Horatio Stockton Howell
Encyclopedia
Horatio Stockton Howell (August 14, 1820 – July 1, 1863) was a Union Army
chaplain
killed in downtown Gettysburg
on the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg
.
, a son of William and Abigail Howell, the fifth of seven children. He graduated from Lafayette College
and Union Theological Seminary
in New York City
. He was ordained in 1846. His first charge was the Presbyterian Church of East Whiteland, Pennsylvania. He Married Isabella Grant in 1846.
In 1853 he was called on to serve the Presbyterian Church in the small hamlet of Delaware Water Gap
in northeastern Pennsylvania
. There he was a school teacher as well as a minister.
During the antebellum era, he developed into a devout Unionist
and a staunch abolitionist. He experienced what he called the “wickedness” of slavery first-hand while stationed in Elkton, Maryland
, convincing him that the institution “would reduce to the condition of brutes those whom God had created in his own image and for whom Christ had died.” He was also influenced by the fiery anti-secession sermons of his mentor, Reverend James Wilson.
Upon the counsel of his mentor, Howell enlisted as the regimental chaplain of the 90th Pennsylvania Infantry
on March 13, 1862, in Philadelphia.
On the first day of the battle of Gettysburg, July 1, 1863, Confederate forces
engaged Union troops to the west of town, near the Lutheran Theological Seminary
. Medical personnel of the I Corps
selected the College Lutheran Church at #44 Chambersburg Street as a divisional field hospital (the building is now called Christ Lutheran Church). A Gettysburg civilian recalled that 140 men were laid in the sanctuary around midday, beds being improvised by laying boards on top of the pews. Limbs were being amputated and thrown out of the church windows, piling up on the ground below.
Late in the afternoon, the Confederates began to push the Union troops back through town. Shortly after 4 o’clock, the overwhelmed First Corps soldiers fell back through the streets of Gettysburg to the heights on Cemetery Ridge
and Cemetery Hill
south of town. A chaotic scene ensued as jubilant Confederates followed closely on their heels. As the Union retreat swept toward the College Lutheran Church, Chaplain Howell was assisting members of the medical staff inside the building. After hearing shots outside, Howell turned to a nearby surgeon and said, “I will step outside for a moment and see what the trouble is.”
Sgt. Archibald Snow followed Howell out of the church door. Later, Snow wrote the most detailed account of what happened:
Howell died at age 42. Following the battle, Howell’s remains were shipped to Brooklyn
, New York and laid to rest in Green-Wood Cemetery
. A monument at the foot of the College Lutheran church steps was dedicated in 1889 to mark the spot where the chaplain was killed.
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
killed in downtown Gettysburg
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Gettysburg is a borough that is the county seat, part of the Gettysburg Battlefield, and the eponym for the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg. The town hosts visitors to the Gettysburg National Military Park and has 3 institutions of higher learning: Lutheran Theological Seminary, Gettysburg College, and...
on the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg , was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War, it is often described as the war's turning point. Union Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade's Army of the Potomac...
.
Biography
Howell was born near Trenton, New JerseyTrenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
, a son of William and Abigail Howell, the fifth of seven children. He graduated from Lafayette College
Lafayette College
Lafayette College is a private coeducational liberal arts and engineering college located in Easton, Pennsylvania, USA. The school, founded in 1826 by James Madison Porter,son of General Andrew Porter of Norristown and citizens of Easton, first began holding classes in 1832...
and Union Theological Seminary
Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York
Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York is a preeminent independent graduate school of theology, located in Manhattan between Claremont Avenue and Broadway, 120th to 122nd Streets. The seminary was founded in 1836 under the Presbyterian Church, and is affiliated with nearby Columbia...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He was ordained in 1846. His first charge was the Presbyterian Church of East Whiteland, Pennsylvania. He Married Isabella Grant in 1846.
In 1853 he was called on to serve the Presbyterian Church in the small hamlet of Delaware Water Gap
Delaware Water Gap
The Delaware Water Gap is on the border of New Jersey and Pennsylvania where the Delaware River cuts through a large ridge of the Appalachian Mountains...
in northeastern Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. There he was a school teacher as well as a minister.
During the antebellum era, he developed into a devout Unionist
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
and a staunch abolitionist. He experienced what he called the “wickedness” of slavery first-hand while stationed in Elkton, Maryland
Elkton, Maryland
The town of Elkton is the county seat of Cecil County, Maryland, United States. The population was 11,893 as of the 2000 census and 14,842 according to current July 2008 census estimates. It is the county seat of Cecil County...
, convincing him that the institution “would reduce to the condition of brutes those whom God had created in his own image and for whom Christ had died.” He was also influenced by the fiery anti-secession sermons of his mentor, Reverend James Wilson.
Upon the counsel of his mentor, Howell enlisted as the regimental chaplain of the 90th Pennsylvania Infantry
90th Pennsylvania Infantry
The 90th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry was a volunteer infantry regiment which served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. They wore a chassuer uniform. The uniform consisted of a dark blue habit veste with white trimming, baggy sky blue trousers, and a dark blue kepi. The buttons...
on March 13, 1862, in Philadelphia.
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
engaged Union troops to the west of town, near the Lutheran Theological Seminary
Lutheran Theological Seminary
There are multiple institutions known as Lutheran Theological Seminaries in the world.* Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary* Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary, St...
. Medical personnel of the I Corps
I Corps (ACW)
I Corps was the designation of three different corps-sized units in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The units served in the following armies:...
selected the College Lutheran Church at #44 Chambersburg Street as a divisional field hospital (the building is now called Christ Lutheran Church). A Gettysburg civilian recalled that 140 men were laid in the sanctuary around midday, beds being improvised by laying boards on top of the pews. Limbs were being amputated and thrown out of the church windows, piling up on the ground below.
Late in the afternoon, the Confederates began to push the Union troops back through town. Shortly after 4 o’clock, the overwhelmed First Corps soldiers fell back through the streets of Gettysburg to the heights on Cemetery Ridge
Cemetery Ridge
Cemetery Ridge is a geographic feature in Gettysburg National Military Park south of the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, that figured prominently in the Battle of Gettysburg, July 1 to July 3, 1863. It formed a primary defensive position for the Union Army during the battle, roughly the center of...
and Cemetery Hill
Cemetery Hill
Cemetery Hill is a Gettysburg Battlefield landform which had 1863 military engagements each day of the July 1–3 Battle of Gettysburg. The northernmost part of the Army of the Potomac defensive "fish-hook" line, the hill is gently sloped and provided a site for American Civil War artillery...
south of town. A chaotic scene ensued as jubilant Confederates followed closely on their heels. As the Union retreat swept toward the College Lutheran Church, Chaplain Howell was assisting members of the medical staff inside the building. After hearing shots outside, Howell turned to a nearby surgeon and said, “I will step outside for a moment and see what the trouble is.”
Sgt. Archibald Snow followed Howell out of the church door. Later, Snow wrote the most detailed account of what happened:
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York and laid to rest in Green-Wood Cemetery
Green-Wood Cemetery
Green-Wood Cemetery was founded in 1838 as a rural cemetery in Brooklyn, Kings County , New York. It was granted National Historic Landmark status in 2006 by the U.S. Department of the Interior.-History:...
. A monument at the foot of the College Lutheran church steps was dedicated in 1889 to mark the spot where the chaplain was killed.