Proctor Ballard - Bardstown, Kentucky, USA
N 37° 48.511 W 085° 28.087
16S E 634847 N 4185675
Marker is in the Pioneer Cemetery Bardstown, Kentucky on a large limestone boulder along with SAR marker and interpretive sign. The DAR insignia in in the top center of the marker.
Waymark Code: WM18579
Location: Kentucky, United States
Date Posted: 06/02/2023
Views: 3
Interpretive sign next to DAR marker.
"The Life of William Proctor Ballard
[abt.] 1755-1820
Sargeant of the artillery in the American Revolution
The American Revolution
On March 5th 1777, the first militia of Kentucky gathered at Harrodsburg. The group defended the fort until joining Lieutenant Colonel George Rogers Clark and the Virginia militia at the Falls of the Ohio in July of 1778 for the beginning of the Illinois campaign against the British and Native American’s.
The campaign against the villages of Kaskaskia, Cahokia and Vincennes began in July 1778 and ended with the surrender of British General Hamilton at Vincennes on 24 February 1779. This was completed prior to proctor's arrival at Corn Island near present day Louisville.
Proctor Ballard was Sargeant of Artillery of the Virginia Militia's Culpeper County unit formed by captain Benjamin Roberts on 20 November 1779 and was placed under the command of Captain John Rogers, Captain Bowman and General Georg Rogers Clark.
In August of 1780, Proctor Ballard was part of the battle of Piqua in present day Ohio. This was a battle with the Native Americans in part to deter their harassment of settlers in Kentucky, Proctor once again was in charge of artillery, this tine under the command of Major George Slaughter and General George Roger Clark.
News of the October 1781 surrender of the British by Cornwallis at Yorktown, and the end of the war, did not reach Kentucky until Saturday 10 November 1781.
Proctor Ballard, Sargeant of artillery in the American Revolution, was discharged from Clark's Illinois Regiment 26 October 1781.
Proctor Ballard re-enlisted 19 October 1782 under the command of Louisville's John Floyd in Captain John Polk’s Militia for General George Clark’s “Expedition against the Shawnee in 1882" in the Ohio Country. After completing this campaign Proctor, once again returned to civilian life on 25 November 1782."
(vist link)