and may probably depend upon some uncommon conjunction of gifts. But there certainly have been such. Colonel Gardiner General Havelock was another; and Gene

was one.

ral Howard, who has been surnamed the Havelock of America, is another.

Oliver Otis Howard was born in Leeds, Maine, Nov. 8th, 1830. His father was a thrifty and independent farmer. The boy lived at home until he was ten, when his father dying, an uncle, Hon. John Otis, of Hallowell, took charge of him. He now attended school, went through Bowdoin College, and then entered the West Point Academy, graduating there in 1854, fourth in general standing of his class. Beginning, as usual, as brevet second lieutenant, he was assigned to the ordnance department; and in 1856 was chief ordnance officer in Florida, during a campaign against the Indians there. He worked steadily on in his profession, and at the beginning of the war was assistant professor of mathematics at West Point, and being desirous to accept the command, of a volunteer regiment from his own State, asked leave from the War Department to do so, and was refused. On this he resigned his commission, and the Governor of Maine, in the end of May, 1861, appointed him colonel of the Third Maine Volunteers, which was the first three years' regiment from that State.

At Bull Run, he commanded a brigade, being senior colonel on the field, and for good conduct there, was in the following September commissioned brigadier-general of volunteers. In December he was placed in General Sumner's command; and he remained in the Army of the Potomac until the latter part of September, 1863, when, having risen to the command of the Eleventh Army Corps, that and Slocum's