J. H. Hobart Ward facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
J. H. Hobart Ward
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John Henry Hobart Ward
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| Born | June 17, 1823 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | July 24, 1903 (aged 80) Monroe, New York, U.S. |
| Place of burial |
Community Cemetery, Monroe
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| Service/ |
United States Army |
| Years of service |
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| Rank | Brigadier general |
| Battles/wars | |
John Henry Hobart Ward (born June 17, 1823 – died July 24, 1903) was an American soldier. He bravely fought in two major conflicts: the Mexican–American War and the American Civil War. Ward joined the army in 1842. He was wounded during the Battle of Monterrey in the Mexican-American War.
After leaving the army, he worked for New York state. He became the assistant commissary general and then the commissary general. When the American Civil War started in 1861, Ward rejoined the army. He became the colonel of the 38th New York Infantry Regiment. Ward and his regiment fought in the First Battle of Bull Run. They also took part in several battles during the Peninsula campaign. He was promoted to lead a brigade after the Battle of Chantilly in September 1862.
Ward then led his brigade in important battles. These included Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. By early 1864, he was known as a strong military leader. However, there was an incident at Chancellorsville where he panicked during a night attack. On May 6, 1864, during the Battle of the Wilderness, Ward left his command. He was seen riding away on an artillery wagon. Six days later, at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, he was found by two senior officers. He was removed from command that day. He was arrested on June 12, but received an honorable discharge in July. He was not sent to a trial. After his military service, Ward worked as a clerk in the New York court system. He died in 1903 after being hit by a train while on vacation.
Contents
Early Life and First Military Service
John Henry Hobart Ward was born in New York City on June 17, 1823. Both his father and grandfather had been soldiers. They died from injuries received while serving in the United States military. Ward went to Trinity Collegiate School. In August 1842, at age 18, he joined the 7th United States Infantry Regiment. He started as a private. By 1845, he was promoted to sergeant major.
While Ward was in the army, the Mexican-American War began. He was at the Siege of Fort Brown in Texas. This was when the Mexican Army tried to capture Fort Brown in May 1846. Ward later fought in the Battle of Monterrey, where he was wounded. He was also present when Vera Cruz was captured. He fought in the battles of Cerro Gordo and Huamantla. He later married a local woman from Vera Cruz.
Historians have different ideas about when he left the army. Some say April 1847, others say 1851. After the army, Ward became the assistant commissary general for New York state. He held this job from 1851 to 1855. Then he became the state commissary general until 1859.
Ward's Role in the Civil War
When the American Civil War began, Ward used his military background. He also used his political connections. This helped him become a colonel in the 38th New York Infantry Regiment. This unit was formed from people in New York. It officially joined the Union Army on June 3, 1861.
On July 21, Ward led his regiment in the First Battle of Bull Run. His regiment was part of Orlando B. Willcox's brigade. The 38th New York was placed behind two Union artillery groups on Henry House Hill. The regiment later had to move back because of heavy artillery fire. Later in the battle, Ward led his regiment in a charge. They attacked Confederate positions on Henry House Hill. The 69th New York Infantry Regiment joined them. The two Union regiments gained a small hold on the hill. But Confederate reinforcements forced them to retreat.
Willcox was wounded and captured during the battle. Ward temporarily took command of the brigade. Willcox praised Ward in his official report. The battle ended with Union troops fleeing in disarray.
Battles and Promotions
Ward then served in the Peninsula campaign in early 1862. He fought at Yorktown, Williamsburg, and Seven Pines. The 38th New York made a charge at Williamsburg. This earned Ward praise from Brigadier General Phil Kearny. Ward also received praise from Kearny, III Corps commander Brigadier General Samuel P. Heintzelman, and Brigadier General Joseph Hooker. This was for his actions at Seven Pines. At that battle, Ward briefly led his brigade. This happened after Brigadier General David B. Birney was temporarily removed from command.
Ward and his men had little involvement in the Seven Days' Battles. He was involved in the Second Battle of Bull Run and the Battle of Chantilly. But his overall role in the Second Bull Run campaign was small. Kearny was killed in September at Chantilly. When Birney was promoted to lead a division, Ward took over the brigade.
On October 4, 1862, Ward was promoted to brigadier general. At the Battle of Fredericksburg, Ward's brigade fought against Stonewall Jackson's Confederate soldiers. Other Union troops were pushed back. Then Ward led his brigade in an attack. Ward's brigade was pushed back, suffering many casualties. He continued to lead his brigade at the Battle of Chancellorsville.
At Chancellorsville, on the night of May 2-3, 1863, Birney's division made a night attack. Ward's brigade led the charge. The attack became very chaotic. There were many cases of friendly fire. Ward panicked during this event. He rode over two Union soldiers while fleeing to the rear. Even though his panicked flight was embarrassing, it did not harm his military career long-term. By this time, Ward was known as an excellent combat leader.
