Oliver Otis Howard was a solider by profession by a humanitarian by choice. A graduate of West Point, when the Civil War broke out, he began service as a colonel in the Union Army. The battle of Fair Oaks, took his right arm, but left him
the Medal of Honor. By war's end, Howard has been promoted to Brigadier General.
After the war, Howard was appointed "Commissioner of Refugees, Freed men and
Abandoned lands." A job which made him responsible for the welfare of
thousands of newly freed slaves. Howard, established a school for Freedmen,
and became its first president (1869-1874). Under his guidance, the school
grew to become Howard University.
Howard was recalled to active duty in 1872 by President Grant to make peace
with the Chiricahua Apache. Once a peace was made with chieftan Chochise,
Gen. Howard then fought the Nez Perce (capturing Chief Joseph), Bannocks,
Paiutes, until l1880 when he was made Superintendent of West Point. In 1886,
Howard was promoted to Major General, a position he held until his
retirement eight years later.