New-York tribune., 1908-07-19
DIED IN SERVICE; STILL ALIVE
Odd Case Of Massachusetts Veteran Of the
Civil War Explained.

With the line died in service against his nans
in the roster of the old sth Massachusetts Regiment
Thomas <. Ballard pensioner of the Civil Wa
lives in the South End district OF Boston, en}oIiss
himself in spite of age and inrmities. and ausnns
heartily when reference is made TO the fact "a "a.
for more than forty years ne has been omc~'
dead :,
survivors of old Company of the 9Th al MorceF TO
ter and answered TO n,s name at i rGlca ~ ussi;
statement that IL was the first time ne naa iIe @
his old comrades since the war. and Una. 20 ,s -
peared to them as one returned from 'he 0'-'
world ,.,
This was scarcely the fact. since Mr.. Ballard -
years past: but that his name appears in me- las ~
roster of his company among those VINO ss aT 1tr y
service" and that his relatives IN lsoz n0uf'eu ~
for dead strictly true ..r,,.,-,.l
His name is given IN book epLltsg h Teb, ~ Hsu-
son. chaplain. published in 1865. as among Nv ~
slain in battle .cr
and one that Mr. Ballard has often recited ,i-...
In 1861 Mr.. Ballard was employed as T.sfs, Hsnf
the front with the sth private and ,Ss,ors was
the regiment when il passed through - IN snGs-
ment OF ia days he mustered out az "v'sa y. HI
ter, and came to Boston 70 reenlisr Ms AZ AZ oacs
Went 10 the front in Company d. Captain 'H'
man. and rose TO be a corporal ora -s-,-. that he
dead occurred at the battle OF Game I,.. a., -hes M
e. 1852 In this sanguinary snsagsnTe rsn and b.
Confederates nearly as many. the nss n he Inc
was in Sykes brigade. on the rIsn, rIs,. Vs.gsfirg
which sustained some OF the haraes' =
Mr. Ballards recoections Of that day; dsSy1;,sea nsea =
of every other private soldier, are COZ re Sefts
fought all day and toward the end OF nat ,hs sh
became , What hat .ars gaszsdf for month,
ward for he was left for dead on ne ne ns ssthsssr
The next day the Confederates Wnmr ,on him. %
Was unconscious but they took .'a him W''s s.sssn
wounded to a hospital sl,srsoE,-asss camp a. ss'
He remembered nothing OF now ne ls5 "a hsen ssrae.
but had dim recollection INA, ne 70 had been s.s
OF. and in falling feled him 70 tne 4, his .ocs
found himself suffering from wound III -
He was sick and weak. and he hirr sao'nr slim :.
shaness Of getting back bfc fc he Seonged vas .s.r
retreat. and the Confederates were
When his name was required by the con- ConIT, ~ VS.
he gave it as Thomas Ball and as ss was ases'
sd. On IN t ns bospisar s5 u canp 81
He made friends with prisoner " foston..
Maven hsiped him in many ways. s..,,irss ID
crooked stick for him to use as an+ out " "
sersics ,o- ths last r,rne He never came
Ballard believed he was shot oy ' as
Raliers was now taken with the other - pta'casts
TO Richmond. ~here he was coInn,,,,e' c He wss ~ y
1Shx Prison and fnMr months when he sns
taking the name OF a man who had 10 uara 70 be 81
name appeared on list OF priS'" ~
IN this way Ballard got back to the ssS rYt his
exchanged at AnnafphS. uho heirE
ment the tith at Harper's Ferry. ailei
sent from II Ave months or more sas vrisea
MEANWHILE his comma nding once. rSarlesesn
to hts sister Mrs F. NJ Morse or OF vest Nes
with whom Mr.. Ballard now lives N rss " killed - -
.on street Boston) that her brother W. syn on ~
Gaines MIL HIS comrades bad seen mat dst =. -
field apparently a corpse. whiSh. IA ,nat hs ="
slaughter. was accepted as evidence 60
dead. ,. his body. =
Mr. Morse had tried hard TO locate Hi' -.
to have brouxns North & fS5 s9x euns traes of me-
Mr. RuIlar,f recently "for. you see. wshoud hsss
When got back to my company yy,,asrs, you C,ssss
I didn't touch the ground for mile
happiest dead man you ever saw .cld - y
law requires when soldier dies y ofSIS esicS y =
teen cents. soon back M tne.~h,dnG y
vas in . number Of engagements ne''-~.. <
tysbur9. - 49, gatloceS
Afver hefns mustered out in 1883 Ns3ras =
turned 10 Boston and secured an NJ e -
letter carrier He was No in the ~. 80
riers He continued IN this servfee - ~ 80
quarter OF century. and as isouy,ena isou,e - Sta1-
TEEN in which he was held by keop's ~
he carries q handaomo gold wAecn - -
tn 80 by residents Of Dwasht xse1