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Ball Family
Alabama, Connecticut, Pennsylvania
1831-1887
1 Box

Correspondence between members of the Timothy Ball (1783-1869) and James Lynch families located in Tuscaloosa, AL, Philadelphia, PA, and Waterbury, CT, including letters pertaining to the 23rd Pennsylvania Infantry, the 106th Pennsylvania Infantry and the 183rd Pennsylvania Infantry. The Civil War materials include the correspondence of Betsy Finette Ball Lynch (1807-1885) with her four sons, all of whom were in service and all of whom would survive the war: Lt. Col. James C. Lynch (106th Pennsylvania and 183rd Pennsylvania), Capt. Francis A. Lynch (23rd Pennsylvania), and Lt. Bennet B. Lynch and Major Augustine Timothy Lynch (both of the 183rd Pennsylvania). Many of the letters were written to Betsy's father Timothy Ball, brother Bennet and sister-in-law Ann Ball of Philadelphia, and nephew Angus Ball. Although the collection contains little detail regarding Civil War military engagements or actions, it is nevertheless an interesting account of one family during the war. A folder index (there are 13 folders) is filed with the collection.

Location: MS 83542

Letters
[Edited and transcribed by K. Nolin, M.L.I.S., Assistant Library Director, The Connecticut Historical Society]

Letter, 2 pp., from Betsy Finette Ball Lynch, 1861 September 18, Philadelphia, PA, to her father Timothy Ball, states that only in America could she have raised her children as she did and that she feels an obligation to defend and save its principles. Mrs. Lynch was a widowed schoolteacher. Folder B. Betsy's letters are in Folders B (1854-1869), E (1856-1883) and G.

Betsy writes on 22 June 1863 about her sons and their experiences of war: ". . . But they don't seem inclined to talk much about what they have passed through unless they are asked and soon turn to other topics."

Betsy writes to son Ben on 26 February 1864 regarding the South's troubles: "I should go distracted if our side was in such straights."

• James C. Lynch, son of Betsy, of the 106th (under Colonel Moorhead) and 183rd Pennsylvania Infantry, later became inspector of the 3rd Division, 2nd Corps, on General Hayes's staff. He left the army in October 1864. There are only three wartime letters from James to his grandfather and mother. A letter dated 2 August 1861 states he "expected to be off in a few days as Lieutenant in a company attached to Geary's 28 PA Regt." A letter of 20 October 1861 found James near Poolesville, MD, on the Potomac, in Company A. By April 1862 he was writing from Yorktown, VA. James's letters are in Folder F.
• Frank Lynch, son of Betsy, of the 23rd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company D, originally under Colonel Birney and later under Colonel Thomas H. Neill, according to a letter from his mother dated 17 October 1861, "wears the zouave uniform. Not the grotesque Moorish one. . . dark blue jacket without collar, vest and pantaloons trimmed with red braid, & brown canvas leggins which are worn over the pantaloons." Frank was wounded in mid-October 1863 at Bristow Station. He was discharged prior to September 1864 having served for three years. There are only two Civil War era letters from Frank; one to his grandfather dated 20 February 1862 from Camp Birney on Clark's farm near Washington, DC, wherein Frank writes he had been in the service six months and had "seen nothing of war in its active form." He also noted he had gained 29 pounds since enlisting. His second letter, addressed to "All" and dated 18 April 1862 was written from camp near Warwick, VA, and talks of the Major being a "broken down merchant of Phila . . . no more fit to command a squad of men, much less a battalion. . ." Frank's letters are in Folder G
• Bennet Lynch, son of Betsy, writes on 12 April 1862 to cousin Angus Ball, prior to Bennet's service with the 183rd Pennsylvania, about his two brothers, James and Frank, currently serving in the army and adds this gentle reminder: "P. S. Mother dont know that the boys were in those battles We don't let her know it when we can help it it worries her so much." Folder H.
• A. Timothy Lynch, son of Betsy, of the 183rd Pennsylvania Infantry, was involved in the battle of Cold Harbor and the siege of Petersburg.