Gettysburg and Later Battles
By the time of the Battle of Gettysburg in early July 1863, Ward had led his brigade for 10 months. This was longer than most brigade commanders in the Army of the Potomac. At Gettysburg, on July 2, Ward's brigade defended a spot near the Devil's Den. When Confederate forces attacked, Ward's brigade fought hard. But they were eventually forced to retreat under heavy enemy pressure.
Sickles was wounded during the battle. This led to Birney taking command of the corps. Ward was then promoted to command the division. Ward himself was wounded during the battle.
Ward saw more action after Gettysburg. He fought in a battle at Kelly's Ford. He also fought in the Battle of Wapping Heights. In early 1864, the Army of the Potomac was reorganized. Birney's division was moved to the II Corps. Ward kept his brigade command after this change. Historian Ezra J. Warner wrote that by May 1864, Ward was "almost universally praised by his superiors for bravery and ability."
On May 5, during the Battle of the Wilderness, Ward's brigade joined the fighting. They were sent to support the Vermont Brigade, which was heavily engaged with Confederate troops. The next day, Ward's brigade was part of the Union line. They were fighting off Confederate attacks. A brushfire started in front of Ward's brigade. Some Union soldiers panicked and fled. This included Ward. A staff officer said Ward rode an artillery wagon to the rear. Another staff officer claimed to have met Ward on the wagon. He suggested Ward get off and try to rally his men.
Four days later, in the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, Ward's men attacked Confederate lines. This was in the Laurel Hill area. A Confederate shell fragment wounded Ward's head just before the attack. His men managed to break the Confederate line for a short time. But they did not get enough support and had to pull back. On May 12, in another part of the Spotsylvania Court House fighting, Ward's brigade took part in an attack. This attack created a big hole in the Confederate line.
Removal from Command and Later Life
During the fighting on May 12, Birney saw Ward heading to the rear. Ward claimed he was looking for his horse. Major General Winfield Scott Hancock also noticed Ward acting carelessly. Hancock told Birney about it, and Birney sent Ward to the rear. That same day, Ward was removed from command. He was accused of "misbehavior... in the presence of the enemy during the Battle of the Wilderness." Charles Dana, the Assistant Secretary of War, wrote a letter on May 9. It said Ward had been arrested for "running away in the Wilderness battle." Warner suggests this letter means the decision to remove Ward was made before Dana wrote it. On June 12, Ward was formally arrested. He was sent to Fort Monroe.
Ward was never put on trial. Historian Harry W. Pfanz thinks this was because of his many wounds and long military career. He received an honorable discharge on July 18. The United States Secretary of War refused requests to put Ward back in service and then hold a trial.
After his military career, Ward worked for 32 years. He was a clerk with the superior court and the Supreme Court of New York. On July 24, 1903, Ward was on vacation in Monroe, New York. He was hit and killed by a train. He had a Masonic funeral in Brooklyn. His body was then taken to Monroe for burial in the Community Cemetery.
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John Henry Hobart Ward
See also
- List of American Civil War generals (Union)
Sources
- Eicher, John H.; Eicher, David J. (2001). Civil War High Commands. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press. ISBN 978-0-8047-3641-1.
- Eisenhower, John S. D. (2000). So Far From God: The U.S. War with Mexico, 1846–1848 (Oklahoma Paperback ed.). Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 978-0-8061-3279-2.
- Gottfried, Bradley M. (2012). Brigades of Gettysburg: The Union and Confederate Brigades at the Battle of Gettysburg. New York, New York: Skyhorse Publishing. ISBN 978-1-61608-401-1.
- Pfanz, Harry W. (1987). Gettysburg: The Second Day. Chapel Hill, North Carolina: University of North Carolina Press. ISBN 978-0-8078-4730-5.
- Powell, William H., ed. (1893). Officers of the Army and Navy (Volunteer) Who Served in the Civil War. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: L. R. Hamersly & Co.. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Officers_of_the_Army_and_Navy_volunteer/O6GhgUsC10IC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=j.+h.+hobart+ward&pg=PA262&printsec=frontcover.
- Rable, George C. (2002). Fredericksburg! Fredericksburg!. Chapel Hill, North Carolina: University of North Carolina Press. ISBN 0-8078-2673-1.
- Rafuse, Ethan S. (2002). A Single Grand Victory: The First Campaign and Battle of Manassas. Scholarly Resources. ISBN 0-8420-2876-5.
- Rhea, Gordon C. (1994). The Battle of the Wilderness May 5-6, 1864. Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Louisiana State University Press. ISBN 0-8071-1873-7.
- Rhea, Gordon C. (1997). The Battles of Spotsylvania Court House and the Road to Yellow Tavern, May 7–12, 1864. Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Louisiana State University Press. ISBN 9780807121368.
- Sears, Stephen W. (1996). Chancellorsville. Boston/New York: Mariner Books. ISBN 978-0-395-87744-9.
- Tagg, Larry (2003). The Generals of Gettysburg: The Leaders of America's Greatest Battle. Boston, Massachusetts: Da Capo. ISBN 0-306-81242-8.
- Warner, Ezra J. (2006). Generals in Blue: Lives of the Union Commanders. Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Louisiana State University Press. ISBN 0-8071-3149-0.
