Civil War

Gallery

Civil War Ballooning

Photos, Illustrations, and artifacts tied to the rich history of ballooning during the American Civil War.

(31 photos in gallery)

Balloon Over Vienna, Virginia

Library of Congress

Thaddeus Lowe making a balloon ascension on a reconnoitering expedition to Vienna, Va. in 1861.

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, inventor of the rigid airship, served as an observer in the Civil War and met one of Thaddeus Lowe's balloonists. Von Zeppelin stated that this encounter and a subsequent brief voyage first sparked his love of flying.