James H. Ward
Encyclopedia
Commander
James Harmon Ward (25 September 1806 – 27 June 1861) was the first officer of the United States Navy
killed during the American Civil War
.
, Ward received his early educational training in Connecticut common schools before attending the American Literary Scientific and Military Academy at Norwich, Vermont
. After graduating in 1823, Ward accepted an appointment as a midshipman
in the Navy on 4 March 1823. Subsequently, he served on the frigate
Constitution
during a four-year Mediterranean
cruise and then received a year's leave of absence for scientific studies at Washington College, Hartford, Connecticut (now Trinity College).
When Ward returned to sea, he served once more in the Mediterranean and then saw duty off the Africa
n coast in interdicting the slave trade. He next served in the West Indies, helping to prevent a resurgence of piracy.
Upon his return to the United States, he taught courses in ordnance and gunnery at the Naval School at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. These courses were later published as An Elementary Course of Instruction in Ordnance and Gunnery.
On October 10 1845, the new Naval Academy
opened at Annapolis, Maryland
; and Lt. Ward was a member of the faculty—one of the first line officers to pass along the benefits of his own experience to young midshipmen. One of the most scholarly officers of the Navy of his day, Ward held the office of executive officer (a post which later became that of the Commandant of Midshipmen
), with collateral duties as instructor of gunnery and steam engineering.
The advent of the war with Mexico prompted many naval officers and men to seek assignments on ships serving in Mexican waters. Detached from the Academy, Ward took command of Cumberland
in 1847 and served in that capacity for the duration of the war. After a period spent waiting for orders, he was given command of the steamer
Vixen
in 1848 and remained on her through 1850.
After intermittent periods awaiting orders and serving at the Washington
and Philadelphia Navy Yards, Ward took command of Jamestown
and took her to the African coast to hunt slave ships. During this time, in his off-duty hours, he proceeded to work on another textbook — A Manual of Naval Tactics — a scholarly work which would run to four editions after its initial publication in 1859.
In 1860, Ward served at the New York Navy Yard, where he wrote a popular treatise on steam engineering, entitled Steam for the Million. In the spring of 1861, with the Southern states leaving the Union and Confederate
forces mounting a siege at Fort Sumter
, South Carolina
, Gideon Welles
summoned Ward to Washington to plan for a relief expedition for Sumter. Ward volunteered to lead it, but opposition, notably from General Winfield Scott
(who perceived it as being futile), forced cancellation of the plans.
Ward pressed for front line service, proposing that a "flying squadron" be established in the Chesapeake Bay
for use against Confederate naval and land forces threatening that area south of the Union capital. The idea was acceptable, and the squadron took shape. With the steamer Thomas Freeborn serving as Ward's flagship
, the steamers Freelance, Alliance
plus three coastal survey ships made up his flotilla.
The newly composed unit — later known as the Potomac Flotilla
— saw its first action on 1 June, when guns from Ward's ships silenced Confederate shore batteries at Aquia Creek
, Virginia. On 27 June, Ward sent a landing party ashore to dislodge Southern forces from another battery at Mathias Point
, in King George County, Virginia
, but it encountered heavy resistance. The Federals gave up the attack and retired under heavy sniper and cannon fire to their ships. Ward brought his flotilla in close to the shoreline to provide gunfire support for the retreating landing party. As he was sighting the bow gun in his flagship, Thomas Freeborn, Ward was struck by a bullet in his abdomen and fell to the deck, mortally wounded. He died within an hour.
He is the great-grandfather of actor Andy Devine.
was named for him, as was
Fort Ward, one of the defenses of Washington during the American Civil War.
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
James Harmon Ward (25 September 1806 – 27 June 1861) was the first officer of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
killed during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Biography
Born at Hartford, ConnecticutHartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
, Ward received his early educational training in Connecticut common schools before attending the American Literary Scientific and Military Academy at Norwich, Vermont
Norwich, Vermont
Norwich is a town in Windsor County, Vermont, United States, located along the Connecticut River opposite Hanover, New Hampshire. The population was 3,544 at the 2000 census....
. After graduating in 1823, Ward accepted an appointment as a midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
in the Navy on 4 March 1823. Subsequently, he served on the frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
Constitution
USS Constitution
USS Constitution is a wooden-hulled, three-masted heavy frigate of the United States Navy. Named by President George Washington after the Constitution of the United States of America, she is the world's oldest floating commissioned naval vessel...
during a four-year Mediterranean
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
cruise and then received a year's leave of absence for scientific studies at Washington College, Hartford, Connecticut (now Trinity College).
When Ward returned to sea, he served once more in the Mediterranean and then saw duty off the Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n coast in interdicting the slave trade. He next served in the West Indies, helping to prevent a resurgence of piracy.
Upon his return to the United States, he taught courses in ordnance and gunnery at the Naval School at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. These courses were later published as An Elementary Course of Instruction in Ordnance and Gunnery.
On October 10 1845, the new Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
opened at Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
; and Lt. Ward was a member of the faculty—one of the first line officers to pass along the benefits of his own experience to young midshipmen. One of the most scholarly officers of the Navy of his day, Ward held the office of executive officer (a post which later became that of the Commandant of Midshipmen
Commandant of Midshipmen
The Commandant of Midshipmen is the second-in-command at the United States Naval Academy. According to the Naval Academy, the Commandant of Midshipmen is "responsible for the professional development and day-to-day activities of all 4,000 Midshipmen in the Brigade" and equates to a dean of students...
