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# Thaddeus Lowe's Balloon Ascent

Smithsonian Libraries and Archives

                    - Share IconShare Icon                       - 
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                      - Print
                      -     DetailsRelatedObject Details- Author
- Brady & Co. (Washington, D.C.)
- Subject
- Lowe, T. S. C (Thaddeus Sobieski Coulincourt) 1832-1913
- Henry, Joseph 1797-1878
- Lincoln, Abraham 1809-1865
- Intrepid (Hot Air Balloon)
- Category
- Historic Images of the Smithsonian
- Note that this is a composite image, consisting of the May 31, 1862, stereo view photograph showing people on the ground and the basket of the balloon, with the balloon labeled "Intrepid" drawn in above the original image.
- Summary
- Image of Thaddeus Lowe's balloon test of the "Intrepid" at the battle of Fair Oaks, Virginia, during the Peninsular Campaign, May-August 1862. Lowe's balloon was used for reconnaissance for the Union Army during the Civil War. Using a telegraph the driver could send a message about Confederate camps and troop movements to soldiers below who then gave the information to Union generals. The test was supported by Smithsonian Institution Secretary Joseph Henry, who served as President Abraham Lincoln's scientific advisor during the war.
- Contained within
- Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 95, Box 54, Folder: 9D
- Contact information
- Institutional History Division, Smithsonian Archives, 600 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20024-2520, SIHistory@si.edu
- May 31, 1862
- Civil War, 1861-1865
- Standard number
- SIA2011-0961 and A30915H
- Restrictions & Rights
- No restrictions
- Type
- Event
- Photographic print
- Group, candid
- Physical description
- Number of Images: 1; Color: Black and White; Size: 10w x 8h; Type of Image: Event; Group, candid; Medium: Photographic print
- Place
- United States
- Virginia
- Smithsonian Archives - History Div
- Topic
- Ballooning
- Telegraph
- Hot air balloons
- Experiments
- Soldiers
- Tents
- Aeronautics
- Fair Oaks, Battle of, Va., 1862
- Balloon ascensions
- History
- Record ID
- siris_sic_12871
- Metadata Usage (text)
- Usage conditions apply
Related Content-                    Up, Up, and Away                 
  CC0Creative Commons - No Rights Reserved iconUsage Conditions Apply>download icon>          There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .        International media Interoperability FrameworkIIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.View manifestView in Mirador ViewerExpand to view image×                             Footer logo      
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