 Ramba uchiverenga ndima iyi - Achipindura kudanwa kwaPurezidhendi Abraham Lincoln kuti apinde muchiuto pakatanga Hondo Yenyika Yose, Ward akaunganidza vanhu mu38th New York Infantry uye akagadzwa kuva mukuru mukuru wayo wokutanga. Akatungamirira chikwata chake paHondo Yokutanga yeBull Run muna Chikunguru 1861, achiva mutungamiri weboka raBrig. Gen. Orlando B. Willcox apo wekupedzisira akakuvadzwa muhondo. Akatevera kuona chiito mu1862 Peninsula Campaign muBrig. Gen. David B. Birneys brigade yeIII Corps. Ward akaramba achiita zvakanaka panguva yeNorthern Virginia Campaign, achiona zvakawanda zvechiito paChipiri Bull Run neChantilly. Nokuda kwekuedza kwake, akakwidziridzwa kuva brigadier general wevazvipiri musi waOctober 4, 1862, uye akapiwa mutungamiri wezvakanga zvave Birneys 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. 