Joseph Ripley Chandler Ward

In 1859 he traveled West with his uncle Lieutenant R.V. Bonneau, Third US Infantry, from Ft. Leavenworth, KS to New Mexico, returning to Texas in mid-1860. He was still there in March 1861 when Texas left the Union, and took a ship back to New York with the evacuating Federal infantrymen. On 24 August 1861, then 16 years old, he enlisted in Philadelphia as a Musician (drummer) in Company I, 106th Pennsylvania Infantry.

He was with his Company on the Maryland Campaign.

He was detailed as a Division headquarters orderly in April 1864, and was slightly wounded in the right shoulder at Spotsylvania Court House on 12 May 1864. He was then personal orderly to General John Gibbon, was promoted to Corporal on 16 June, and returned to his Company on 20 July 1864. He mustered out with them on 10 September 1864.

He joined the Pennsylvania Militia - later Company C, 1st Pennsylvania Regiment, National Guard of Pennsylvania (NGP) - and served as a Private to 1869. He was then elected 2nd Lieutenant, Company K, 7th Infantry NGP, was Adjutant of the 8th Regiment NGP, finally Colonel of the 13th. He mustered out of the National Guard in 1873. He was active again in the late 1870s in suppressing the "Railroad Riots" and other disturbances. He organized, trained and commanded a NGP regiment for Spanish-American War Service in 1898, but the war ended before they could be deployed.

In civilian life he was an insurance broker in Philadelphia until 1875 when he "decided to adopt the profession of dentistry". He graduated from the Philadelphia Dental College in 1877 and practiced in Philadelphia for the rest of his life. He was active in veteran's groups, and published the History of the 106th Pennsylvania Infantry in 1883.

Basic service information and his life details from Ward's own History,1 source also of his picture. His gravesite is on Findagrave.

His uncle was Richard Vanderhorst Bonneau (1827-1899), USMA Class of 1852. He resigned his 3rd US Infantry commission in March 1861 and was a Major and Commissary, CSA by the end of the War. He was then a merchant in Philadelphia.

06/27/1845; Philadelphia, PA

05/14/1931; burial in West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd, PA