Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-18
COL. BURGESS BALLS REGIMENT.
Revolutionary Patriot who Equipped
Troops at His Own Cost

looking over parcel of Oldletters brought
the following paper to light from amidst
the dust and mould of many years:
V.r7iaid, augusta cOlmiy-S. c. t.:
BE it known that on the 23d day Of Janu-
airy, in the year 1888, personally came before
me. John Porterfield. "A magistrate in and
for said county, Robert POrterheld. q cap
tain and aide-de-camp in the Virginia Con-
tiuental Line Of troops of the Army of the
Revolution, now aged within thrty-three
days of eighty-fve years, and resident OF
said county, who being first sworn on the
(w)holv evangelist depOseth and saith
That the regiment commanded by Colonel
Burgess Ball in the war OF the Revolution
Joined the Virginia Line of the Continental
army IN the campaign OF lI7,. or IN the
early part of the campaign OF liIS, COM
pletely uniformed and equipped for ser
vice: that the texture of their uniform WIS
of n superior quality, and 1t was then pub
llcly said, and he believes tho fact not
doubted nor questioned by any one,
that the expense of raising and equip
Mug said regiment was paid by Col
ouel b. Ball out OF his private fortune, and
il was said and believed at that time that
Colonel Balls expenditures could not have
been less than from fifteen TO twenty thou
sand dollars for the public service And
deponent further saith that in n CONVERSE
ton he had with Colonel Ball on the sub
iect of his expenditures he recOllects the
Coloners informing him that an uncle Of
said Colonel Ball died about the COM
mencement of the war OF the Revolution
and devised to nun lsgid Colonel Ball a
valuable estate in money and lands, when
lands. or a part thereof. he sold and ap-
piled the proceeds to furnishing and equip
ping his regiment, and for all this depo--
nent saith he is confident that the said
Colonel Burgess Ball never received any
CONDENSATION or remuneration whatever
therefore deponent saith he has no doubt
that said Colonel Burgess Ball did raise
and furnish his regiment Ot infantry,
which acted with the Virginia Continental
Line of the Army OF the Revolution, out OF
his private funds. Said deponent further
saith that full suit Of uniform consist
ed of one wool hat, one black leather
stock lined. one coat. two vests. two shirts,
two pair Of overalls. two pair socks, one
pair shoes. and ia addition one blanket and
knapsack And that all these articles fur
nished 10 Colonel Balls regiment were, Of
superior quality. This deponent further
saith that he mas no knowledge OF SAID
Colonel Ball paving his regiment out OF his
private funds for their services, nor with
his furnishing the same with additional
clothing, nor has he any distinct recOllec-
ton how long the said regiment remained
III service.
ISiUnedl f. J. PORTERFIRLD,
Cantain in the virginia Line Continental
Establishment in the Army of the Revo-
luton and Aide-de-Camp.
Sworn and subscribed before me the day
and year aforesaid.
ISignedl JOHN PORTIRPIEID.
also certify that said deponent IS man
of veracity, and his statement is entitled to
full credit and belief.
lSignedl JOHH PORTERFTELD, j. L.
State Of VIrgini1, Augusta Co'1lty-To 'oit:
l. jefferson Kinney, clerk of the county
of Augusta and of the County Court OF said
county in the State aforesaid, do hereby
certify that John Porterheld, Esq, whose
name appears TO the foregoing certificates.
is now. and was at tue time OF signing the
same, justice Of the peace for the county
aforesaid, duly commissioned and quail
fed as such, and that full faith and credit
are due and ought TO be given 20 all his
acts as such. and that SAID signatures pur-
porting to be his are genuine.
In testimony whereof | have
hereunto set my hand and affixed
G., | nv seal OF Office at stanton this
0eai' { 25th day Of January in the year
49, 1888. and in sixty-second year OF
the Commonwealth.
[Signedl JRPFERsoN KINNEY. Clerk.
Colonel Burgess Ball was third cousin
Of Mary Ball, mother of Washington, and
was a descendant of William Ball, OF Mil
lenbeck.n He married Frances Washing
ton, niece OF General Washington, and
daughter Of Charles Washington. He was
the grandfather of the late Judge Charles
Burgess Ball. of Loudoun, who for many
successive terms represented that county
in the Legislature.
Mrs. judge Ball, the Vice-Regent for Viz
ginia in the Mt. Vernon Ladies Associa,,
tion, represents there the direct lineai
descendants of both the Washington and
Ball families.
Colonel Ball was also the grandfather OF
Mr.. George Washington Ball, of Fauauier.