Orion P. Howe

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. Howe left his home—accompanied by his younger brother, Lyston Druett Howe—when he was 12 to serve in the 55th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment.

Military career Howe and his brother both served as musicians in the same regiment where their father William, a Mexican–American War veteran, was the regimental band leader. However, Malmborg had ordered Howe to fetch the wrong caliber of cartridge—.54 caliber instead of the needed .58 caliber. Howe was only 14 years old at the time of his heroic actions, making him one of the youngest persons to earn the Medal of Honor. On December 25, 1863, Howe reenlisted in the same regiment, being discharged as a corporal on November 30, 1864, and taking part in 14 battles.

A historian wrote of Howe: "We could see him nearly all the way . . . he ran through what seemed a hailstorm of canister and musket-balls, each throwing up its little puff of dust when it struck the dry hillside. Suddenly he dropped and hearts sank, but he had only tripped. Often he stumbled, sometimes he fell prostrate, but was quickly up again and he finally disappeared from us, limping over the summit and the 55th saw him no more for several months." he had been a member of the Class of 1870. He later graduated from the New York University dental school.

Legacy In 1982 the Waukegan, Illinois National Guard Armory was renamed in his honor. The 933rd Military Police Company currently drills there.

A statue of Howe is located in Veterans Memorial Plaza at Washington Park, just west of downtown Waukegan. It was dedicated in 2006 by the Waukegan Park District