Harper's Weekly
Vol. V, No. 237, July 13, 1861, Pages 433-4.
The Late Captain Ward
We publish on page 433 a portrait of the late CAPTAIN WARD, who was unfortunately killed in a reconnaissance at Mathias Point on 27th. Captain Ward's record is as follows:
He was born in the year 1808, in the city of Hartford, Connecticut. On the 4th of March, 1823, he first entered the United States Service, sailing as midshipman, under McDonough, in the frigate Constitution. After serving faithfully for four years, under the above Commodore, he was promoted to the position of lieutenant, and was for some time attached to the Mediterranean Squadron. Many years of his life were spent on the coast of Africa. He served also in the Gulf as commander of the United States steamer Vixen; indeed, nearly all of his naval life was spent on the ocean: he had served some sixteen years at sea and only nine years on shore. He held for a time a very responsible professorship in the Naval School at Annapolis, and still later was placed in command of the receiving ship North Carolina, lying at the Navy-yard. This position he held for nearly four years, and while in it made many friends. At last the troubled state of the country demanded the service and experience of such officers as Captain Ward, and he placed himself at the command of the Government. Appreciating his abilities, they placed him in command of the steam flotilla at that time fitting out. It was placed in commission on the 16th of May. He had hardly arrived in Chesapeake Bay when he made an attack on a rebel battery, silencing it and driving the soldiers away. Since that time he has proved himself to be one the most able and energetic officers that we had, fearing no danger, and placing those under him in none that he would not gladly lead them through.
He was married in the year 1832 to Miss Whittemore, of this city, daughter of Samuel Whittemore, Esq. From this union has sprung four children, three of whom, a daughter and two sons, are with their mother in Germany.