Edward Ball was born in Albemarle County, Virginia, around 1843. Sometime during his youth, Ball moved to Ohio, where he lived as a free man. Ball enlisted in Company G of the 5th USCT Infantry Regiment on June 9, 1863, at Camp Delaware, Ohio, and mustered in on the same day. Ball listed his occupation as farmer, stood 5 feet, 6 inches tall, and had a yellow complexion with dark eyes and hair. Ball enlisted for a period of three years, but never made it out of Camp Delaware. He succumbed to an unknown disease three months after his enlistment and died on September 17, 1863.