#105 FOUR BROTHERS--DARIUS the 2ND SON
Anna and Bezaleel How’s four sons--Timothy, Darius,
Baxter and Bezaleel, all served in the American Revolution. I have used the
book Four Brothers in the American Revolution by Herbert Howe as my
source for the How biographies.
DARIUS
HOWE
Darius
How, second son of Bezaleel and Anna was born on June 26 1746, in Marlborough,
Massachusetts, the family’s ancestral home. He was just four when his father suddenly
died, and his mother brought him back to his grandmother’s support. Around
1760, Darius, aged 14, joined a group of New Englanders seeking fertile soil
and new opportunity and moved with them to New Marlborough in the Berkshires in
western Massachusetts. By 1767, aged 24, Darius was a landowner and was settled
enough to marry Lydia Church, aged 19. Together, they had eleven children and were
prominent members of the town.
But a political storm was brewing. On April 19 1775, the “shot heard round the world” at Concord and Lexington sparked the American Revolutionary War. Two days later, Darius, who believed in the ideals of freedom and self-government, left his young family, and went with his Berkshire Minuteman Regiment Minutemen were not professional soldiers, but ordinary citizens; they were known for their ability to mobilize quickly at short notice. All males, aged 16 60 had to be in the militia. The Regiment marched the 200 miles to Cambridge.
Darius saw action at Bunker Hill: On June 17 1775, the minutemen fought at Bunker Hill, which was one of the first major battles of the American Revolutionary War and took place near Boston, Massachusetts. The Colonial militia forces had fortified the heights to challenge the British siege of Boston. British troops launched repeated frontal assaults, ultimately driving the Americans from the hill—but only after suffering heavy casualties. Although the British technically won the battle, it proved a costly victory, with over 1,000 casualties, and demonstrated that the colonial forces were capable of standing up to the professional British army, boosting American morale and support for the war effort.
Darius was stationed at Roxbury: For most of
1775, the regiment was stationed at Roxbury to help fortify the American
positions around Boston. It is said soldiers received daily rations of 1 lb
pork/beef, 2 lbs bread, ¼ lb rice, peas, 1/9 lb butter, molasses and 2 pints of
beer.
In June 1776, Darius transferred out of the militia to join Washington’s newly-formed Continental Army.
Darius fought through the New York campaigns of 1776 and participated in the Saratoga
campaign: The Saratoga campaign from June
to October 1777 was a crucial turning point in the American Revolutionary War. The
British army came south from Canada to seize control of the Hudson River Valley
and isolate New England from the other colonies. However, the campaign faltered
due to difficult terrain, stretched supply lines, and stiff American
resistance. After a series of engagements, the entire British army surrendered on
October 17, 1777 at Saratoga, New York. The American victory convinced France
to formally enter the war as an ally, providing vital military and financial
support that helped turn the tide of the conflict.
Darius
was at the Siege of Fort Ticonderoga: The Siege of Fort
Ticonderoga in July 1777 was a pivotal event in the Saratoga campaign of the
American Revolutionary War. British forces under General John Burgoyne advanced
south from Canada with the goal of seizing control of the Hudson River Valley. Fort
Ticonderoga, held by American forces under General Arthur St. Clair, was
considered a key defensive position. However, the British surprised the
Americans by hauling artillery to the strategic high ground of Mount Defiance,
which overlooked the fort. Realizing they were vulnerable to bombardment, the
American commanders decided to evacuate the fort without a fight on July 5–6.
The British occupation of the fort was a short-term strategic victory, but the
ease of the American withdrawal sparked outrage and criticism, especially in
the Continental Congress. Nonetheless, Burgoyne's campaign soon faltered,
leading to his eventual surrender at Saratoga, a turning point in the war.
George Washington at Valley Forge -painting by Tompkins Harrison Mattison
Valley Forge--by Edward B. Moran
Darius fought in the Battle of the Monmouth Courthouse. The Battle of Monmouth, fought on June 28, 1778, in New Jersey, was one of the largest and most hotly contested engagements of the American Revolutionary War. It occurred as British forces retreated from Philadelphia toward New York City, pursued by General George Washington's Continental Army. The battle began with a controversial retreat, prompting Washington to personally rally the troops and stabilize the American lines. The battle ended indecisively, with the British continuing their withdrawal under cover of night. While tactically inconclusive, the battle marked a turning point in American military effectiveness, showcasing the improved discipline and resilience of Washington's army following its winter training at Valley Forge. It also became legendary for the story of “Molly Pitcher,” a woman said to have taken her husband's place at a cannon during the fight.
