One of the youngest recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor #MOH, Orion Perseus Howe was born May 19, 1848, then moved with his family to Illinois shortly before the start of the Civil War. 
At the age of 12, Orion and his younger brother Lyston Druett enlisted as musicians in the 55th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment. At that time the military regulation for enlistment was supposed to be 18, but there were occasions that those younger were allowed particularly in #militarymusic billets. Their father, William Harrison, served as the regimental band leader. During his service, young Orion was present at more than ten different Civil War battles. 

In the Spring of 1863, Union General Ulysses Grant had amassed his forces around the fortified Vicksburg, Mississippi that controlled the Mississippi River. On May 19th, 1863 Grant had amassed the assault on Vicksburg and the 55th Illinois Infantry charged and ended up pressed close to the Confederate lines. The vicious firefight quickly exhausted nearly every man’s cartridge box, making it critical to resupply ammunition from the stocks in the rear. However, the regiment’s position meant that anybody leaving its relatively covered position for the rear would be forced to traverse hundreds of yards in the enemy zones of fire on exposed open ground. When the regimental commander sought volunteers to make the dangerous dash, Orion was one of the soldiers who stepped up.

The volunteers that left were quickly shot and killed one by one caught in the enemies kill zone of bullets, shells, and shot, until only Orion remained.  When Orion arrived at the rear, he located General William Tecumseh Sherman and requested the ammunition needed by his unit. General Sherman ordered him to receive medical attention as on his mission to request ammunition he was shot in the thigh, recommended him for promotion and when he was discharged in 1864, as a Corporal. General Sherman was so impressed with Orion that he wrote a letter to Secretary of War Edwin Stanton. 

 President Lincoln upon learning of the young Orion’s valor provided an appointment for the young man to attend the Naval Academy. Orion did not graduate from the Naval Academy, but instead attended New York University where he graduated from dental school. 

Orion P. Howe was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor on April 23, 1896 for his courage at the battle of Vicksburg. Orion Howe’s Medal of Honor citation reads, “A drummer boy, 14 years of age, and severely wounded and exposed to a heavy fire from the enemy, he persistently remained upon the field of battle until he had reported to Gen. W. T. Sherman the necessity of supplying cartridges for the use of troops under command of Colonel Malmborg.” 

Orin died at the age of 82 on January 27, 1930 and is buried at the Springfield National Cemetery in Missouri 

https://www.vlm.cem.va.gov/ORIONPHOWE/32169B9

https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/archives/online_exhibits/100_documents/1863-sherman-howe-waukegan.html

https://www.fold3.com/image/310761357?rec=299299032

#MIOS, #MilitaryMusic #MOH #HonoringVeterans


https://www.fold3.com/image/310761357?rec=299299032

55th Infantry Commander Malmborg and Orin Howe

transcript of letter written by General Sherman to War Secretary Scranton describing Orion Howe

transcript of letter written by General Sherman to War Secretary Scranton

William Harrison Howe, father of Orion P. Howe and the band leader of the 55th Infantry, Company C. William Howe is holding a musical instrument call a Fife. 

Springfield National Cemetery

Thomas C. Henson, you are missed today and every day more than you could have imagined.  Love, Bev

Thomas C. Henson - Airforce - Dec 13, 1941 - May 5, 2003. We miss you every day and will see you again. We love you PAPA.

ORION P HOWE

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