Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General. A native of Kentucky, his family moved to Fayette County, Indiana when he was a child. He attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio from 1838 to 1840 and studied law under future Ohio Governor, Thomas Corwin. He was admitted to the bar in 1842 and became law partners with Corwin. From 1845 to 1851, he was the prosecuting attorney of Warren County, Ohio. A member of the Whig Party, he was elected to the Ohio Legislature in 1853 and 1854. He then became a member of the Democratic Party and was defeated as a candidate for Congress in 1856. He also lost election as Ohio's Attorney-General in 1858. When the Civil War began in 1861, he declined an officer's commission and enlisted as a Private with the 12th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Four months later, he accepted a commission as Major and was appointed to command the 17th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Ward participated in the Battles of Mill Springs, Corinth, and Stones River before his left arm was permanently crippled from a gunshot wound at the Battle of Chickamauga. After a brief period of convalescence, he returned to the field to lead the 17th Ohio as Colonel during the Atlanta Campaign. Due to complications from wounds, he resigned on November 8, 1864 and was brevetted Brigadier General, US Volunteers on October 18, 1865 for "meritorious conduct at Chickamauga". After the war, he returned to Warren County and lived at the Glendower Mansion in Lebanon, Ohio. The home is now a National Historic Site and open to the public as a museum. Appointed by President Andrew Johnson, he became United States Attorney for the District of Southern Ohio and served from 1866 to 1869. He then became an Ohio State Senator in 1870. Known as a political orator, a volume of his speeches was published in 1888.
Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General. A native of Kentucky, his family moved to Fayette County, Indiana when he was a child. He attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio from 1838 to 1840 and studied law under future Ohio Governor, Thomas Corwin. He was admitted to the bar in 1842 and became law partners with Corwin. From 1845 to 1851, he was the prosecuting attorney of Warren County, Ohio. A member of the Whig Party, he was elected to the Ohio Legislature in 1853 and 1854. He then became a member of the Democratic Party and was defeated as a candidate for Congress in 1856. He also lost election as Ohio's Attorney-General in 1858. When the Civil War began in 1861, he declined an officer's commission and enlisted as a Private with the 12th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Four months later, he accepted a commission as Major and was appointed to command the 17th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Ward participated in the Battles of Mill Springs, Corinth, and Stones River before his left arm was permanently crippled from a gunshot wound at the Battle of Chickamauga. After a brief period of convalescence, he returned to the field to lead the 17th Ohio as Colonel during the Atlanta Campaign. Due to complications from wounds, he resigned on November 8, 1864 and was brevetted Brigadier General, US Volunteers on October 18, 1865 for "meritorious conduct at Chickamauga". After the war, he returned to Warren County and lived at the Glendower Mansion in Lebanon, Ohio. The home is now a National Historic Site and open to the public as a museum. Appointed by President Andrew Johnson, he became United States Attorney for the District of Southern Ohio and served from 1866 to 1869. He then became an Ohio State Senator in 1870. Known as a political orator, a volume of his speeches was published in 1888.
Bio by: K Guy
Inscription
COL
DURBIN WARD
17th OHIO INF.
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