Maj. Gen. Oliver Otis Howard was one of the major characters in the Nez Perce Indian War of 1877.

According to Wikipedia, he was born Oct. 26, 1830 in Leeds, Maine. He was a career United States Army officer and a Union general during the Civil War.

In John Bradbury's Clearwater County history series he says that Howard at one time considered leaving the army and joining the ministry. However, about that time the Civil War broke out and he was caught up in it. He lost an arm in one of the Civil War battles. After the war, he was given charge of the Freedmen's Bureau with the purpose to help the freed slaves be integated into society. It was during this time that the college that still bears his name, Howard University was founded.

After 1874, he commanded troops in the West, most notably his campaign against the Nez Perce.

He died Oct. 26, 1909 in Burlington, VT at the age of 78.

For more detailed information and photos of Howard, see the Wikipedia article about him at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_O._Howard.

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