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Rh bureau, joined with that of benevolent societies in the North, became almost exclusively a work of education. Schools established temporarily for freedmen, were placed on a permanent basis. They have developed into such leading institutions as Atlanta university, Hampton Institute, Lincoln, Fiske, Straight and Howard universities. He did more than any other man to enable the white and the black people of the South to meet the new and unprecedented conditions following the sudden emancipation of millions of slaves. Senor Castellar in the Spanish Cortes, pointed to this work of the Freedmen's bureau, as a triumphant refutation of the assertion of the superiority of a monarchy to a republic; and M. Hoppin, in his report to the French government on public instruction in the United States, said that "nothing reflected more honor upon our country than this work of providing for the education of the negro before the war was fairly ended." In so vast an enterprise, occasions of complaint were certain to arise; and there were two investigations of General Howard's administration of the Freedmen's bureau; the first by a committee of congress, in 1870, which resulted in a vote of thanks to him by the house of representatives; the other, a court of inquiry, consisting of seven general officers of the army, which resulted in his complete acquital of all charges brought against him, and in unrestricted commendation.

Howard university at Washington, District of Columbia, one of the leading institutions for giving to the brightest and most aspiring of the freedmen that higher training which fits them to be leaders of their race, was established by him and aided by the government, and was named in his honor. From 1869-73, he acted as president of the institution; and he has been a trustee from its organization.

President Grant chose General Howard in 1872 to make peace with the Chiricahua Apaches, then at war with the United States; and he settled many troubles with other tribes of Arizona without resort to arms. The work of the bureau was hardly terminated, when he was placed in command of the Department of the Columbia and was obliged to take command in the Nez Perces war against Chief Joseph, in 1877; and in a contest with the Piutes and Bannocks in 1878. These campaigns were tedious, but successful. The tribe of Indians called Sheepeaters making trouble, he deported them to Vancouver, Northwest Territories, put them to work and placed their children in school.