Dedicated: Nov. 12, 1932.
Location: East Cemetery Hill.
Description: A portrait of General Howard seated on his stallion holding the horse’s reins with his proper left hand. The general is depicted standing atop Cemetery Hill, the sight he selected as a rallying point for defense in case of retreat by Union forces on July 1, 1863. The sculpture consists of bronze; the base is pink granite.
National Park Service List of Classified Monuments Number: MN305.
Sculptor: Aitken, Robert, 1878-1949, sculptor.
About General Oliver Otis Howard
Born on November 8, 1830 in Leeds, Maine, Howard graduated from Bowdoin College in 1850 and entered West Point, where he graduated in 1854, ranked fourth in his class. While serving in Florida, he became an evangelical Christian, which led to his Civil War nicknames: The Christian General, or Old Prayerbook.
Howard’s first Civil War command was as colonel of the 3rd Maine; he was given a brigade during the Peninsula Campaign, and lost his right arm at Fair Oaks, where he also earned the Medal of Honor; his commendation read: Led the 61st New York Infantry in a charge in which he was twice severely wounded in the right arm, necessitating amputation. He recovered in time for Antietam and was eventually given command of the XI Corps. He was thoroughly disliked by his men and his performance at Gettysburg was lackluster and marked by the collapse of his corps, albeit against superior forces. Transferred to the Western Theater, Howard served credibly as a corps commander under Sherman, earning that general’s praise.
After the War, Howard served in the Freedman’s Bureau and later fought against the Nez Perce. He was superintendent of West Point and retired with the rank of major general. He played a significant role in the founding of Howard University after retirement from the Army. Howard died on October 26, 1909 and is buried in Burlington, Vermont.
In addition to his equestrian monument at Gettysburg, Howard is honored at GNMP by an avenue (East/West Howard Avenue) and by a headquarters marker.