BACK IN THE DAY - 16

The Use of Lighter-Than-Air Craft in WarMost people know that the Wright brothers became the first successful aeronauts in 1903. A mere eleven years later, during WWI, flying had advanced enough that airplanes were used extensively in the war.There is another war that was much earlier lighter-than-air-craft that was used extensively. That war was the American Civil War fought 1861 to 1865. In this case, of course, it wasn’t airplanes that were utilized but rather hot air balloons. However, instead of direct combat, they were used in covert operations - Yes, spying. Their goal was not to intercept important messages between Generals in the hopes that they could learn intelligence of future troop movements or battle plans. Instead, using high-powered telescopes in conjunction with tethered hot air balloons, they monitored battles as they were taking place. For example, if a regiment of Confederate troops were moving left behind a hill, the Union man in the hot air balloon would relay the message to the Union Generals on the ground. This way, he could order a regiment to that location and catch the Confederates by surprise.
There were three men in each balloon. One to keep track of the air flow in the balloon, one to use the telescope, and the third to telegraph the message the short distance to the ground. Then, another man would ride his horse to the General with the message.
The chief man behind the corps of hot air balloonists was Thaddeus Lowe. In 1854 he helped lay the transatlantic cable using his hot air balloon. When the Civil War broke out, Lowe thought his hot air balloon could work wonders for the Union army. Through a series of letters and telegrams to Lincoln, he managed to get Lincoln to agree to a demonstration. Lowe set up his balloon at the Columbian Armory in Washington City and rose to 500 feet. Then, tethered to the ground, he used his telescope to observe a 360 degree view of the city. He then telegraphed this message to his man on the ground:

Sir: This point of observation commands an area of nearly 50 miles in diameter. The city, with its girdle of encampments, presents a superb scene. I have the pleasure in sending you this first dispatch ever telegraphed from an aerial station, and in acknowledging indebtedness to your encouragement and the opportunity of demonstrating the availability of the science of aeronautics to the military service of the country.

Lincoln was so impressed that he gave the order to make full use of Lowe and his hot air balloon corps to aid the Union in the Civil War.However, it was some Union Generals that ultimately brought about the downfall of the use of hot air balloons in the field. General Winfield Scott was the most outspoken against them. Other Generals also detested them. On more than one occasion, a General would send a message to Lowe, or one of his associates to take his hot air balloon to a location some distance away for battle coverage. However, they were purposely sent to a location far away from the actual battle.
The Confederates managed to get one hot air balloon of their own up. It was made from silk dresses donated by women of Richmond. The Confederates would fill their balloon with gas in the city and, partially inflated, tow it down the York