), with collateral duties as instructor of gunnery and steam engineering.
The advent of the war with Mexico prompted many naval officers and men to seek assignments on ships serving in Mexican waters. Detached from the Academy, Ward took command of Cumberland
USS Cumberland
Three ships of the United States Navy have been named Cumberland, after the Cumberland River.*The , a 50-gun sailing frigate launched in 1842.*The , a steel-hulled sailing bark, was launched 17 August 1904....
in 1847 and served in that capacity for the duration of the war. After a period spent waiting for orders, he was given command of the steamer
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
Vixen
USS Vixen (1846)
The third USS Vixen was a steamboat in the United States Navy during the Mexican-American War.Vixen was originally built for the government of Mexico by Brown and Bell of New York City, she was purchased by the Navy in May 1846 at the outset of the Mexican-American War.-Mexican-American War,...
in 1848 and remained on her through 1850.
After intermittent periods awaiting orders and serving at the Washington
Washington Navy Yard
The Washington Navy Yard is the former shipyard and ordnance plant of the United States Navy in Southeast Washington, D.C. It is the oldest shore establishment of the U.S. Navy...
and Philadelphia Navy Yards, Ward took command of Jamestown
USS Jamestown
USS Jamestown may refer to any one of a number of United States Navy vessels.*USS Jamestown , was a sloop that served from 1844 until 1892*USS Jamestown , was a patrol gunboat that served from 1941 until 1946...
and took her to the African coast to hunt slave ships. During this time, in his off-duty hours, he proceeded to work on another textbook — A Manual of Naval Tactics — a scholarly work which would run to four editions after its initial publication in 1859.
In 1860, Ward served at the New York Navy Yard, where he wrote a popular treatise on steam engineering, entitled Steam for the Million. In the spring of 1861, with the Southern states leaving the Union and Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
forces mounting a siege at Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter is a Third System masonry coastal fortification located in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. The fort is best known as the site upon which the shots initiating the American Civil War were fired, at the Battle of Fort Sumter.- Construction :...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, Gideon Welles
Gideon Welles
Gideon Welles was the United States Secretary of the Navy from 1861 to 1869. His buildup of the Navy to successfully execute blockades of Southern ports was a key component of Northern victory of the Civil War...
summoned Ward to Washington to plan for a relief expedition for Sumter. Ward volunteered to lead it, but opposition, notably from General Winfield Scott
Winfield Scott
Winfield Scott was a United States Army general, and unsuccessful presidential candidate of the Whig Party in 1852....
(who perceived it as being futile), forced cancellation of the plans.
Ward pressed for front line service, proposing that a "flying squadron" be established in the Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
for use against Confederate naval and land forces threatening that area south of the Union capital. The idea was acceptable, and the squadron took shape. With the steamer Thomas Freeborn serving as Ward's flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
, the steamers Freelance, Alliance
USS Alliance
Two United States Navy ships have been named Alliance.* The , was a sailing frigate of the Continental Navy, and notable for firing the last shots of the Revolutionary War.* The , was a screw gunboat commissioned in 1877 and in service until 1911....
plus three coastal survey ships made up his flotilla.
The newly composed unit — later known as the Potomac Flotilla
Potomac Flotilla
The Potomac Flotilla, or the Potomac Squadron was a unit of the United States Navy created in the early days of the American Civil War to secure Union communications in the Chesapeake Bay, the Potomac River and their tributaries, and to disrupt Confederate communications and shipping in the...
— saw its first action on 1 June, when guns from Ward's ships silenced Confederate shore batteries at Aquia Creek
Aquia Creek
Aquia Creek is a tributary of the tidal segment of the Potomac River and is located in northern Virginia. The creek's headwaters lie in southeastern Fauquier County, and it empties into the Potomac at Brent Point in Stafford County, south of Washington, D.C....
, Virginia. On 27 June, Ward sent a landing party ashore to dislodge Southern forces from another battery at Mathias Point
Mathias Point
Mathias Point is a point about 1.5 nautical miles north of Allen Point, Montagu Island, in the South Sandwich Islands. Named by United Kingdom Antarctic Place-Names Committee for W.A. Mathias, Royal Navy, pilot in HMS Protector's ship's flight during the survey of the South Sandwich Islands in...
, in King George County, Virginia
King George County, Virginia
As of the census of 2010, there were 23,584 people, 9,411 households, and 4,525 families residing in the county. The population density was 93 people per square mile . There were 6,820 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile...
, but it encountered heavy resistance. The Federals gave up the attack and retired under heavy sniper and cannon fire to their ships. Ward brought his flotilla in close to the shoreline to provide gunfire support for the retreating landing party. As he was sighting the bow gun in his flagship, Thomas Freeborn, Ward was struck by a bullet in his abdomen and fell to the deck, mortally wounded. He died within an hour.
He is the great-grandfather of actor Andy Devine.
Namesakes
USS Ward (DD-139)USS Ward (DD-139)
USS Ward was a Wickes-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War I, later APD-16 in World War II...
was named for him, as was
Fort Ward, one of the defenses of Washington during the American Civil War.