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General Oliver Otis Howard (1830 – 1909) was a one-armed American Civil War veteran who was involved in the post-Civil War battles against the Western Indian tribes. His most famous campaign was against the Nez Perce tribe, with the resultant surrender of Chief Joseph.
Oliver O. Howard was born in 1830 in Leeds, Maine. He lost his right arm on 1 June 1862 during General George McClellan's Peninsular Campaign. He commanded the largely German XI Corps during the Battle of Gettysburg, after which he was moved to the Western theatre. There, following the death of General James B. McPherson, he became commander of the Army of the Tennessee and led William Tecumseh Sherman's right wing, during Sherman's famous March to the Sea. After the Civil War, he fought in the Indian Wars. He retired from the United States Army in 1894 with the rank of Major General.
General Howard is also known for founding Howard University. As Commissioner of the Freedmen's Bureau Howard was known for promoting the welfare of slaves and freedmen. On November 20, 1866, ten members, including Howard, of various socially concerned groups of the time met in Washington, DC to discuss plans for a theological seminary to train African-American ministers. Interest was sufficient, however, in creating an educational institute for areas other than ministry. The result was the Howard Normal Institute for the Education of Preachers and Teachers. On January 8, 1867, the Board of Trustees voted to change the name of the institution to Howard University.
In the 1975 TV movie I Will Fight No More Forever, about Howard's campaign against the Nez Perce, he was portrayed by actor James Whitmore.
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