Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Captain S. E. Howard, 8th., Vermont.

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Capt., S. E. Howard was a mere boy when he enlisted as a private in Company H. He was afterwards promoted to second lieutenant, then to first lieutenant. During the campaign up the Teche to Alexandria, and the siege of Port Hudson, he was acting quartermaster of the regiment. He was then promoted to the captaincy of Company C, which he commanded in the battles of Opequon and Fisher's Hill. In the battle of Cedar Creek he was disabled by severe wounds, and on that account received an honorable discharge in the following December. As a soldier and officer, Capt. Howard was made of the best stuff, and earned each honor he received by duties well performed.

S. E. Howard. Private Company H, Nov. 19, 1861; 1st sergeant, Feb. 18, 1862 ; 2d lieutenant Company H, Jan. 12, 1863;  captain Company C, July 26, 1864; honorably discharged, Dec. 9, 1864, for wounds received in action at Cedar Creek, Va., Oct. 19, 1864; served as acting quartermaster of the regiment, Jan. to Dec, 1863; in charge of recruiting party sent to Vermont, Dec, 1863, to March, 1864; acting adjutant during veteran furlough of regiment; A. A. D. C. on brigade staff, and acting quartermaster of brigade; judge advocate of court martial held on steamer Cahawba, between New York and New Orleans.  In civil life Capt. S. E. Howard is secretary of a cattle company in
Wyoming Territory.

Short notes about S. E. Howard from the Regimental History.

When the regiment went up the Opelousas Railroad in October, 1862, Orderly Sergt. S. E. Howard, being ill, was left behind ih charge of a picket-post near the residence of Col. Sparks, at Company Canal, He was suffering severely with chills and fever, contracted in that malarious climate, and on learning his condition, Mrs. Sparks warned him against exposure, and kindly urged him to sleep at her house and receive medical attendance. But Howard respectfully declined to accept the proffered courtesy, until he was seized with a violent congestive chill which left him almost dead, and in this condition his comrades carried him to her house.

Eequally brave was Sergeant Howard, when he leaped ashore from the boat of the Diana, and, running through a storm of bullets, carried the message to his colonel.  Orderly Sergt. S. E. Howard, of Company H, who carried the message from the gun-boats to Col. Thomas, was promoted to second lieutenant, his commission dating January 13th, 1863, the same day the expedition started up the bayou.

The first man wounded that afternoon was Corporal Wm. W. Perry, of Brookline. Acting Quartermaster Howard, who was an eye-witness, says : " A shell burst over our heads, and I saw a piece of it descend with a queer fluttering sound, and strike Perry on the top of the head. He dropped all in a heap, and I supposed was killedj but on going to him I found him alive.

Capt. Howard was twice wounded while within a few feet of the flags and almost in the centre of the savage melee, but he managed to hobble away when the regiment was swept back.

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