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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Musician · U.S. Army

Orion P. Howe

Musician Orion P. Howe, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on May 19, 1863 in Vicksburg, Mississippi during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War May 19, 1863

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Musician Orion P. Howe received the Medal of Honor for his actions on May 19, 1863 in Vicksburg, Mississippi during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company C, 55th Illinois Infantry. Howe was 13 years old.

2 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on April 23, 1896, 32 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Corporal.

Howe was born on December 29, 1849 in Hiram, Portage County, Ohio. His Medal of Honor is credited to Waukegan, Lake County, Illinois. Howe died on January 27, 1930 in Springfield, Missouri, at the age of 80. He is buried at Springfield National Cemetery in Springfield, Missouri.

Howe is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 210 credited to Illinois.

Official Medal of Honor citation

A drummer boy, 14 years of age, and severely wounded and exposed to a heavy fire from the enemy, he persistently remained upon the field of battle until he had reported to Gen. W.T. Sherman the necessity of supplying cartridges for the use of troops under command of Col. Malmborg.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Battles and campaigns

1863 · Civil War

Siege of Vicksburg

Result: Union victory

21 Medal of Honor recipients

Also served in: American Civil War.

Life beyond the battlefield

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Born: Portage County — map
  • Died: Springfield — map
  • Buried: Springfield National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Illinois →

Timeline

  1. December 29, 1849
    Born in Hiram, Portage County, Ohio
  2. May 19, 1863
    Act of valor — Vicksburg, Mississippi
    Age 13. Company C, 55th Illinois Infantry
  3. April 23, 1896
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. January 27, 1930
    Died in Springfield, Missouri
    Age 80.
  5. Resting place
    Springfield National Cemetery
    Springfield, Missouri

Biography

Orion Perseus Howe (December 29, 1848 – January 27, 1930) was among the youngest recipients of the Medal of Honor for his service in the American Civil War as a Union drummer boy. He was awarded the medal on April 23, 1896.

From the Wikipedia article “Orion P. Howe”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Further reading

Also honored for actions on May 19, 1863

JB John Brown First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 James Kephart Private · Army Civil War · 1863

More Civil War recipients from Illinois

Nineveh S. McKeen First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1863 John Shapland Private · Army Civil War · 1863 TM Thomas McGraw Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 John O'Dea Private · Army Civil War · 1863 RS Reuben S. Smalley Private · Army Civil War · 1863 HH Henry M. Hardenbergh Private · Army Civil War · 1864 ✦
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.