Husband Maj. S. B. Howe 1 2
Born: 2 May 1835 - Bentleyville, Washington Co, PA 1
Christened:
Died: 8 Apr 1865 - Appomattox, VA 3
Buried: 12 May 1865 - Monongahela Cemetery, Monongahela City, Washington Co, PA 1
Father: Daniel Howe ( - ) 1
Mother: Charlotte [Unk] ( - ) 1
Marriage: 28 Jan 1864 1
Wife Emmeline Butler 2
Born: - Monongahela, Washington Co, PA
Christened:
Died: Aft 1882
Buried:
Father: Capt. Ira Reese Butler (1792-1884) 4 5 6 7
Mother: Mary A. Boyd (1801-1874) 5 7 8 9
Other Spouse: Dr. R. S. H. Keys (1832-Aft 1893) 2 10 - 6 Jun 1883 11
Children
General Notes: Husband - Maj. S. B. Howe
The greater part of his life, prior to his enlistment as a soldier, was spent in the town of California, Pennsylvania, in his native county, whither his father had moved when he was quite young. There he was educated, and there he learned the trade of brick-moulding, which he followed for several years. In the war of Rebellion he offered his services to the national government, as did also his father and brothers. He was a gallant and devoted soldier, and left a record without spot or blemish. We give it as detailed by one intimately associated with him:
"Maj. S. B. Howe enlisted as a soldier in the First West Virginia Veteran Cavalry at its organization, and was soon appointed to the rank of second lieutenant, then to captain, and placed in command of Company M. In this rank he distinguished himself in many of the hard-fought battles of 1863 and 1864. In the campaign of the latter year he was selected and detailed by Gen. Averill to command the company of scouts, and received his orders direct from the general. In this capacity he performed some of the most daring exploits of the war, and received the highest encomiums from the commanding general, and established a reputation for gallantry in the estimation of every officer who knew him. In February, 1865, he was commissioned major, and immediately, in command of the First Regiment West Virginia Veteran Cavalry, started on the great raid of Gen. Phil. H. Sheridan up the Shenandoah Valley and to the James River. He was particularly conspicuous at Mount Crawford, March 1, 1865. He swam his regiment across the river, and in company with the First New York Cavalry charged the enemy in gallant style, driving him from the burning bridge with great loss; and again at Waynesboro' he bore an active part in the rout and capture of Gen. Early's army, and from Petersburg to Appomattox Court-House he was conspicuous at every engagement. At Dinwiddie Court-House he made a splendid charge with his regiment dismounted, completely checking the advancing columns of the enemy; in the running cavalry fight from Nanozine to Deep Creek, driving the enemy with great haste a distance of twelve miles with great loss. He performed an important part at Little Sailor's Creek, where his brigade made the best and most successful charge of the war, capturing Gen. Ewell and his entire corps, cannon, battle-flags, etc. Maj. Howe was second to no regimental commander. At Appomattox Court-House, April 8, 1865, he fell at the close of that obstinate engagement, at the hour of midnight, whilst gallantly leading his regiment in his final charge, in command of the First West Virginia Veteran Cavalry. In all his official relations he was courteous, prompt, and cheerful, and no officer in the brigade shared more fully the confidence of his commanding officer than Maj. S. B. Howe, and none who have fallen will be cherished more fondly in the memory of his companions in arms than he. With deepest regret for the loss of our fallen hero and 'brother,' and with sincere regard and condolence for his afflicted wife and aged mother, I have inscribed the foregoing.
"H. CAPEHART,
"Colonel of the First West Virginia Veteran Cavalry."
Harper's Weekly of Nov. 4, 1865, gives a view of his grave at the church near Appomattox Court-House, and thus speaks of him: "A squadron of the First West Virginia Cavalry, under Maj. Howe, of that regiment, was pressed forward to the station just before dark, and in the charge the gallant Howe fell, shot through the body, and was carried by some of his faithful men to the church, where he shortly afterwards expired. Next morning he was buried, rolled up in his cloak, without formality in the rear of the church, as represented in the sketch. In the death of Maj. Howe his regiment lost a most valuable officer, and a man loved and respected by all who knew him. Maj. Howe was the last of a noble family of five robust men, all the others having previously died in the war." [The last statement is an error; one of the five, Samuel, had a leg broken while in the service, but returned home. The other four all died in the service.]
Maj. Howe's remains were removed from the grave on the battlefield and interred in the Monongahela City Cemetery, May 12, 1865.