Royal Naval Biography/Ballard, Volant Vashon
VOLANT VASHON BALLARD, Esq
A Companion of the most Honourable Military Order of the Bath.
[Post-Captain of 1798.]
This officer, when a Midshipman, accompanied the late Captain Vancouver on a laborious and anxious voyage of discovery to the N.W. coast of America, in which expedition he was absent from England about four years and nine months. In 1798, we find him commanding the Hobart sloop of war, on the East India station, where he was posted into the Carysfort of 28 guns. He subsequently commanded the Jason frigate, De Ruyter of 68 guns, Berschermer 50, and Blonde 38. Among the captures made by him in the latter ship, we find the following French privateers:
| Guns. | Men. | |||||
| La Dame Villaret | 74 | 69 | Aug. 15, | 1807 | ||
| L’Hortense | 8 | 90 | Sep. 14, | |||
| L’Hirondelle | 8 | 84 | ___ 16, | |||
| Le Duquesne | 17 | 123 | ___ 23, | |||
| L’Alert | 20 | 149 | Oct. 14, | |||
| Total | 58 | 515 | ||||
Towards the close of 1809, we find Captain Bullard employed in the blockade of Guadaloupe, and assisting at the destruction of two French frigates in Ance la Barque, together with a heavy battery, by which they were defended[1]. The Blonde on this occasion had her first Lieutenant, a Master’s-Mate, and 5 men killed; Lieutenant C. W. Richardson, 1 Midshipman, and 15 men wounded. The following is an extract from the official report of the senior officer present to Sir Alex. Cochrane, commander-in-chief at the Leeward Islands, dated Dec. 18, 1809:
“To Captains Ballard and Miller all possible praise is due, for so judiciously placing their ships, in a situation nearly annihilating the enemy’s two frigates, of 40 guns each; the outer ship’s masts being gone, and herself on fire, by the time this ship (Sceptre) and the rest of the squadron, from baffling winds, could render assistance.”
The general order issued by Sir George Beckwith, after the reduction of Guadaloupe in Feb. 1810, will be found at pp. 879 and 880 of our first volume. Captain Ballard’s name is there mentioned in terms of high approbation, as also by the naval commander-in-chief, in his public letter announcing the conquest of that colony.
Captain Ballard married, Sept. 18, 1811, Arabella Sarah, eldest daughter of James Crabb, of Shidfield Lodge, Hants, Esq. His post-commission bears date Dec. 25, 1798.
Agent.– Thomas Stilwell, Esq.