BGuthrie Photos: CWT Annual Conference (2012) in Richmond, VA -- Ballooning Slide Show

CWT Annual Conference (2012) in Richmond, VA -- Ballooning Slide Show:

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Description of Pictures: Civil War Ballooning with Tom Crouch, Jim Green, and Mike Boehme

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Copyrights: All pictures were taken by amateur photographer Bruce Guthrie (me!) who retains copyright on them. Free for non-commercial use with attribution. See the [Creative Commons] definition of what this means. "Photos (c) Bruce Guthrie" is fine for attribution. (Commercial use folks including AI scrapers can of course contact me.) Feel free to use in publications and pages with attribution but you don't have permission to sell the photos themselves. A free copy of any printed publication using any photographs is requested. Descriptive text, if any, is from a mixture of sources, quite frequently from signs at the location or from official web sites; copyrights, if any, are retained by their original owners.

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Specific picture descriptions: Photos above with "i" icons next to the bracketed sequence numbers (e.g. "[1] ") are described as follows:
1. CWTTLS_120607_057.JPG: First to fly... The Montgolfier brothers ... With hot air. November 21, 1783
2. CWTTLS_120607_059.JPG: The JAC Charles ... with hydrogen. December 1, 1783
3. CWTTLS_120607_062.JPG: Battle of Fleurus June 6, 1794
4. CWTTLS_120607_068.JPG: In antebellum America, balloons were usually flown by itinerant aeronauts out to sell tickets and thrill the public.
5. CWTTLS_120607_078.JPG: The First Balloonists James Allen John Wise John La Mountain
6. CWTTLS_120607_082.JPG: Washington DC, June 9, 1861 James Allen makes the first official ascent of the war from the Caton Farm, one mile north of the Capital.
7. CWTTLS_120607_087.JPG: John La Mountain 1830-1870 ... makes seven free flights from Alexandria, Virginia ... arrives with the balloons Saratoga and Atlantic at Ft. Monroe on July 23, 1861
8. CWTTLS_120607_092.JPG: July 31, 1861 -- John La Mountain First operationally [sic] reconnaissance by an American aeronaut.
9. CWTTLS_120607_096.JPG: 1861 -- John La Mountain Theater of Operations -- the Virginia Peninsula
10. CWTTLS_120607_100.JPG: August 3, 1861 John La Mountain Makes the First Aerial Ascent from the Deck of a Ship, the USS Fanny
11. CWTTLS_120607_104.JPG: John La Mountain views Hampton Roads while tethered 2,000 feet above the dock of the Fanny, August 3, 1861 August 10, 1861 -- La Mountain makes five ascents, the last a night ascent from the deck of the tug Adriatic He travels North to propose a series of free flights and aerial bombing trials. La Mountain is dismissed on February 9, 1862 as a result of a dispute with TSC Lowe.
12. CWTTLS_120607_106.JPG: Thaddeus Sobieski Constantine Lowe
13. CWTTLS_120607_109.JPG: The City of New York -- 1859
14. CWTTLS_120607_118.JPG: April 20, 1861 -- Lowe flies 620 miles from Cincinnati to Unionville, SC one day after President Lincoln orders a blockade of Southern ports.
15. CWTTLS_120607_129.JPG: Joseph Henry First Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution
16. CWTTLS_120607_138.JPG: Abraham Lincoln, the only President to hold a US patent
17. CWTTLS_120607_149.JPG: June 18, 1861 TSC Lowe inflates the balloon Enterprise at The Columbian Armory on the National Mall, the spot where the National Air and Space Museum now stands. John Steiner inflates his balloon at Buffalo, NY, June 1857. The oldest known photograph of a balloon.
18. CWTTLS_120607_165.JPG: June 18, 1861 -- Lowe ascends to 500 feet accompanied by Superintendent of the American Telegraph Company -- George McDowell Burns -- and telegraph operator Herbert Robinson. For the first time, a telegraphic message is sent from a balloon.
