, 1862-06-17
BALLOON TEL LEGRAPHIN& IN
BATTLE.
The TelegraphIc Corps of McCIelIan's
Army

We lind in the Lancaster (Pa) Express an
Interesting letter from Mr.. Parker Spring,
superintendent Of the telegraph construction
In General McClellan's army, describing the
use Of the telegraph in q balloon during the
great battle before Richmond. Mr. Spring
says:
For some time past have been ordered by
Col. Eckert four superintendent Of military
telegraphs) to try telegraphic experiment
from balloon. Saturday morning, when We
heard that great battle must be fought,
Prot Lowe notitcd me that should extend
the wire to his balloon and VIC would try it.
In one hour We had brought the wire a mile
and half, and was ready to ascend with the
professor. The battle had commenced When
it had reached Its zenith, Prof Lowe and my
self, with the telegraph, had reached an alti-
tnde Of TWO thousand feet. With the aid Of
good glasses re were enabled to view the
whole affair between these powerful contend
ing armies.
As the fight progressed, hasty observations
we're made By the professor and given to me
verbally, all Of which instantly forwarded
to Gen. Mcclellan aud the division command
ers through the agency Of the obedient field
instrument which stood By our side in the bot
tom Of the car. Occasionally masked rebel
battery would open upon our brave fellows.
In such cases the occupants Of the balloon
would inform our artillerists of its position,
silence the masked and annoying customer.
For hours, and until quite dark, We remained
in the air, the telegraph keeping up constant
communication with some point. From the
balloon to Fortress Monroe, q distance OF one
hundred miles, this wire worked beautifully.
number Of messages were sent and received
between these two points, and had it not been
for the tremendous rush Of business upon the
Wirc should have telegraphed you directly
from the balloon, while the battle was
raging;
cended. Early Id the morning the battle was
renewed, aud with more ferceness than the
day before. 1nceEsant firing Of musketry aud
artillery WAS kept up till noon, when had
the extreme pleasure to announce By tcle-
graph from the balloon that we could see the
enemy retreatiug rapidly towards Richmond.
A. this time ne could see firing on James
River to the lett Of Richmond, distance from
| the balloon (some said) fifteen miles. This
fire Vas Of short duration.
HOW RICHMOND LOOKED FROM TIE BALLOON.
The streets Of Richmond in the morning
presented deserted appearance, but very few
people to be seen in the streets. During the
afternoon and evening Of Sunday nothing Of
interest transpired beyond the removal Of the
rebel dead and wounded, all Of which We could
distinctly see from the balloon. Every avail
able machine that had wheels was brought
into INTO 1ean@lsition @ for this purpose; From the
1NeaS VI u0se1G 4ulV tAt CtLf u hlEu4oAA tHS
road 'cas literally lined asith an6uzanccs, ,aagons
and carts, consryiug dead and aroundetl.
About twilight We saw campfire innumer-
able around the city; smoke issued from all
theu hospitals and barracks, which showed
us to certainty that the main body Of their
army had fallen back to Richmond. Monday
morning We made several ascensions, and
found small force near the last scene of ac-
ton, and thousands Of troops marching out
from the city, 20 you may look momentarily
| Tor q IeQQtt of annfher seEere hattie