Nelson W. Ward

Nelson W. Ward
Medal of Honor, 1862–1895 Army version
Born	November 15, 1837(1837-11-15) Columbiana County, Ohio
Died	February 5, 1929(1929-02-05) (aged 91) Long Beach, California
Place of burial	Sunnyside Cemetery, Long Beach, California
Allegiance	United States of America Union
Service/branch	United States Army Union Army
Years of service	1861–1865
Rank	Full Quartermaster Sergeant
Unit	11th Pennsylvania Cavalry
Battles/wars	American Civil War Battle of Staunton River Bridge
Awards	Medal of Honor

Nelson W. Ward (November 20, 1837 – February 5, 1929) was an United States Army Medal of Honor recipient, honored for his actions while a private in the 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry during the Battle of Staunton River Bridge of the American Civil War. He also was the author of one book.

Biography

Ward was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, on November 20, 1837. He was married to Emily "Emma" Jane Hall on September 14, 1865. The couple moved to Greene County, Missouri shortly after their marriage. Nelson and Emma had two children: Joseph Edgar, born September 22, 1866; and Virginia, born 1869.

In the late 1890s, he bought the Grundie Hotel in Springfield, Missouri, which he operated until about 1904. In the early 1900s, his family moved to Long Beach, California, where he lived for the rest of his life.

Ward published the book, 'The Master Key' to the Problems of Passion Week and the Resurrection According to the Scriptures in 1915.

His first wife, Emma, died on September 9, 1916, in Long Beach. He married Minnie Zurada Souder between Emma's death and 1920.

He is interred at Sunnyside Cemetery in Long Beach, California.^[1]

Military service

Ward enlisted in the 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry on August 5, 1861, and eventually attained the rank of Full Quartermaster Sergeant in that regiment. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Staunton River Bridge on June 25, 1864. Ward led a charge from land without meaningful cover onto a railroad bridge that was secured on both sides by confederate troops. Although his commanding officer had been killed, he led a successful assault of the bridge despite the Union forces suffering heavy casualties.^[2]

Medal of Honor citation

Citation:

Voluntarily took part in a charge; went alone in front of his regiment under a heavy fire to secure the body of his captain, who had been killed in the action.^[3]

See also

	Biography portal
	United States Army portal
	American Civil War portal

• List of Medal of Honor recipients

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.

1. ^ "Nelson W. Ward". Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients. Find a Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=8033047. Retrieved 2008-10-18. 
2. ^ Beyer, Walter Frederick; Oscar Frederick Keydel, Henry Martin Duffield (1907). Deeds of Valor: How America's Heroesreceived the Medal of Honor. Detroit, Mich.: Perrien-Keydel Co.. pp. 370–71. ISBN 0681415673. http://books.google.com/books?id=8SgWAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA370&lpg=PA370&dq=Nelson+W.+Ward+medal+of+honor&source=web&ots=WQWhm5nANU&sig=-RNoV_Nl1Z41vLxHKe1VmUxzYn4&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=7&ct=result#PPA370,M1. 
3. ^ "United States Army Center of Military History, Civil War Medal of Honor recipients – (M-Z)". http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/civwarmz.html. Retrieved 2008-09-07. 

Persondata
Name	Ward, Nelson W.
Alternative names
Short description	United States Army Medal of Honor recipient
Date of birth	November 20, 1837
Place of birth	Columbiana County, Ohio
Date of death	February 5, 1929
Place of death	Long Beach, California