Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-07-11
THE BATTLEFIELD FROM THE BAL.
LOON.

LOON.
Colonel loves balloon, Yesterday, was
stationed near Gaines Mills, on the right
centre Of the Federal line, and within six
miles Of Richmond IL was in the air the
whole day. and in the few hours it assembled,
some thirty or forty army officers observed
the position Of the enemy's troops from the
elevated point Of view it afforded
The balloon is held to the ground by a
strong cord thousand feet in length, and Of
course ascends to tina; distance above the
earth. A pulley and tackle arrangement,
worked by men below, is he power used to
pull it down, and. being strongly fastened to
the earth, there is but very little danger Of
the machines escape.
When the balloon has assembled at this
point to the end Of the tether. grand view
Of both armies is unfolded. Within a circle
of two miles in radius the sight is very per-
feet before that the angle OF vision becomes
so nearly horizontal that woods, houses and
hills materially interfere with the view. The
landscape hiss three marked objects upon it,
which are the first to strike the eye. The
Chickamahominy, almost beneath ones feet,
borded by its dark green swamp., runs like
a thread from where it rises ON the horizon,
with woods and hills in the Southeast.
The James river in front, though distant.
runs in a deep, crooked valley, and bears on
its bosom hundreds of craft that in the dis
lance. look like white specks upon the blue
waters. Richmond, covering large portion
OF the Western horizon, is, however the
principal sight. It appears to the balloonist
as a confused medly OF red, white and black,
and heavy brown Notifications, stretching
from the right 10 the left, with thick walls
and plentilully sprinkled with cannon, sur
round it on all sides.
The Capitol Square can scarcely be dis
cerned, being too thickly surrounded by
buildings. The white capitol, however, is
quite conspicuous, and, of course, the stars
aud bars float over the roof. Three church
spires, seemingly all in one spot, are the
brightest part Of the town, and catch the eye
almost before the observer is aware he is look
ing at Richmond. But little else. however,
can be distinguished although, for a general
view Of the town, nothing could be better
than that from the balloon. Tho space be-
tween the Chickah1miuy and the Notifications
around Richmond is almos' filled with rebel
camps.
A thousand cavalry horses were picketed in
one field, and Others were plentiiully sprink-
led all about. Wedge tents, used by the Of.
fcers, and little dog tents by the men, shone
in every direction as the suns rays struck
them. Intreuchmcnts and rifle pits lined the
front Of their position, though very few guns
were mounted. Several guns Of heavy calbre
are sprlnkled along these earthworks. Rebel
camps, however, are the most prominent of
all the sights. They show in every direction,
and the Southern and Western horizon seems
to be their only boundary.
or our own position, as seen from the bal
loon, must silent. One thing, however, in
the whole view is most remarkable. Right
through the centre Of the picture runs "a curv-
ed belt of dark green and yellow about a mile
wide. Not man, gun, tent, or wagon APP
pear upon it, It is the line between the two
armies. Over it, cannon balls are thrown,
and on it surface scouts and pickets hide from
each other, but no military sign is to be seen
upon it.
Everything else, stretched as far as the eye
can reach are the thousand and one things
incident to war but this broad, quiet de-
serted belt Of land, so lonely, so sombrc,
varying only as it is swamp, or field, or
stream, lies there so still that it almost in
spires the beholder