b. 1829 France. d. 25/03/1875 Brookly, New York.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 14/03/1863 Port Hudson, Louisiana.
Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. He entered the Union Navy in New Bedford, Massachusetts and served as a Boatswain’s Mate. His citation reads “Served on board the USS Mississippi during the action against Port Hudson, 14 March 1863. Running aground during the darkness and in the midst of battle while exposed to a devastating fire from enemy shore batteries, the Mississippi was ordered abandoned after a long and desperate attempt to free her. Serving courageously throughout this period in which a steady fire was kept up against the enemy until the ship was enveloped in flames and adandoned, Howard acted gallantly in his duties as boatwain’s mate. Soon after the firing of the Mississippi and its abandonment, it was seen to slide off the shoal, drift downstream, and explode,leaving no possibility of its falling into enemy hands.” Little is known about his life after the Medal of Honor award.
MOH CITATION:
Served on board the U.S.S. Mississippi during the action against Port Hudson, 14 March 1863. Running aground during the darkness and in the midst of battle while exposed to a devastating fire from enemy shore batteries, the Mississippi was ordered abandoned after a long and desperate attempt to free her. Serving courageously throughout this period in which a steady fire was kept up against the enemy until the ship was enveloped in flames and abandoned, Howard acted gallantly in his duties as boatswain’s mate. Soon after the firing of the Mississippi and its abandonment, it was seen to slide off the shoal, drift downstream, and explode, leaving no possibility of its falling into enemy hands.
BURIAL LOCATION: UNKNOWN.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.