James Hobart Ford (May 22, 1829 – January 12, 1867) was a Union colonel and

brevet Brevet may refer to: Military * Brevet (military), higher rank that rewards merit or gallantry, but without higher pay * Brevet d'état-major, a military distinction in France and Belgium awarded to officers passing military staff college * Aircre ...

brigadier general during the American Civil War, notable for his contributions in the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the war.

Early life

James Hobart Ford was born in Painesville, Ohio, in 1829. His uncle was

David Tod David Tod (February 21, 1805 – November 13, 1868) was an American politician and industrialist from the U.S. state of Ohio. As the 25th governor of Ohio, Tod gained recognition for his forceful and energetic leadership during the American Civil ...

, U.S. Minister to Brazil and governor of Ohio during the Civil War. Much of Ford's early life is unclear, but sometime before 1861 he moved from Ohio to Colorado. He married in May 1850 to Arabella Stambaugh, daughter of John F. Stambaugh and Sara Beaver. They had 4 children, David Tod Ford, James R. Ford, John S. Ford and Sara Stambaugh Ford.

Civil War

New Mexico

Ford became involved in the Civil War when Confederate forces invaded New Mexico. Colonel Edward Canby called for reinforcements from the nearby Colorado Territory to help in the defense of New Mexico. The people of Colorado responded quicklyAlberts, p. 13. and Ford took command of one company raised in Cañon City and was appointed

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

on December 21, 1861. This company would be known as "Ford's Independent Company" even though it received an official designation as Company "A", 2nd Colorado Volunteer Infantry Regiment. As Ford marched his company towards Fort Union, he absorbed a number of soldiers from the 1st and 4th New Mexico Volunteer Regiments. Upon his arrival at Fort Union, Ford's company was reassigned as Company "G" of the 4th New Mexico Volunteer Regiment. It is likely Ford and his men never styled themselves Company G, as they continued to function independently of either regiment. Colonel

John P. Slough John Potts Slough (February 1, 1829 – December 17, 1867; last name pronounced like 'plough') was an American politician, lawyer, Union general during the American Civil War, and assassinated Chief Justice of New Mexico. He commanded the Un ...

, another Coloradan, arrived at Fort Union and took command of the Union forces there. Slough planned an advance against the approaching Confederate army, assigning Ford and his company to Maj.

John M. Chivington John Milton Chivington (January 27, 1821 – October 4, 1894) was an American Methodist pastor and Mason who served as a colonel in the United States Volunteers during the New Mexico Campaign of the American Civil War. He led a rear action ...

's flanking column. In the ensuing

Battle of Glorieta Pass The Battle of Glorieta Pass (March 26–28, 1862) in the northern New Mexico Territory, was the decisive battle of the New Mexico campaign during the American Civil War. Dubbed the " Gettysburg of the West" by some authors (a term described ...

, Ford participated in the action near Johnson's Ranch, which captured the Confederate supply train.

Kansas-Missouri

On November 1, 1862, Ford was promoted to major of the 2nd Colorado Infantry. In October 1862 the 2nd Colorado and 3rd Colorado Infantry Regiments were consolidated to form the

2nd Colorado Cavalry The 2nd Regiment Colorado Cavalry was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Service The 2nd Colorado Cavalry was organized at St. Louis, Missouri, by consolidation of the 2nd Colorado Infantry and 3rd ...

and on November 5, 1863, Ford was appointed colonel. For much of the war Colonel Ford was stationed in Missouri operating against bushwackers along the Kansas-Missouri border.

Price's Missouri raid

In October 1864, Confederate General Sterling Price led a raid into Missouri. General

Samuel R. Curtis Samuel Ryan Curtis (February 3, 1805 – December 26, 1866) was an American military officer and one of the first Republicans elected to Congress. He was most famous for his role as a Union Army general in the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the ...

, commander of the Department of Kansas, began assembling Union forces to oppose Price. Colonel Ford was placed in command of the 4th Brigade in

James G. Blunt James Gillpatrick (or Gilpatrick)Collins, Robert, ''General James G. Blunt: Tarnished Glory'', Pelican Publishing, 2005, p. 15 Blunt (July 21, 1826 – July 27, 1881) was an American physician and abolitionist who rose to the rank of major ...

's 1st Division of Curtis' newly formed

Army of the Border The Army of the Border was a Union army during the American Civil War. It was created from units in the Department of Kansas to oppose Sterling Price's Raid in 1864. Samuel R. Curtis was in command of the army throughout its duration. Major Gener ...

. Ford led his brigade into action at the

Battle of Little Blue River The Battle of Little Blue River was fought on October 21, 1864, as part of Price's Raid during the American Civil War. Major General (CSA), Major General Sterling Price of the Confederate States Army led an army into Missouri in September 1864 ...

. His brigade then held the left flank of the Union Army at the

Battle of Westport The Battle of Westport, sometimes referred to as the "Gettysburg of the West", was fought on October 23, 1864, in modern Kansas City, Missouri, during the American Civil War. Union Army, Union forces under Major General (United States), Major G ...

and was heavily engaged in the fighting along Brush Creek. Blunt used Ford's and Colonel

Charles R. Jennison Charles Rainsford Jennison also known as "Doc" Jennison (June 6, 1834 – June 21, 1884) was a member of the anti-slavery faction during Bleeding Kansas, a famous Jayhawker, and a member of the Kansas State Senate in the 1870s. He later serve ...

's brigades to lead the Federal assault. After the Confederate defeat at Westport, Ford took part in the Federal pursuit, fighting in the battles of Mine Creek and Newtonia.

Later service and death

On December 12, 1864, President Abraham Lincoln nominated Ford for appointment to the grade of

brigadier general of volunteers, to rank from December 10, 1864, and the United States Senate confirmed the appointment on February 14, 1865. He commanded the District of the Upper Arkansas for the remainder of the war conducting operations against Native Americans from

Fort Larned Fort Larned National Historic Site preserves Fort Larned which operated from 1859 to 1878. It is approximately west of Larned, Kansas, United States. History The Camp on Pawnee Fork was established on October 22, 1859 to protect traffic al ...

. Ford was discharged from the Union army on July 19, 1865. Shortly after the end of the war, he returned to Ohio where he died on January 12, 1867, in Akron.

Ford County, Kansas Ford County (county code FO) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 34,287. Its county seat and most populous city is Dodge City. The county is named in honor of Colonel James Hobart Ford. G ...

was named in his honor.

Notes

References

*Alberts, Don E., & Frazer, Donald S. ''Battle of Glorieta'', Texas A&M University Press, July 2000, *Eicher, John H., and David J. Eicher, ''Civil War High Commands.'' Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001. . *Monnett, Howard N. ''Action Before Westport'', University Press of Colorado, 1995, {{DEFAULTSORT:Ford, James Hobart 1829 births 1867 deaths Union Army colonels Union Army generals People of Colorado in the American Civil War People of Ohio in the American Civil War