John Ward (1847 or 1848 – March 24, 1911) was a
Black Seminole who served as a
United States Army Indian Scout
Indigenous peoples of the Americas, Native Americans have made up an integral part of U.S. military conflicts since America's beginning. Colonists recruited Indian allies during such instances as the Pequot War from 1634–1638, the American Rev ...
and received America's highest military decoration—the
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valo ...
—for his actions in the
Indian Wars
The American Indian Wars, also known as the American Frontier Wars, and the Indian Wars, were fought by European governments and colonists in North America, and later by the United States and Canadian governments and American and Canadian settle ...
of the
western United States
The Western United States (also called the American West, the Far West, and the West) is the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. As American settlement in the U.S. expanded westward, the meaning of the term ''the We ...
.
Biography
After having lived in
Mexico
Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
for the past two decades, Ward enlisted in the US Army at
Fort Duncan
Fort Duncan was a United States Army base, set up to protect the first U.S. settlement on the Rio Grande near the current town of Eagle Pass, Texas.
History
A line of seven army posts were established in 1848–49 after the Mexican War to protec ...
,
Texas
Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by ...
in August 1870, and joined other Black Seminoles known as the "Seminole Negro Indian Scouts". On April 25, 1875, he was serving as a
Sergeant in the Indian Scouts attached to the
24th Infantry Regiment by the
Pecos River in
Texas
Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by ...
where, "
th 3 other men, he participated in a charge against 25 hostiles while on a scouting patrol." A month later, on May 28, 1875, Ward was issued the Medal of Honor for his actions during the engagement. Two of the other men who took part in the charge,
Pompey Factor and
Isaac Payne, both Black Seminoles, also received Medals of Honor.
Ward was discharged from the army in October 1894, and worked as a farmer for the rest of his life.
Texas State Cemetery Profile
/ref> He died at age 62 or 63 and was buried at the Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery in Brackettville, Texas
Brackettville is a city in Kinney County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,688 at the 2010 census, down from 1,876 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Kinney County.
History
Founded in 1852 as "Las Moras" (the name of a nearb ...
.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: Sergeant, 24th U.S. Infantry Indian Scouts Place and date: At Pecos River, Tex., April 25, 1875. Entered service at. Fort Duncan, Tex. Birth: Arkansas. Date of issue: May 28, 1875.
Citation.
With 3 other men, he participated in a charge against 25 hostiles while on a scouting patrol.
See also
* List of Medal of Honor recipients
*List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Indian Wars
Indian Wars is the name generally used in the United States to describe a series of conflicts between the colonial or federal government and the Native people of North America.
The wars, which ranged from the 17th-century (King Philip's War, Kin ...
*List of African American Medal of Honor recipients
The Medal of Honor was created during the American Civil War and is the highest military decoration presented by the United States government to a member of its armed forces. Recipients must have distinguished themselves at the risk of their own l ...
*List of Native American Medal of Honor recipients
This is a list of Native Americans awarded the nation's highest military decoration — the Medal of Honor. The Medal of Honor is bestowed "for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty, in ...
References
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External links
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1840s births
1911 deaths
United States Army Medal of Honor recipients
Black Seminoles
Native American United States military personnel
United States Army soldiers
United States Army Indian Scouts
People from Kinney County, Texas
American Indian Wars recipients of the Medal of Honor
20th-century African-American people
20th-century Native Americans
19th-century Native Americans
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