Oliver O. Howard was an American military officer and academic who served as a Union general during the American Civil War. He was born on November 8, 1830, in Leeds, Maine. Howard graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1854 and went on to serve in various assignments before the outbreak of the Civil War.
During the war, Howard commanded a division in the Army of the Potomac and played a significant role in several major battles, including the Battle of Chancellorsville and the Battle of Gettysburg. He also led the XI Corps during the Gettysburg Campaign.
After the war, Howard was promoted to major general and became involved in the Reconstruction efforts in the South. He was appointed as the commissioner of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands (commonly known as the Freedmen's Bureau), which aimed to assist newly freed slaves in their transition to freedom.
In addition to his military career, Howard was also a prominent figure in the field of education. He founded and served as the president of Howard University in Washington, D.C., which was established to provide higher education for African Americans. Howard University is named after him in recognition of his efforts to promote education for freed slaves.
Oliver O. Howard died on October 26, 1909, in Burlington, Vermont. He is remembered for his military service during the Civil War and his significant contributions to the education and welfare of African Americans.
2. Who was Oliver O. Howard?
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