Major-General John Sedgwick to Brigadier-General Lorenzo Thomas, December 15, 1863

Headquarters 6th Corps,

Welford's Ford, Virginia,

December 15, 1863.

Brigadier-General L. Thomas,

Adjutant-General U. S. A.

General:

I have the honour to ask you to lay before the Honourable Secretary of War, for his consideration, the name of Brigadier-General J. H.Ward for the appointment of Major-General. General Ward came out at the first breaking out of the Rebellion as Colonel of the 38th Regiment New York Volunteers, which formed a part of the brigade which I then commanded. I feel, therefore, that I am justified in recommending him to the consideration of the Honourable Secretary.

For his efficiency in preparing his regiment for the field, and his gallantry in leading in battle, he was appointed a Brigadier and assigned to his old brigade, which he has led in every action since, when he was not in command of the division. Of the services of that brigade and division it is not necessary to speak, as they are well known to every General officer in this army. I would also mention that General Ward has been connected with the regular and volunteer service for the past twenty years, and his experience in that time and his services during the Rebellion eminently fit him for the position recommended.

I am, very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

John Sedgwick,

Major-General.

SOURCE: George William Curtis, Correspondence of John Sedgwick, Major-General, Volume 2, p. 166-7

Lieutenant-Colonel Theodore Lyman to Elizabeth Russell Lyman, April 13, 1864

April 13, 1864.

We went to a review of Birney's Division near J. M. Bott's house. The two brigades are under H. Ward and Alex. Hays. About 5000 men were actually on the ground. Here saw General Hancock for the first time. He is a tall, soldierly man, with light-brown hair and a military heavy jaw; and has the massive features and the heavy folds round the eye that often mark a man of ability. Then the officers were asked to take a little whiskey chez Botts. Talked there with his niece, a dwarfish little woman of middle age, who seems a great invalid. She was all of a tremor, poor woman, by the mere display of troops, being but nervous and associating them with the fighting she had seen round the very house. Then there was a refreshment at Birney's Headquarters, where met Captain Briscoe (said to be the son of an Irish nobleman, etc., etc.); also Major Mitchell on General Hancock's Staff. The Russ was delighted with the politeness and pleased with the troops. Introduced to General Sheridan, the new Chief of Cavalry — a small, broad-shouldered, squat man, with black hair and a square head. He is of Irish parents, but looks very like a Piedmontese. General Wilson, who is probably to have a division, is a slight person of a light complexion and with rather a pinched face. Sheridan makes everywhere a favorable impression.

SOURCE: George R. Agassiz, Editor, Meade’s Headquarters, 1863-1865: Letters of Colonel Theodore Lyman from the Wilderness to Appomattox, p. 82