The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-26
GEN. WARD WAS A WAR HERO.
FOIGHT IN TWO CONFLICTS;
NENE TINES FOUNDED.
He Organized Two Regiments Of Scott
Life Guards in the Civil Wnr-Tributes
to Him by Gen. Scott and Gen. Sickles
Widely known In Masonic Circles.


Gen. John Henry Hobart Ward, who was
killed by a train at Monroe, N, T., on Fri-
day, was one of the most distinguished
soldiers hailing from this State. de was
also one of the most distinguished members
of the Masonic order.
Gen. Ward did not thrust his war service
upon the public very often. de hVeo
quietly. But among old soldiers. and par
tcularly among the very few now surviving
who fought in both the Mexican and the
civil war, Gen. Wards name was frequently
spoken Of and generally in terms OF the
greatest praise. He celebrated his eighteen
birthday on June II last.
Gen. Ward was born in New York city
and he never made his home anywhere
else His father fought in the war OF 1912
and his grandfather fought in the Revo-
luton Both OF them got wounds and we're
afterward pensioners of the Government.
Gen. Ward was wounded nine times him
self and was a pensioner Of two wars. He
enlisted in the Seventh United States
Cavalry at the age Of IS, just after he had
graduated from Trinity Collegiate School
in this city.
He said he wanted to rise from the ranks
and he did. In four years he was Ser
Reant- Tor. He served IA such through
the Mexican war with the famous Seventh
Cavalry and was wounded in a charge at
Monterey.
At the end of the Me xcan war Gen. Ward
came back to New York and served as
Assistant Commissary-G General and Com
missary General Of this State from 1851 to
1850.
Gen. Winfield Scott asked Gov King to
make him Commissary-General. and he
did so in letter in which he said:
Gen. Ward served with me in the cam
paign between Vera Cruz and the City Of
Mexico with great activity and distinction
and has always cherished the character Of
a good citizen, good soldier and gentle
man."
When the civil war began Gen Ward
organized the Thirty eighth New York
Volunteers. They got the name of the
Scott Life Guards. He also helped to or
game another regiment under this name
and II was after these two regiments had
fought through some Of the greatest battles
Of the war and been mentioned time ard
time again that Gen. Scott. in 1893, thanked
Gen. Ward In letter in which he said
The two regiments of New York Volun-
teers formed on the basis Of the Scott Life
Guards. org lnized by you. have done
great honor 10 my name and, what is better,
great honor to our country / am proud
OF them and they are entitled to nations
srs titude.
This letter was one OF the most cherished
recommendations Of his services The
Scott Life Qua rds were known all through
the war and were mentioned many times in
official reports.
Gen. Ward was made Brigadier General
in 1853. A Colonel he had anied
a brigade and had been mentioned by his
superiors for distinguished conduct at
Bull Run and at Williamsburg.
At Gettysburg he war in command Of a
division of the Third Corps and was as
signed TO command O position in front of
Little Round Top. which he held against
successive attacks of the enemy. Gen.
Sckles asked that he be- made a Major
General for his conduct in despatch to
the War Department in which he said:
His services have been SO conspicuous
and brilliant that he deserves this recogni-
ton OF merit
Gen. Ward was wounded at Gettysburg
and in several other engagements. He
served TO the end Of the war and resolved
a sword and medal for his distinguished
services.
Gen. Ward was thirty-third degree
Mason and AS an active member of the
Supreme Council Of the United States of
that organization he was known all over
the country FIe was one OF the five mem
hers of the council from New York, the
place being one Of life tenure He was
appoint an honorary member of the
council in 1888 coming from the field to
accept the honor. In 1897 he was unani-
mously elected to fill the vacancy caused
by the death Of member.
His clenth and that OF Clinton =. p ge
OF f3inRhn mton now make two vacancies
TO be filed this year. Gen Ward was a
m g nber % all Of the Scottish Rite societies
of Brooklyn He was an active member
OF the council up to his deoth.
His funeral will be held at Aurora Grata
Cathedral in Brooklyn on Monday and IL will
be a Masonic one, all the Scottish Rite
societies hereabouts participating In IL,