Harvard memorial biographies ...

34

Harvard Memorial Biographies.

This letter, bold and almost presumptuous in its tone,
pleased Governor Andrew so much, by its manly earnestness,
that he at once ordered Captain How to the command of the
camp where the Nineteenth Massachusetts Regiment was in
process of formation; and before the Nineteenth left the
State, How was commissioned as its Major.
Major How fully redeemed his pledges to the State, and
justified the expectations of his friends. Soon after the arrival
of the Nineteenth Regiment at the seat of war, the affair at
Ball's Bluff gave him an opportunity of distinguishing himself,
General Lander, with whom he became an especial favorite,
was wounded in this engagement. Major How earnestly
pleaded for permission to lead a charge on the Rebels with the
few men of the Nineteenth who were at hand; and when permission was finally given, he dashed upon them gallantly, and
captured the only prisoners taken during that affair. Official
reports and newspaper accounts alike gave him the highest
praise. It is said that he received four balls through his clothes,
and it seemed almost miraculous that he escaped injury.
He gave promise of rising speedily in the service. He was
the model of an officer, - cool, courageous, and withal kind
and generous. A letter, written by one who had good opportunity of judging, states that the humblest private never asked
a reasonable favor at Major How's hands which was not readily
granted, and adds: "It is no disparagement of our other
excellent officers to say that none of them possessed so much of
the old chivalric spirit we so much admire in the olden times."
The following extract is from another writer: -
"His personal appearance was in an unusual degree commanding. He made a brief visit to Washington last autumn (I86I),
and when there attracted much attention, being regarded as one of
the finest forms that were to be seen on Pennsylvania Avenue, at
that time a place where military men of all ranks were frequently
seen. His conversation and correspondence gave evidence of his
being guided by a true patriotic spirit, and that he was accustomed
to reflection upon the stirring events in which he was taking a part.
At an early day, in a letter to a friend, he said, 'The more I think
of it (the war), the more I am convinced that it is to be no short