The Execution of POW William H. Howe took place at Fort Mifflin. He was tried in a Court Martial and convicted of desertion and murder in Montgomery County. Howe has the distinction of being the only person ever executed at the fort. He signed his name in the cell, which is still visible today. "Wm H. Howe"
William H. Howe, a Union soldier in the Civil War, was hanged for desertion on Mifflin's parade ground. In an ironic twist of fate, Howe - namesake of Lt. General Sir William Howe, brother of the Admiral - was interned, tried, convicted and executed at Mifflin. A hero who rallied Union troops at the Battle of Fredericksburg, William Howe later deserted along with 300 others and killed the bounty hunter pursuing him.
In 1864 Philadelphia William Howe was front-page news. A wounded hero at the Battle of Fredricksburg he was recovering in Pennsylvania. Howe was ordered to a Washington hospital. Lee Anderson says Howe refused. Charged as a deserter, Howe killed a soldier who came to arrest him. Despite clemency pleas Howe was hanged at the Fort. Historians were never sure where his cell was. Now they think this space with its plate, bottles and chicken bones is it. Some say his ghost, the faceless man, still walks here. Buried in Perkiomenville, Pa.
Company A
116th Regiment
Pennsylvania Volunteers
Burial Plot Coordinates: Latitude: 40.3283972. Longitude: -75.5091358
William H. Howe, a Union soldier in the Civil War, was hanged for desertion on Mifflin's parade ground. In an ironic twist of fate, Howe - namesake of Lt. General Sir William Howe, brother of the Admiral - was interned, tried, convicted and executed at Mifflin. A hero who rallied Union troops at the Battle of Fredericksburg, William Howe later deserted along with 300 others and killed the bounty hunter pursuing him.
In 1864 Philadelphia William Howe was front-page news. A wounded hero at the Battle of Fredricksburg he was recovering in Pennsylvania. Howe was ordered to a Washington hospital. Lee Anderson says Howe refused. Charged as a deserter, Howe killed a soldier who came to arrest him. Despite clemency pleas Howe was hanged at the Fort. Historians were never sure where his cell was. Now they think this space with its plate, bottles and chicken bones is it. Some say his ghost, the faceless man, still walks here. Buried in Perkiomenville, Pa.
Company A
116th Regiment
Pennsylvania Volunteers
Burial Plot Coordinates: Latitude: 40.3283972. Longitude: -75.5091358
The Execution of POW William H. Howe took place at Fort Mifflin. He was tried in a Court Martial and convicted of desertion and murder in Montgomery County. Howe has the distinction of being the only person ever executed at the fort. He signed his name in the cell, which is still visible today. "Wm H. Howe"
William H. Howe, a Union soldier in the Civil War, was hanged for desertion on Mifflin's parade ground. In an ironic twist of fate, Howe - namesake of Lt. General Sir William Howe, brother of the Admiral - was interned, tried, convicted and executed at Mifflin. A hero who rallied Union troops at the Battle of Fredericksburg, William Howe later deserted along with 300 others and killed the bounty hunter pursuing him.
In 1864 Philadelphia William Howe was front-page news. A wounded hero at the Battle of Fredricksburg he was recovering in Pennsylvania. Howe was ordered to a Washington hospital. Lee Anderson says Howe refused. Charged as a deserter, Howe killed a soldier who came to arrest him. Despite clemency pleas Howe was hanged at the Fort. Historians were never sure where his cell was. Now they think this space with its plate, bottles and chicken bones is it. Some say his ghost, the faceless man, still walks here. Buried in Perkiomenville, Pa.
Company A
116th Regiment
Pennsylvania Volunteers
Burial Plot Coordinates: Latitude: 40.3283972. Longitude: -75.5091358
William H. Howe, a Union soldier in the Civil War, was hanged for desertion on Mifflin's parade ground. In an ironic twist of fate, Howe - namesake of Lt. General Sir William Howe, brother of the Admiral - was interned, tried, convicted and executed at Mifflin. A hero who rallied Union troops at the Battle of Fredericksburg, William Howe later deserted along with 300 others and killed the bounty hunter pursuing him.
In 1864 Philadelphia William Howe was front-page news. A wounded hero at the Battle of Fredricksburg he was recovering in Pennsylvania. Howe was ordered to a Washington hospital. Lee Anderson says Howe refused. Charged as a deserter, Howe killed a soldier who came to arrest him. Despite clemency pleas Howe was hanged at the Fort. Historians were never sure where his cell was. Now they think this space with its plate, bottles and chicken bones is it. Some say his ghost, the faceless man, still walks here. Buried in Perkiomenville, Pa.
Company A
116th Regiment
Pennsylvania Volunteers
Burial Plot Coordinates: Latitude: 40.3283972. Longitude: -75.5091358
Inscription
"Unmarked"
Gravesite Details
Unmarked gravestone. Located in the woods at the corner of two stone walls on what was originally William Howe's property. Can be accessed trudging through the woods from Snyder Rd., or can contact residents at 1439 Snyder Rd. for easier access.
Family Members
Children
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