Pedzisa mutsara unotevera: Achipindura kudana kwaPurezidhendi Abraham Lincoln kuti vapinde muchiuto pakatanga Hondo Yenyika Yose, Ward akanyoresa mu38th New York Infantry uye akagadzwa kuva mukuru mukuru wayo wokutanga. Akatungamira regiment yake paJuly 1861 Hondo Yokutanga yeBull Run, achiva mutungamiri weBrig. Gen. Orlando B. Willcox's brigade apo wekupedzisira akakuvadzwa muhondo. Akatevera kuona chiito mu1862 Peninsula Campaign muBrig. Gen. David B. Birney's brigade yeIII Corps. Ward akaramba achiita zvakanaka panguva yeNorthern Virginia Campaign, achiona mamwe mabasa paChipiri Bull Run uye
Chantilly. Nokuda kwekuedza kwake, akakwidziridzwa kuva brigadier general wevazvipiri musi waOctober 4, 1862, uye akapiwa mutungamiri wezvakanga zvave Birney's brigade mu III Corps yeHondo yePotomac. (Birney akanga abudirira Maj. Gen. Philip Kearny, uyo akanga aurayiwa achitungamirira chikamu chake paChantilly.) Ward akatungamirira brigade paFredericksburg neChancellorsville.