The death, by a ball from a rebel rifle, of Commander James H. Ward, of the U. S. Navy, made a mournful impress upon the faces of our citizens, yesterday. He was a native of this city and son of the late Col. James H. Ward, and well known to many of our older residents. He was commander of the Thomas Freeborn, a government steamer on the Potomac, and had superintended an expedition from his own vessel to erect a battery, when the rebels, in large numbers, suddenly emerged from the woods, and poured in a volley. Capt. Ward covered the retreat of his men, so far us possible, with his guns, and was shot through the breast with a rifle ball while in the act of discharging one of his pieces. He died an hour later, falling on the deck of Ins own vessel while discharging his whole duty lo his country.
Capt. Ward was one of the most accomplished of our navy officers. Having for many years been at the head of the Naval School at Annapolis, he had occasion to investigate the whole theory and practice of modern naval warfare. He was a student of books, as well as a writer thereof, and was considered one of the best, if not the best practical gunner in the navy; he hit what he aimed at. He was 55 years old and leaves a widow (now in Europe) and four children, widely scattered. His remains, it is understood, will be interred in the family burial place in this city.
Commander Ward received a military education at the school of Capt. Partridge at Norwich, Vermont, and graduated with a reputation as a mathematical and scientific scholar. He went with Commodore McDonough on his last voyage to the Mediterranean, (where the Commodore died,) and made a four years cruise in those seas. On his return he was connected with Trinity College (then known as Washington College) for a short time, and attended a course of law lectures delivered by Judge Ellsworth of this city, for the benefit of that College. He was the author of a History of Naval Tactics,” “Steam for the Million,” and a practical treatise on Gunnery.— Hartford Courant.
In Hartford on Thursday morning the remains of Capt. Ward were taken to their last resting place in the North cemetery. The procession was headed by Military companies and civic societies, one of the companies acting as guard of honor to the hearse.
When the procession started for the grave the streets were filled with a saddened concourse of people. The tolling bells, the minute gun, the muffled drum, the funeral music of the Armory Band, the reversed drums, the furled flags in mourning, and the slow march of the soldierly, all conspired to render the scene solemn and impressive. The flags were at half mast, many of the stores were closed, and many were dressed in mourning.
At the grave the Episcopal service was read by the Rev. C. R. Fisher. The Colt Guard fired three volleys over him, and the vast concourse returned, leaving Capt. James H. Ward at “rest, with all alibis country’s wishes blest.”
Willimantic Journal, Willimantic, CT