Memphis Daily Appeal CS
DEATH OF MAT. WARD.*

From a gentleman who left Helena last week, we learn that MAT. WARD, of Arkansas, but formerly of Louisville, was mistakenly shot for a Federal soldier on Sunday, 27th ult., and died on the following Tuesday.

The circumstances attending the affair are, that Colonel DOBYNS, at the head of some one hundred and fifty partisans, had gone to his plantation, some distance below Helena, with the view of getting out his negroes. On arrival at his place, he found some eighteen or twenty Federal soldiers, and immediately gave chase and commenced a fire upon them. They passed WARD’S house, who, hearing the noise, turned round the corner to ascertain the cause, and having on a plain blue blouse coat, similar to the Yankee uniform, was shot by one of DOBYN’S men and pierced through the side. He lingered until Tuesday, when he expired.

The party of Yankees, numbering nineteen, were all either killed or captured.

*Mate F. Ward, born c.1826 in Kentucky, appears on the 1860 Census as residing in the area served by Old Town Post Office, Searcy Township, Phillips County. Married, with two young children, he was listed with real estate valued at $67,500 and personal property of $76,500. See also Highland Weekly News, 16 October, below.

Highland Weekly News, Hillsborough, Ohio US
MATT WARD, who murdered a school teacher at Louisville, some years ago, was shot by guerrillas on his plantation in Arkansas, on the 2d instant. The rebels were collecting his negroes to take them away to work on fortifications in Mississippi. He came hurriedly out of his house to protest, and happening to have on a blue coat, they mistook him for a Federal soldier and fired upon him, one ball passing through his hips. He was brought into Helena the same day, but will probably die.