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Robert Howe (soldier)
Encyclopedia
Robert Howe was a major general
in the Continental Army
during the American Revolutionary War
.
, colonial governor
of South Carolina
. He owned "Howe's Point" plantation at the mouth of the Cape Fear River
and "Clarendon" in Bladen County, North Carolina
.
Born to a prominent planter in Brunswick County, North Carolina
, Howe was educated in England
and, upon his return, was elected to the colonial assembly. Serving in the provincial North Carolina
militia
, Howe accepted a commission as a captain in 1766. He was first stationed at Fort Johnston (North Carolina)
(at the entrance of the Cape Fear River in present Southport, North Carolina
). He was later promoted to colonel
of artillery
during Colonial Governor Tyron's expeditions against the Regulators in April–July 1768 and April–May 1771.
on September 1 of that year. Howe brought North Carolina troops into Virginia, arriving not long after the Battle of Great Bridge
. These troops occupied Norfolk, Virginia
, which had recently been abandoned by Loyalist forces. Howe, as senior officer, assumed command of the forces, and engaged in contentious negotiations over access to supplies with the captains of British ships, now overcrowded with Loyalist refugees, anchored in the Norfolk harbor. The situation deteriorated, and Norfolk was burned
on January 1, 1776, in action started by British marines and completed by Patriot forces. Howe was promoted to Brigadier General of the Continental Army on March 1, 1776, and assigned to command of the Southern Department of the Continental Army.
Howe was promoted to major general on October 20, 1777, and led an expedition to St. Augustine
of British Florida in the late 1777 and, facing the problem of divided campaign, the invasion would eventually force Howe's retreat. Attacking again in the spring of 1778, Howe faced similar difficulties as leading Continental forces, as he had no authority over either the Georgia and South Carolina militias.
After the failure to capture St. Augustine, Howe was replaced in 1778 as commander of the Southern Department by Gen. Benjamin Lincoln
. However, before Lincoln could arrive, over Christmas 1778, Howe was forced to abandon Savannah, Georgia
, on December 29 after a brief battle
with British forces led by Archibald Campbell
. Again, Howe did not have authority over the militia until very late in the campaign and was later acquitted in a court martial exonerating him from blame of the city's capture.
Serving under Gen. Anthony Wayne
, Howe saw action at the Battles of Stony Point
on July 16, 1779. After holding commands at West Point
and the espionage network in the Hudson Highlands
, Howe was transferred to the army of George Washington
during a mutiny of Continental soldiers in New Jersey in January 1781. Putting down the revolt after executing two of the ringleaders, another mutiny in Philadelphia disbanded after news of Howe's approach in June 1783.
with whom he fought a duel. On the other hand, Howe did retain the support of a number of national political leaders, including George Washington
and Henry Laurens
.
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
in the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
.
Early life
His great-grandfather was James MooreJames Moore (South Carolina politician)
James Moore was the British governor of colonial South Carolina between 1700 and 1703. He is remembered for leading several invasions of Spanish Florida, including attacks in 1704 and 1706 which wiped out most of the Spanish missions in Florida....
, colonial governor
Governor of South Carolina
The Governor of the State of South Carolina is the head of state for the State of South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the South Carolina executive branch. The Governor is the ex officio...
of South Carolina
Colonial period of South Carolina
The history of the colonial period of South Carolina focuses on the English colonization that created one of the original Thirteen Colonies. Major settlement began after 1712 as the northern half of the British colony of Carolina attracted frontiersmen from Pennsylvania and Virginia, while the...
. He owned "Howe's Point" plantation at the mouth of the Cape Fear River
Cape Fear River
The Cape Fear River is a long blackwater river in east central North Carolina in the United States. It flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Cape Fear, from which it takes its name. The overall water quality of the river is continuously measured and monitored by and conducted by the , , and the...
and "Clarendon" in Bladen County, North Carolina
Bladen County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 32,278 people, 12,897 households, and 8,937 families residing in the county. The population density was 37 people per square mile . There were 15,316 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile...
.
Born to a prominent planter in Brunswick County, North Carolina
Brunswick County, North Carolina
-External links:*******....
, Howe was educated in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and, upon his return, was elected to the colonial assembly. Serving in the provincial North Carolina
History of North Carolina
The history of North Carolina from prehistory to the present covers the experiences of the people who have lived in the territory that now comprises the U.S. state of North Carolina....
militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
, Howe accepted a commission as a captain in 1766. He was first stationed at Fort Johnston (North Carolina)
Fort Johnston (North Carolina)
Fort Johnston was a United States Army post in Brunswick County, North Carolina on Moore Street near Southport, North Carolina. It stands on the west bank of the Cape Fear River, four miles above its mouth.-Colonial:...
(at the entrance of the Cape Fear River in present Southport, North Carolina
Southport, North Carolina
Southport is a city in Brunswick County, North Carolina, near the mouth of the Cape Fear River. It is part of the Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area...
). He was later promoted to colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
of artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
during Colonial Governor Tyron's expeditions against the Regulators in April–July 1768 and April–May 1771.
