James Hobart Ford
| James Hobart Ford | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | "Jim" |
| Born |
May 22, 1829 Painesville, Ohio |
| Died | January 12, 1867 (aged 37) Akron, Ohio |
| Place of burial | Glendale Cemetery, Akron, Ohio |
| Allegiance |
United States of America Union |
| Service/branch |
United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1865 |
| Rank |
 Brevet Brigadier General, U.S.V
|
| Commands held |
Ford's Independent Company 2nd Colorado Volunteer Cavalry District of the Upper Arkansas |
| Battles/wars |
|
James Hobart Ford (May 22, 1829 – January 12, 1867) was a Union general during the American Civil War, notable for his contributions in the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the war.
James Hobart Ford was born in Painesville, Ohio, in 1829. His uncle was David Tod, 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.
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 quickly and Ford took command of one company raised in Cañon City and was appointed captain 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, 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's flanking column. In the ensuing Battle of Glorieta Pass, Ford participated in the action near Johnson's Ranch, which captured the Confederate supply train.
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