Monmouth
Darius was stationed
at Peekskill, NY: Peekskill, New York, served as a strategically
important supply depot and military outpost for the Continental Army along the
Hudson River. Although the area had been attacked and partially destroyed by
British forces the previous year, by mid-1778 it was being rebuilt and
fortified. During this period, Peekskill played a key logistical role in
supporting General George Washington’s movements following the Battle of
Monmouth. Troops and supplies were funneled through the region as American
forces maintained pressure on British positions in New York City. While there
were no major battles at Peekskill in July 1778, the area remained on high
alert due to the ongoing threat of British raids and naval activity on the
Hudson. The town's significance lay in its function as a military hub, helping
sustain the Continental Army’s operations in the Hudson Highlands during a
critical phase of the war.
Darius was at West Point: In December 1778, West Point, New York, was in the early stages of being transformed into one of the most important fortifications of the American Revolutionary War. Although no major battle occurred there that month, General George Washington and his military engineers recognized West Point’s strategic value in controlling the Hudson River and preventing British forces from splitting New England from the rest of the colonies. Construction of permanent fortifications began that winter, including forts, redoubts, and a massive iron chain—later known as the Great Chain—designed to block British ships from sailing upriver. Troops were stationed at West Point throughout the winter of 1778–1779 to defend the position and continue building its defenses. December 1778 marked a quiet but critical period in which West Point evolved from a rugged outpost into the keystone of American control over the Hudson River Valley. Darius stayed at West Point until June 1779, then was shuffled between Fort Putnam, to Peekskill, to West Point, to Peekskill.
Darius served for 6 years in the American army and rose through the ranks—from private to quartermaster (Feb 1777), corporal, sergeant (Sept 1777), ensign (Nov 1779). On Oct 14 1780, he was promoted to Lieutenant of the 1st Massachusetts regiment.
A quartermaster's job was to ensure that the army had necessary resources--rations, clothing, tents, blankets, etc. He would arrange for the wagons, horses and drivers to transport supplies, baggage and troops and ensure that supplies were sourced, transported and stored efficiently. This was a critical role given the Continental Army's chronic shortages. As sergeant, Darius led infantrymen. An ensign was a junior officer whose main duty was to carry the company's colors (flag); this was a highly symbolic and dangerous position, as the colors served as a rallying point and morale booster for the troops--but also a prime target for enemy fire. A lieutenant in the Continental Army was responsible for the training, discipline and immediate supervision of a platoon of men. When leading them during combat, he had to maintain the unit's cohesion under fire and fulfill the army's battle objectives.
Darius' war was not just fought with muskets and marches—it was personal. One brother
had died in battle, another became ill. His own health was taxed by years of
campaigning and illness and his family at home was struggling. His wife needed help. Darius had already
taken one furlough and on May 14, 1781, just seven months after being promoted
to lieutenant, he suddenly and mysteriously resigned his commission, was discharged
from New Windsor, NY and returned home. The American Revolutionary War ended five months later.
After the
war, Darius and his family moved from New Marlborough to the Finger Lakes
region of upper western New York, near Owasco Lake. Later he moved to Cayuga
County. There he purchased land. At some point, his wife Lydia died and Darius most likely remarried.
In 1818, Congress passed legislation granting lifetime pensions to aging Revolutionary veterans who had served at least 9 months in the Continental army or state militia. Darius was ascribed to the New York pension roll on April 15, 1818, and was granted retroactive back pay of $213.33 and a small monthly allowance. But so many men had applied that the pension rolls quickly became expensive and, in some cases, abused. In 1820, in response to concerns about fraud and rising costs, Congress revised the act to require veterans to appear in open court and swear an oath stating their need and listing their real and personal property, occupation, dependents, debts owed and income sources. The court would then assess whether the man was truly indigent and eligible to continue receiving his pension. Darius appeared on June 6, 1820 in open court in Greene County, New York to give a sworn statement about his service, finances and family situation. He was struggling financially. He had only $49 in property (including livestock, old furniture, a spinning wheel) and he had debts of $149. He declared himself only marginally able to work due to age (74) and infirmity. He had an aged, informed and weakly wife and a 13 year old granddaughter.
On February 20, 1833 Darius was granted a 200 acre Revolutionary War Bounty Land Grant in Maine--but it came too late to be of benefit as he died just thee days later. He was aged 85, when he died February 23 1833 in Covington, Genesee County, New York where he was living with his son. He is buried in Pavilion Cemetery, Genesee County.
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