19. CWTTLS_120607_172.JPG: Will Lieut Genl Scott please see Professor Lowe, over now [???] about his balloon? A Lincoln Jun [???] 25, 1861
20. CWTTLS_120607_181.JPG: August 2, 1861 -- TSC Lowe hired to build and operate a new balloon. Salary -- $5 a day while building balloons; $10 a day while operating them -- a Colonel's pay
21. CWTTLS_120607_188.JPG: Lowe's 1st Army Balloon -- Union 38 feet wide by 45 feet high 32,000 cubic feet gas capacity Lift -- 4 cables, 5 men Cost $1,500
22. CWTTLS_120607_193.JPG: Lowe's Balloon #2 -- Intrepid 38 feet wide by 45 feet high 32,000 cubic feet gas capacity Lift: 4 cables, 5 men Cost: $1,500
23. CWTTLS_120607_204.JPG: Lowe's Balloon #3 -- Constitution 35 feet in diameter 25,000 cubic feet gas capacity Lift: 4 cables, 3 men Cost: $1,200
24. CWTTLS_120607_205.JPG: Lowe's Balloon #4 -- United States 35 feet in diameter 25,000 cubic feet gas capacity Lift: 4 cables, 3 men Cost: $1,200
25. CWTTLS_120607_208.JPG: Lowe's Balloon #5 -- Washington 30 feet in diameter 20,000 cubic feet gas capacity Lift: 4 cables, 2 men Cost: $1,200
26. CWTTLS_120607_213.JPG: Lowe's Balloon #6 -- Excelsior Built in December 1861 15,000 cubic feet gas capacity Lift: 4 cables, 1 men Cost: $1,000
27. CWTTLS_120607_223.JPG: Lowe's Hydrogen Gas Generators 250 lbs of acid, 250 lbs of fine iron, 1000 lbs of water per 1000 cubic feet of gas. The gas passes through a washer, and is made to bubble up through lime water after which it passes through a flexible conductor to the balloon. Hydrogen gas will life from 60 to 70 lbs for each 1000 cubic feet of gas
28. CWTTLS_120607_229.JPG: Lowe's Gas Generators Built in the Washington DC Navy Yard beginning in October 1861 Navy Yard's bill for 12 gas generators was $470 each The inflation ranges from $60-100 each
29. CWTTLS_120607_242.JPG: Lowe's sketch of his balloon boat carrier On October 21, 1861, Lowe conceives of a planked flatboat to launch his balloons and move up and down the Potomac by being towed. "whenever a reconnaissance is wanted it can be done from it as well as from the land." The Navy Yard gets the authorization to construct it on November 6th. They plank a vessel ($150) named the George Washington Parke Custis and it is ready for use by November 10th.
30. CWTTLS_120607_246.JPG: GW Parke Custis For its test voyage, steamer Coeur de Lion towed George Washington Parke Custis out of the Navy Yard and down the Potomac River. Lowe, accompanied by General Daniel Sickles, ascended in his trial balloon from the barge off Mattawomen Creek to observe Confederate forces on the Virginia shore and inland. Lowe would use the vessel to move his balloons into position up and down the Potomac River.
31. CWTTLS_120607_253.JPG: System of Use: A detail of 30 men were needed per balloon These men were trained every time on how to manage all aspects of the balloon. They were also used to guard the balloon camp at night. Three tether ropes kept a balloon in place and could be towed.
32. CWTTLS_120607_257.JPG: System of Use: A detail of 30 men were needed per balloon These men were trained every time on how to manage all aspects of the balloon. They were also used to guard the balloon camp at night. Three tether ropes kept a balloon in place and could be towed.
