WARD-JAMES

James Ward was a Union Navy sailor during the Civil War.  The date he was born is unknown but thought to have been 1833 in New York City.  He was serving on August 5, 1864, as a Quarter Gunner aboard the sloop of war USS Lackawanna when it engaged in battle with the Confederate ram CSS Tennessee during the Battle of Mobile Bay.  Ward was seriously injured during the battle but refused to go below decks for medical aid.  After manning a gun, he then took depth soundings from a platform on the side of the ship and was almost crushed when Lackawanna rammed Tennessee.  For his actions he was awarded the Medal of Honor four months later, on December 31, 1864.

          

         ARTIST  RENDITION  OF  USS LACKAWANNA  RAMMING  CSS  TENNESSEE

MEDAL  OF  HONOR  CITATION

Serving as gunner on board the U.S.S. Lackawanna during successful attacks against Fort Morgan, rebel gunboats and the ram CSS Tennessee in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864.  Although wounded and ordered below, Ward refused to go, but rendered aid at one of the guns when the crew was disabled.  He subsequently remained in the chains, heaving the lead, until nearly caught in the collision with the ram Tennessee.  He continued to serve bravely throughout the action which resulted in the capture of the prize ram Tennessee and in the damaging and destruction of Fort Morgan

Submitted by CDR Roy A. Mosteller, USNR (Ret)