Horatio Stockton Howell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Horatio Stockton Howell
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| Born | August 14, 1820 near Trenton, New Jersey, U.S.
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| Died | July 1, 1863 (aged 42) Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
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| Occupation | Presbyterian minister, U.S. Army chaplain |
| Spouse(s) | Isabella Grant Howell |
Horatio Stockton Howell (August 14, 1820 – July 1, 1863) was a chaplain (a type of minister) who served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was sadly killed in downtown Gettysburg on the very first day of the famous Battle of Gettysburg in 1863.
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Horatio Howell's Early Life and Education
Horatio Howell was born on August 14, 1820, near Trenton, New Jersey. He was one of seven children born to William and Abigail Howell.
Horatio went to college at Lafayette College. He also studied at Union Theological Seminary in New York City to become a minister. In 1846, he officially became a minister. His first job was at the Presbyterian Church in East Whiteland, Pennsylvania. That same year, he married Isabella Grant.
Serving as a Minister and Teacher
In 1853, Horatio was asked to serve the Presbyterian Church in a small town called Delaware Water Gap in northeastern Pennsylvania. While there, he also ran a private school for boys.
Horatio Howell and the Fight Against Slavery
Before the Civil War, Horatio Howell became a strong supporter of the Union. He also strongly believed that slavery was wrong. He was an abolitionist, meaning he wanted to end slavery.
He saw the "wickedness" of slavery firsthand when he was in Elkton, Maryland. This experience convinced him that slavery treated people like animals. He believed God created all people equally, and that Christ died for everyone. His mentor, Reverend James Wilson, also influenced him with powerful speeches against states leaving the Union.
Joining the Army as a Chaplain
Following his mentor's advice, Howell joined the 90th Pennsylvania Infantry as a regimental chaplain. He enlisted on March 13, 1862, in Philadelphia. A chaplain is a minister who serves in the military. They provide spiritual support and guidance to soldiers.
The Battle of Gettysburg and Howell's Death
The Battle of Gettysburg began on July 1, 1863. On that day, Confederate soldiers fought Union troops west of town. The fighting was near the Lutheran Theological Seminary.
Union medical teams chose the College Lutheran Church at #44 Chambersburg Street as a field hospital. This building is now called Christ Lutheran Church. A local resident remembered that 140 injured men were placed in the church around midday. Beds were made by putting boards on top of the church pews. Doctors were performing surgeries, and amputated limbs were thrown out of the church windows.
Late in the afternoon, Confederate soldiers began to push the Union troops back through the town. Around 4 o'clock, the Union soldiers retreated through the streets of Gettysburg. They fell back to higher ground south of town, at Cemetery Ridge and Cemetery Hill.
The scene was very chaotic. Cheering Confederate soldiers followed closely behind the retreating Union troops. As the Union retreat reached the College Lutheran Church, Chaplain Howell was helping the medical staff inside. He heard gunshots outside and told a surgeon, "I will step outside for a moment and see what the trouble is."
Sergeant Archibald Snow followed Howell out of the church door. Snow later wrote the most detailed story of what happened next. He said that he was leaving the church just behind Chaplain Howell. At the same time, the first Confederate soldiers were running up the street.
Howell was wearing his chaplain's uniform and a special sword. The first Confederate soldier reached the church steps as Howell and Snow came out. The soldier told Howell to surrender. But Howell tried to explain that he was a non-combatant. This meant he was not a fighting soldier and should not be captured.
However, the Confederate soldier fired his rifle, ending the discussion. Chaplain Howell fell on the landing at the top of the steps. He died at age 42.
After the battle, Howell's body was sent to Brooklyn, New York. He was buried in Green-Wood Cemetery. A monument was placed at the foot of the College Lutheran church steps in 1889. It marks the exact spot where Chaplain Howell was killed.
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Horatio Stockton Howell