33. CWTTLS_120607_265.JPG: Dangers to the Aeronauts
34. CWTTLS_120607_273.JPG: Balloon Distribution Nov 1861 to March 1862 * Edwards Ferry, Maryland -- Seaver then Steiner then Freno * Fairfax Court House -- Jacob C. Freno * Cloud's Mill Alexandria, Virginia -- John LaMountain * Pohick Church, Virginia -- Theddeus Lowe * Budd's Ferry, Maryland -- Paultin then Seaver & Clovis Lowe
35. CWTTLS_120607_285.JPG: Yorktown
36. CWTTLS_120607_288.JPG: McClellan Moves His Army South * Plan is for landing of a huge (90,000) Union forces [sic] near Fortress Monroe go up the Peninsula to Richmond. * Monitor-Virginia dual [sic] occurred March 9, 1862 in Hampton Roads * McClellan has Lowe send a balloon team on a head to be on the lookout for the Virginia * Lowe sends Seaver with balloon Constitution
37. CWTTLS_120607_301.JPG: Transport to the Fortress Monroe: * Lowe arrives with Fitz John Porter's Division * Balloons & supplies on the GW Parke Custis towed by Steamer Rotary
38. CWTTLS_120607_307.JPG: Supplying the Balloon Station * GW Parke Custis moored in Cheeseman's Creek * Lowe's new Aeronaut, James Allen, arrives April 11th
39. CWTTLS_120607_319.JPG: McClellan's Orders 2nd Balloon Station * Lowe returns to Fortress Monroe to bring up the Constitution to Warwick Court House
40. CWTTLS_120607_332.JPG: McClellan's Strategy: * Navy to run by Yorktown, anchor, then stop supplies & retreat routes * Lowe was to observe weakness in the Rebel lines near Warwick CH * Army to punch through Rebel lines and surround Yorktown
41. CWTTLS_120607_337.JPG: Orders: "Observe the York River Guns" * Sunrise on April 11th. Porter ascends in Excelsior, ALONE! * The one rope attached breaks!
42. CWTTLS_120607_344.JPG: Porter's Free Ascent: * Porter regains his composure and completes the observation of the Yorktown and Gloucester York River guns.
43. CWTTLS_120607_361.JPG: Porter's Free Ascent: * Porter climbs out of the basket to obtain the rip valve rope & pulls it!
44. CWTTLS_120607_364.JPG: Confederate Balloon at Yorktown: Balloon Bryan
45. CWTTLS_120607_368.JPG: Johnston's Request: * Request: knowledgeable soldier for special assignment * Bryan (on Magruder's staff) knew the region well and was ready for a new challenge and volunteered
46. CWTTLS_120607_376.JPG: First and Second Ascents: * April 13 & 14 -- Daytime reconnaissance of Union strength and location of artillery * Hot air balloon only able to maintain altitude tens of minutes * Afterwards, "the General complimented me by saying I had done very well indeed."
47. CWTTLS_120607_407.JPG: Bryan's Final Ascent: * A night ascent ( ~ April 16th) was ordered near Yorktown - Observe the Union movements and if they are advancing upon more than one point * During the ascent the rope was cut to save a soldier who was entangled in the rope
48. CWTTLS_120607_408.JPG: Evacuation of Yorktown: McClellan plans for an all out bombardment of Yorktown to take place on May 5th
49. CWTTLS_120607_422.JPG: Warwick Court House Balloon Station: * Rebels put up constant shelling of Union & Balloons on May 3rd * Early morning May 4th General Custer ascends alone * He observes the Confederates evacuating Yorktown
50. CWTTLS_120607_430.JPG: Lowe & Heintzelman also see the Rebels evacuate Yorktown
51. CWTTLS_120607_441.JPG: Running up York River, Va Leaving on May 7th
52. CWTTLS_120607_442.JPG: Confederate White House * The race up the river was too late to catch the Confederates
53. CWTTLS_120607_449.JPG: Lowe Arrives and Moves Inland
54. CWTTLS_120607_461.JPG: May 21, 1862 -- First view of the Chickahominy River and Richmond Lowe and General Stoneman's view of Richmond
55. CWTTLS_120607_469.JPG: Establishes Three Balloon Camps Mechanicsville * Dr. Gaines Farm * Trent House
56. CWTTLS_120607_508.JPG: "Powhite Estate" Dr. William Gaines House
57. CWTTLS_120607_512.JPG: Lowe's Location on Gaines Farm * Lowe's balloon station is located in ravine next to the Powhite Creek * Provided protection during inflation and early ascension * Note tents on the hill
58. CWTTLS_120607_589.JPG: June 14, 1862 -- Map used by Lowe Note: "The red lines represent some of the most important earth works seen this morning and are located as near as possible as is also the camps in black ink. As soon as I can get an observation from the Mechanicsville balloon, I can make many additions to this map."
