David Ellenwood Ballard

David Ellenwood BALLARD

Company H, Second Kansas Volunteer Cavalry

Thanks to James A. Glover, great grandson of Private William Perry Spencer, Company H for the information on this page.

Ballard's family settled in Marshall County, Kansas in the 1850s and were prominent in the early settlement.

Giving his hometown as Marysville, Marshall County, Kansas, he enlisted as a Private and mustered in at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas on November 10, 1861. for a term of three years.

He was appointed First Lieutenant on January 10, 1862. He was in command of Company H from September 1 till October 21, 1862 in the absence of its nominal commander, Captain Gunther. It was during this period that the regiment was most active, taking part in the battles at Newtonia, Missouri, skirmish at Cross Hollows, Arkansas, the battle of Old Fort Wayne (or Beatties Prairie, Arkansas), the battle at Cane Hill, Arkansas, the battle at Prairie Grove, Arkansas and the capture of Van Buren, Arkansas as well as many other lesser skirmishes with the rebels.

In January 1863, Ballard was reported sick although the nature of his illness in not known. Ballard's illness apparently lasted through most of January 1863. On one Muster Card he is noted "Present sick from January 5 through 26, 1863" and in another location he is reported sick from January 22 to January 26, 1863.

Ballard was again placed in command of Company H February 22, 1863.

Ballard served on detached duty several times from March 1863:

As a Member of a Court Martial from March 3 to March 26, 1863 at Lebanon, Missouri
In command of Company K, 2nd KS Cav. from April 29, 1863
On Recruiting duty from June 25, 1863 through October, 1863
On Special duty commanding Company D, 2nd KS Cav. from November 22, 1863 through December 27, 1863
As a Bearer of Flag of Truce to Confederate forces, January 4 through January 25, 1864.
On Recruiting Service for the 4th Arkansas Infantry, January 25, 1864.
As recorder of a Military Commission at Fort Smith, Arkansas from February through April 1864.
As Acting Regimental Quartermaster for the 2nd Kansas Cavalry May 17 through July, 1864.
In command of escort service at Fort Scott, Kansas August 6, 1864 through February, 1865.

He was officially discharged from the service February 15, 1865 by Headquarters, Department of Arkansas (Little Rock) and order of Major General J. J. Reynolds after serving three years and three months in the Second Kansas Volunteer Cavalry.