Using Balloons For Reconnaissance During The Civil War

One of the Civil War balloons, the Intrepid. Source: (Wikipedia).

During the Civil War, the Union used an unusual weapon in the fight against the Confederates: hot air balloons. The first record of balloon use as an anti-war mechanism was in the Battle of Fleurus in 1794.

Two Methods Of Piloting

Two methods of piloting balloons were utilized at the time. With the first of these, free flight, the balloon could fly in any direction, and pilots had to ascend and return themselves. In captive flight, the balloon is tied to at least one tether which is manned by ground crews. The tethers helped to guide the balloon back and allowed for a telegraph connection.

Lincoln Wanted To Use Balloons

When Lincoln became interested in using balloons for reconnaissance, the War Department at the Treasury started to consider the idea of creating a balloon aviation unit. This new unit would require a “Chief Aeronaut,” and so balloonists started to vie for the position. Among these, two had the opportunity to perform combat aerial reconnaissance: Professor Thaddeus Lowe and John LaMountain. 

The Chief Aeronaut

Lowe was a veteran balloonist with dreams of making a transatlantic crossing via balloon; in addition to being the balloonist closest to completing a transatlantic flight, he was also the most successful in balloon building. His dreams were interrupted by the start of the Civil War one week prior to an important test flight. On June 11, 1861, Lowe met with Lincoln and offered to give a demonstration. Lowe gave this demonstration on June 16 in his balloon, the Enterprise. He ascended approximately 500 feet above the Columbian Armory, accompanied by a telegraph key and operator. A line led down to the White House, allowing him to transmit a telegraph to Lincoln. He was later chosen to the chief aeronaut of the newly formed Union Army Balloon Corps which was in operation from October 1861 until the summer of 1863. 

The ascension of Lowe. Photo by Matthew Brady. Source: (Wikipedia).

Flying Over Bull Run

Lowe was first assigned to work with the Topographical Engineers; they used his balloon to make aerial observations and maps. He later flew over the battlefield at Bull Run with General Irvin McDowell, who was impressed with his work; he eventually helped to solidify the selection of Lowe as Chief Aeronaut, although he never received a commission. When Lowe first flew over Bull Run, he hovered over Union encampments, and as it was a free flight, and he had no uniform or insignias, so they couldn’t identify him. Because he was in danger of being fired on, and he was forced to land behind enemy lines where he waited to be rescued. His flights after this were captive flights.

Making Military Balloons

Lowe recognized that balloons made for military purposes needed to be different from those used for civilian purposes. They had be better made, they needed to have special handling and care, and they had to be filled at municipal coke gas supply stations before being towed to the field. Lowe recognized the need for portable hydrogen gas generators so they could fill the balloons on the field, but he faced delays. Lowe had another demonstration on September 24, 1861, this time at Fort Corcoran. Here, he ascended to view the Confederate encampments at Falls Church, Virginia, and signaled the artillery to help direct their shots. Because of the success of the demonstration, Lowe received orders the next day to build four balloons with hydrogen gas generators. As they were constructing the balloons at Lowe’s Philadelphia facility, they also used Lowe’s recipe to create a varnish to make them waterproof.