Blackall William Ball Collection 1782-1784, 1802

Access and use

Location of collection:
Colonial Williamsburg
John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
P.O. Box 1776
Williamsburg, VA 23187
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Douglas Mayo
Phone: (757) 565-8521
Phone: (757) 565-8520
Fax: (757) 565-8528
Restrictions:

Collection is open to research.

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions.

Preferred citation:

Blackall William Ball Collection, Manuscript #MS 2005.14, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

Summary

Creator:
Ball, Blackall William, 1761-1812
Language:
English
Abstract:
Preferred citation:

Blackall William Ball Collection, Manuscript #MS 2005.14, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

Background

Scope and content:

Collection comprises 6 journals with a series of observations on the march from York, PA under General Anthony Wayne through the south to the Yorktown campaign, a military commission, portrait print of the author, 10 issues of contemporary newspapers with news of the Yorktown campaign.

Biographical / historical:

Blackall William Ball was born in Dublin, Ireland, but soon moved with his parents to the backcountry of Pennsylvania. At the age of fifteen, he was commissioned as an Ensign in the 12th Pennsylvania Regiment in 1776. Seeing action at the battles of Princeton, Brandywine, and Germantown in 1777, he was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant and transferred to the 3rd Pennsylvania by the end of 1778. In the summer of 1781, Lieutenant Ball found himself progressing southward with the amalgamated Pennsylvania Continental Line from New Jersey, arriving at "the college of Williamsburg" on September 4th, and on to Yorktown in support of the allied siege.

Acquisition information:
Purchase, 2005
Arrangement:

18 items.

Physical location:
On site.
Physical description:
18 items.