On 12 Jul 1861 Henry, a shoemaker, mustered into service with the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, being credited to the quota of Camp Worcester, Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts. He was 20 years, 7 months and 21 days old.
On 21 Oct 1861 at The Battle of Ball's Bluff, Leesburg, Virginia, Henry Jewett Ball was with the regiment, and swam across the Potomac to escape.
After the battle he wrote his sister as follows:
"When I learned to swim I never thought I should save my liberty, perhaps my life by swimming the Potomac with the rifle bullets going "zip" "zip" all around me,"
And further: "I have found out just what I wanted to that is that I can stand fire without flinching or getting confused. The worst time was when we had to stand and take it without returning it. When we were at work I cared nothing at all for the bullets."
On 1 Mar 1862 Henry was promoted to Corporal.
On 31 May 1862, at The Battle of Fair Oaks, Henrico County, Virginia, Henry was wounded in the back by a carelessly fired shot from the 72nd Pennsylvania who were in the rear of the 15th.
On 12 May 1864, at Assault on the Salient, Spotsylvania, Virginia, Henry was he was wounded again, more seriously this time.
On 28 Jul 1864 Henry ended military service with the 15th Massachusetts due to expiration of service term.
On 1 Jan 1868 Henry Jewett Ball, 27, married Susan E. Gale, 23, daughter of William and Emeline (Dodge) Gale, at Charlton, Massachusetts, at her parents' house.
They had one son, George Dexter Ball, b. 1871 in Massachusetts.
In 1890 Henry and Susan moved, to Marlboro, Massachusetts.
About 1921 they moved from Marlborough to Washington, DC, to live with son George, due to Henry's failing health.
He died on 25 Jun 1928 at Washington, DC. He was 87 years, 7 months and 4 days old.
On 12 Jul 1861 Henry, a shoemaker, mustered into service with the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, being credited to the quota of Camp Worcester, Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts. He was 20 years, 7 months and 21 days old.
On 21 Oct 1861 at The Battle of Ball's Bluff, Leesburg, Virginia, Henry Jewett Ball was with the regiment, and swam across the Potomac to escape.
After the battle he wrote his sister as follows:
"When I learned to swim I never thought I should save my liberty, perhaps my life by swimming the Potomac with the rifle bullets going "zip" "zip" all around me,"
And further: "I have found out just what I wanted to that is that I can stand fire without flinching or getting confused. The worst time was when we had to stand and take it without returning it. When we were at work I cared nothing at all for the bullets."
On 1 Mar 1862 Henry was promoted to Corporal.
On 31 May 1862, at The Battle of Fair Oaks, Henrico County, Virginia, Henry was wounded in the back by a carelessly fired shot from the 72nd Pennsylvania who were in the rear of the 15th.
On 12 May 1864, at Assault on the Salient, Spotsylvania, Virginia, Henry was he was wounded again, more seriously this time.
On 28 Jul 1864 Henry ended military service with the 15th Massachusetts due to expiration of service term.
On 1 Jan 1868 Henry Jewett Ball, 27, married Susan E. Gale, 23, daughter of William and Emeline (Dodge) Gale, at Charlton, Massachusetts, at her parents' house.
They had one son, George Dexter Ball, b. 1871 in Massachusetts.
In 1890 Henry and Susan moved, to Marlboro, Massachusetts.
About 1921 they moved from Marlborough to Washington, DC, to live with son George, due to Henry's failing health.
He died on 25 Jun 1928 at Washington, DC. He was 87 years, 7 months and 4 days old.
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