American Revolution
In 1775, Howe was elected to the provincial congress, where he would be appointed Colonel of the 2nd North Carolina Regiment2nd North Carolina Regiment
The 2nd North Carolina Regiment was raised on September 1, 1775 at New Bern, North Carolina for service with the Continental Army. The regiment would see action at the Battle of Brandywine, Battle of Germantown, Battle of Monmouth and the Siege of Charleston. The regiment would be captured by the...
on September 1 of that year. Howe brought North Carolina troops into Virginia, arriving not long after the Battle of Great Bridge
Battle of Great Bridge
The Battle of Great Bridge was fought December 9, 1775, in the area of Great Bridge, Virginia, early in the American Revolutionary War. The victory by Continental Army and militia forces led to the departure of Governor Lord Dunmore and any remaining vestiges of British power from the Colony of...
. These troops occupied Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
, which had recently been abandoned by Loyalist forces. Howe, as senior officer, assumed command of the forces, and engaged in contentious negotiations over access to supplies with the captains of British ships, now overcrowded with Loyalist refugees, anchored in the Norfolk harbor. The situation deteriorated, and Norfolk was burned
Burning of Norfolk
The Burning of Norfolk was an incident that occurred on January 1, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War. British Royal Navy ships in the harbor of Norfolk, Virginia began shelling the town, and landing parties came ashore to burn specific properties...
on January 1, 1776, in action started by British marines and completed by Patriot forces. Howe was promoted to Brigadier General of the Continental Army on March 1, 1776, and assigned to command of the Southern Department of the Continental Army.
Howe was promoted to major general on October 20, 1777, and led an expedition to St. Augustine
St. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine is a city in the northeast section of Florida and the county seat of St. Johns County, Florida, United States. Founded in 1565 by Spanish explorer and admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, it is the oldest continuously occupied European-established city and port in the continental United...
of British Florida in the late 1777 and, facing the problem of divided campaign, the invasion would eventually force Howe's retreat. Attacking again in the spring of 1778, Howe faced similar difficulties as leading Continental forces, as he had no authority over either the Georgia and South Carolina militias.
After the failure to capture St. Augustine, Howe was replaced in 1778 as commander of the Southern Department by Gen. Benjamin Lincoln
Benjamin Lincoln
Benjamin Lincoln was an American army officer. He served as a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War...
. However, before Lincoln could arrive, over Christmas 1778, Howe was forced to abandon Savannah, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
, on December 29 after a brief battle
Capture of Savannah
The Battle of Savannah, or sometimes the First Battle of Savannah due to a siege later in the campaign, was an American Revolutionary War battle fought on December 29, 1778 between local American Patriot militia and Continental Army units holding the city and a British invasion force under the...
with British forces led by Archibald Campbell
Archibald Campbell (British Army officer)
General Sir Archibald Campbell KB served as Governor of Jamaica and Madras. He was a major Scottish landowner, Heritable Usher of the White Rod for Scotland and a Member of Parliament for the Stirling Burghs.-Birth:...
. Again, Howe did not have authority over the militia until very late in the campaign and was later acquitted in a court martial exonerating him from blame of the city's capture.
Serving under Gen. Anthony Wayne
Anthony Wayne
Anthony Wayne was a United States Army general and statesman. Wayne adopted a military career at the outset of the American Revolutionary War, where his military exploits and fiery personality quickly earned him a promotion to the rank of brigadier general and the sobriquet of Mad Anthony.-Early...
, Howe saw action at the Battles of Stony Point
Battle of Stony Point
The Battle of Stony Point was a battle of the American Revolutionary War fought on the night of July 15–16, 1779. A select force of Continental Army infantry made a coordinated surprise night attack and stormed a fortified position of the British Army on the Hudson River south of West Point, New...
on July 16, 1779. After holding commands at West Point
West Point, New York
West Point is a federal military reservation established by President of the United States Thomas Jefferson in 1802. It is a census-designated place located in Town of Highlands in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 7,138 at the 2000 census...
and the espionage network in the Hudson Highlands
Hudson Highlands
The Hudson Highlands are mountains on both sides of the Hudson River in the U.S. state of New York, between Newburgh Bay and Haverstraw Bay, which form the northern region of the New York - New Jersey Highlands....
, Howe was transferred to the army of George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
during a mutiny of Continental soldiers in New Jersey in January 1781. Putting down the revolt after executing two of the ringleaders, another mutiny in Philadelphia disbanded after news of Howe's approach in June 1783.
Later years
After the war, Howe faced severe debt although he returned to North Carolina a hero. He was elected to the state assembly before his sudden death on December 14, 1786. As a man, Howe was something of a playboy and won a reputation as a womanizer. More than a few of his comrades considered him to be very pompous. His chief failing, a strange one considering his political background, was his lack of ability to get along with a number of state and local politicians, including Christopher GadsdenChristopher Gadsden
Christopher Gadsden , a soldier and statesman from South Carolina, was the principal leader of the South Carolina Patriot movement in the American Revolution. He was a delegate to the Continental Congress and a brigadier general in the Continental Army during the War of Independence...
with whom he fought a duel. On the other hand, Howe did retain the support of a number of national political leaders, including George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
and Henry Laurens
Henry Laurens
Henry Laurens was an American merchant and rice planter from South Carolina who became a political leader during the Revolutionary War. A delegate to the Second Continental Congress, Laurens succeeded John Hancock as President of the Congress...
.