Balloon Over Vienna, Virginia
Library of Congress
Thaddeus Lowe making a balloon ascension on a reconnoitering expedition to Vienna, Va. in 1861.
Civil War Ballooning
Civil War
Gallery
Civil War Ballooning
(31 photos in gallery)
Balloon View of Washington DC
Library of Congress
Balloons offered the military a platform to greatly expand their views of the surrounding landscape. Washington DC in May 1861
Telegram: Lowe to Lincoln
Library of Congress
Portion of the telegram that Thaddeus Lowe sent to Abraham Lincoln to promote the capabilities of his balloons.
Note: Lincoln to Winfield Scott
National Air & Space Museum
Handwritten note from Abraham Lincoln urging Gen. Winfield Scott to fully consider the use of balloons in the war effort.
War Balloon at McClellan's HQ
Library of Congress
1861 illustration showing a Federal balloon near Maj. Gen. George McClellan's headquarters.
Aeronaut Thaddeus Lowe
Library of Congress
Thaddeus Lowe was one of the early and most prominent of the Union aeronauts. His wartime career would bring much controversy.
The Colorful Design of the Intrepid
Dr. James L. Green
Union balloons were often used bright colors and patriotic designs.
Fair Oaks: Lowe in his balloon "Intrepid"
Library of Congress
Thaddeus Lowe rises in this balloon, Intrepid, near Fair Oaks, Virginia on May 31, 1862
Constitution Replenishing Intrepid
Library of Congress
In a great hurry to get the Intrepid fully inflated, Thaddeus Lowe came up with a system that allowed him to transfer gas from the Constitution to his larger Intrepid.
Balloons Over Fair Oaks
Library of Congress
This fanciful Currier & Ives illustration shows a Federal balloon floating above the carnage at the Battle of Fair Oaks on May 31, 1862.
The Balloon Intrepid at Gaines' Mill
Library of Congress
Using portable field gas generators, Union balloonists look to inflate the Intrepid at Gaines' Mill.
Balloon at Gaines' Mill
Library of Congress
An inflated balloon rises above the ground at the Gaines' Farm. Soldiers on horseback stand in the foreground.
The Historians at Lowe's Ballooning Site
Rob Shenk
Left to Right: Dr. Jim Green (NASA), Dr. Tom Crouch (Air & Space Museum), and Mike Boehme (Virginia Aviation Museum) standing near Powhite Creek - site of Lowe's famous balloon camp.
Dr. Gaines' House
National Park Service
Lowe's balloon operations at Gaines' Mill were centered around Dr. Gaines' prominent house located above the Chickahominy River
Gaines' Mill - Balloon Valve
Richmond National Battlefields Park
This Union balloon valve was recovered from the Gaines' Mill battlefield in the 20s or 30s. This artifacts is now on display at the Tredegar Visitor Center in Richmond.
E.P. Alexander - Confederate Aeronaut
Library of Congress
Confederate E.P. Alexander made several balloon ascents during the Seven Days Battles and valued highly the potential of balloons in a reconnaissance role.
The "Silk Dress" Balloon
National Air & Space Museum
Segment of the Confederate balloon, Gazelle. Give the colorful, patchwork design of this balloon many believed that the silk used was from ladies dresses....not true.
Thaddeus Lowe's Binoculars
National Air & Space Museum
Wartime binoculars used by Thaddeus Lowe during his reconnaissance flights during the Civil War.
Sending a Telegraph
Library of Congress
Balloons and the telegraph, both relatively new technologies, helped increase and speed along aerial intelligence.
Lowe's Annotated Map of the Richmond Area
Central Intelligence Agency
Lowe annotated this map of the Richmond area so as to show Confederate positions and movements.
Fredericksburg: A Balloon at Rest
Library of Congress
A Civil War balloon (hiding in the bushes) and its gas generators (in the foreground) are captured in this early 1863 illustration.
Lowe's Barometer
National Air & Space Museum
View of Thaddeus Lowe's Civil War barometer - used to determine altitude in his balloons.
Balloons: Front Page News
Civil War ballooning efforts were often mentioned on the front pages of prominent newspapers.
Ballooning in the Sesquicentennial
Joanne Hunter
Joanne Hunter's photo of a Civil War balloon at the Manassas 150th event was one of our 2011 Photo Contest winners.
Balloon "Aircraft Carriers"
Library of Congress
Both sides employed naval vessels to transport and service Civil War balloons.
Signal Plan
National Air & Space Museum
Hand-drawn chart of a balloon-based communication system developed by Lowe.
Stereoview Card - Lowe's Balloon Ascent
Library of Congress
A stereoview of Lowe's balloon ascent. These cards, placed into a stereoviewer, would allow a person to see this image in 3D.
Union Balloon Camp at Falmouth, Virginia
James Gibson/Library of Congress
View of a Union balloon camp near Falmouth, Virginia in March of 1863.
Wooden Valve - City of New York
National Air & Space Museum
A large wooden valve from Lowe’s 1859 balloon, City of New York.
Zeppelins: The Civil War Connection
Library of Congress
Ferdinand von Zeppelin went to America to see how balloons were being used during the Civil War.
Balloons in the 21st Century
Wikimedia
A modern observation balloon floats above a Coalition site in Afghanistan. Balloons still play an important reconnaissance role today.
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