File:Autobiography of Oliver Otis Howard, major general, United States Army (1907) (14782620093).jpg

Identifier: autobiographyofo01howa (find matches)
Title: Autobiography of Oliver Otis Howard, major general, United States Army
Year: 1907 (1900s)
Authors: Howard, O. O. (Oliver Otis), 1830-1909
Subjects: United States. Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands United States -- History Civil War, 1861-1865 Campaigns
Publisher: New York, The Baker & Taylor Company
Contributing Library: New York Public Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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Text Appearing Before Image:
hard to bear, she said not
one adverse word. I saw her watch me as I descended
the slope toward the ferry landing, looked back, and
waved my hat as I disappeared behind the ledge and
trees. The swift train beyond the Hudson, emerging
from the tunnel, caught me up, stopped three min-
utes, and then rushed on with increasing speed and
noise. Thus our young men left happy homes at their
countrys call; but the patient, heroic wives who stayed
behind and waited, merit the fuller sympathy.
An army officer in New York City told me of my
election to the colonelcy as an accomplished fact; so
that I telegraphed to Blaine that I was en route, wrote
a brief note to my home, and went on to Boston by the
evening train. In the early morning I walked through
the crooked streets of Boston from the Worcester Sta-
tion to the Revere House, breakfasted there, caught
the 7.30 train on the Boston & Maine, and sped off
to arrive at Augusta before five the same afternoon.
Here I received Mr. Blaine's reply as follows:

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Text Appearing After Image:
Oliver Otis Howard, Colonel Third Maine Regiment
United States Volunteers, 1861.

Colonel of the Third Maine Regiment
Augusta, 29th of May, 1861.
MY DEAR HOWARD: You were chosen to the command of
the Third Regiment yesterday and public opinion is entirely
unanimous in favor of having you accept the position. You
will be at once notified of your election officially. The regiment
is enlisted for three years, and will be called into service at
once. You must hold yourself ready to come at a moments
notice. I understand the Lieutenant Colonel is an admirable
military man, one that will be both efficient and agreeable.
Truly yours,

in great haste,
[ Signed ] Blaine.

This letter did not reach me at West Point. As
soon as I found that I was chosen to the colonelcy, in-
stead of asking for an enabling lengthy leave of ab-
sence, I tendered a resignation of my army commision.
Washington officials of the War Department were still
obstructing such leaves, and ordnance officers were
particularly wanted at arse

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