59. CWTTLS_120607_603.JPG: Harrison's Landing aka Berkeley Plantation: * Lowe sick from Malaria * Allen temporarily heads Balloon Corp * Allen, Freno, Mason, and Steiner made ascents * Early August Balloon Corp returned to Washington DC
60. CWTTLS_120607_635.JPG: July 31, 1862 -- James River Allen and Steiner make observations in the Intrepid along the James River
61. CWTTLS_120607_649.JPG: Results of Lowe's balloon operations during the Peninsula Campaign: * Operated daily without undue trouble * Provided invaluable tactical information before and during engagements * Generated useful maps and sketches of enemy positions and gun emplacements * Routinely directed artillery fire * Used the telegraph system to rapidly communicate with field commanders
62. CWTTLS_120607_653.JPG: Confederate Ballooning
63. CWTTLS_120607_656.JPG: "Silk Dress Balloon" Story spun by General Longstreet for an article he wrote for the Century Magazine in 1886
64. CWTTLS_120607_667.JPG: June 1862: "Silk Dress Balloon" -- Gazelle * Built in Savannah, GA at the Chatham Armory by balloonists Charles Cevor and completed around May 22, 1862 * Captain Langdon Cheves over saw the project * 7,500 cu ft envelope made from 40-ft strips of silk varnished with "gutta-percha car spring dissolved in naptha" * Arrived in Richmond, VA on June 24, 1862
65. CWTTLS_120607_672.JPG: June 1862 -- Seven Days Battles: * Gazelle was used during the Seven Days Battles * L/C Alexander in charge of the new balloon * Inflated with "city gas" * First test flight by Charles Cevor on June 24, 1862 * First operational flight flown on [by?] L/C Alexander on June 25th
66. CWTTLS_120607_695.JPG: June 27, 1862: First time opposing "air forces" faced each other: * 9:20am, "About four miles to the west of here the enemy have a balloon about 800 feet in the air." -- TC Lowe
67. CWTTLS_120607_699.JPG: CSS Teaser and "Gazelle": Gazelle was tethered to CSS Teaser on James River to provide reconnaissance of Gen. McClellan's "retreat" to Harrison's Landing
68. CWTTLS_120607_703.JPG: July 4, 1862 -- CSS Teaser: USS Maratanza captures CSS Teaser and seizes the Gazelle ... but no picture of the Gazelle! CSS Teaser runs aground on the James River
69. CWTTLS_120607_717.JPG: August 21, 1862 -- Last Confederate Balloon: * Another Gazelle-type balloon was constructed by Charles Cever * Completed around August 21, 1862 * Used in the Savannah-Charleston area * July 1863 -- Balloon was carried away in high winds Confederate ballooning was hampered by lack of SS and portable gas generators
70. CWTTLS_120607_733.JPG: Lowe's Balloons in Storage * The Union balloons were used at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville * After Chancerlorsville (May 1863) the balloons were not returned to the DC Armory -- Quarter Master Dept stored them in a warehouse * Lowe leaves the service after he lost control of the Balloon Corps * Hooker was replaced by Grant who was not interested in balloons * Without Lowe, the master politician, there was no pressure to bring out of storage the balloons * The balloons would sit in storage nearly a year
71. CWTTLS_120607_749.JPG: The End of the Balloon Corp: * At the site of Rawlins Park all the balloons and equipment were sold on April 18, 1864 * Lowe purchased balloon(s) -- Washington, United States (?)
72. CWTTLS_120607_765.JPG: Balloons in the Franco-Prussian War 1870-1871
73. CWTTLS_120607_771.JPG: Boer War 1899-1902
74. CWTTLS_120607_779.JPG: Russo-Japanese War 1905 Japanese Balloon at Port Arthur
75. CWTTLS_120607_789.JPG: Balloons -- WWI
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