What happens when a regiment loses track of one of their own? In the chaos of war, this unfortunate circumstance sometimes happened, including to Private Jesse Wiley Ball, Company F of the 2nd Kentucky Infantry. Born in Virginia in 1832, Jesse and the Ball family moved to Indiana in the late 1840s. On June 15, 1861, he mustered into the U.S. Army with the Kentucky regiment at Camp Clay, signing up for a three year service. Ball’s service records note him present until late April 1862, and that’s when the confusion begins.

(Library of Congress/Design by Ron Coddington)

The muster roll placed Ball as “absent sick at Louisville” from April 30-August 31, 1862 and once again from October 31-February 28, 1863. There are conflicting reports in Ball’s service record that alternatively list his sick leave as starting May 30. In an addendum, he was reported “deserted” from June 30-October 31, 1862, which perhaps accounted for the gap in his whereabouts from August to October. The desertion file noted that he had “one Enfield rifle and bayonet, one cartridge box, shell and plate, one waist belt and plate, one cap pouch and cone pick and one bayonet scabbard, and one gun sling” in his possession.

Ball’s last paycheck was issued May 30, 1862 – corresponding with one of the supposed dates he went on sick leave. On June 19, 1864, Ball mustered out with the rest of Company F as the three year term came to an end. His muster-out notice asserted that Ball “left the service” due to desertion, and that it occurred on October 1, 1862, in Louisville, where he was previously listed as receiving medical care.

So, what is the real truth? Did Private Ball spend most of his service convalescing from an unfortunate illness, or did he walk out of a Louisville hospital undetected? If he did desert, when did it happen? Key to the determination that Ball had deserted, was the fact that he was unaccounted for and presumed to be on the run. It is highly likely that neither his commanding officer nor his family were notified that he continued to linger in a Louisville hospital. Likewise, he could have been moved to a new location without notice or not reported as discharged from a facility.

In a fascinating addition to his service record, in an undated letter in his own handwriting, Ball petitioned “Col. Carington” to remedy the desertion accusation. He likely addressed it to Brig.Gen. Henry B. Carrington, who served as an intelligence officer at the end of the war:

“Honored sir I was in the battle of Shiloh and by the explosives and hardships I became perfectly exhausted and since that time have been in the hospital I belong to the 2nd Kentucky regiment and I am now here in the Soldiers home awaiting my discharge I wish to ask a small favor of you as I believe I am permanently disabled and incapacitated for military duty I wish to have a thorough examination and if pronounced by the USA Surgeon at this place disabled to have a discharge, if found able to perform the duties of a soldier to be returned to my regiment if not I want to return to my home. This is but a small favor can you not grant it.
I am your humble and obedient servant
Jesse W. Ball private Co. F 2nd KY regiment infantry”

In the end, we know that Ball did return home to Indiana at the end of the war, but not before somebody in his family wondered about his whereabouts and wrote to Clara Barton to locate him. On April 15, 1885, he filed a pension for his Ohio-based mother Lydia Smith and on February 19, 1892, he filed one for himself. This case, however, still had one more wrench to be thrown in: Jesse Ball married Mary Elder in April 1864 – a mere two months before the Union Army marked him as deserted. But Mary is not listed on the later pension record. It is also interesting to note that Ball utilized the services of Indiana law firm Jewell & Nicholson when processing his pension. Could this have been a legal remnant of the desertion accusation following him? Jesse W. Ball died in 1911 in Kentucky, where he had established a new life with his wife Mary and their seven children.

About the Author

Madeline Feierstein is an Alexandria, VA historian specializing in psychiatric institutions, military hospitals, and prisons. A native of Washington, D.C., her work has been showcased across the Capital Region. Madeline leads efforts to document the sick, injured, and imprisoned soldiers that passed through Civil War Alexandria. Additionally, she is an author and content creator for Emerging Civil War. Madeline holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminology from George Mason University and a Master’s in American History from Southern New Hampshire University. Explore her research and catch her next tour at www.madelinefeierstein.com.