hˈoʊvi wʌz ɐpˈɔɪntᵻd ɐ bɹˌɪɡɐdˈɪɹ dʒˈɛnɚɹəl ʌv vˌɑːləntˈɪɹz tə ɹˈæŋk fɹʌm sɛptˈɛmbɚ fˈaɪv, wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti tˈuː; haʊˈɛvɚ, ðə jˈuː.ˈɛs. sˈɛnət dɪdnˌɑːt tʊ ˈækt əpˌɑːn hɪz nˌɑːmᵻnˈeɪʃən wɪðˌɪn ðə stˈætʃuːˌɛɹi pˈiəɹɪəd, ænd ɪɾ ɛkspˈaɪɚd baɪ lˈɔː mˈɑːɹtʃ fˈoːɹ, wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti θɹˈiː.
Hovey was appointed a brigadier general of volunteers to rank from September 5, 1862; however, the U.S. Senate did not to act upon his nomination within the statuary period, and it expired by law March 4, 1863.