Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-05-09

GEN. PoRTER's BALLOON REooNNoGs-
sASCE On the lth day of April Gen.
Fitzjohn Porter made balloon reconnois-
sance from Gen. McClellan's camp at York
town, which came near being fatal to him. -
correspondent of one of the city papers
describes it as follows
At five o'clock in the morning General Porter took
his place Ia Professor Lowes balloon He supposed
the usual number Of ropes were attached To it, whereas
there was only one, and place in this, After-
wards ascertaned, had been burned by ytol, used in
generating gas. Taking his seat in the car,
full longth-about nine hundred yards-when suddenly
snAp went the cord and up went the balloon, This was
au unexpected part OF the programme. The below
looked up with asonishmcnt, and the General looked
down with equal beRilderment.
"Opcn the valve, shouted one Of the men below.
"l'il manage IT," responded the General
Up went the balloon, higher, higher. II rose with
great rapidity until 1t became a specs IN the sky The
wind taking il in the direction Of the cnemys ter
ritoy BY this time every stah officer and hundreds Of
others were looking at the moving speok IL is imposs
BILE 70 describe the anxiety felt and expressed for the
fate Of him. the central OBJECT " houshtn that moving
spcek, every moment becoming less visible Ii was at
last 60 IN the direction OF the Union army
and the eonnenanees OF the men frightened with hope
II passed over their heads Soon It began TO descend,
but with rapidly that aroused renewed apprehcnsions
Quickly squad " cavalry, led by officers " the Gen
erals staff plunged spurs into their horses aud dashed
away in the direction Of the descending balloon The
rest OF the story is received from the Generals own lips
While the rope was being paved out he adjusted his glass
iiiory. sudden bound Of the balloon told him Ga a
moment that the rope had giyln way lie dropped his
glass, heard the cali, open the valve, made The re-
spouse give above and set about looking for the valve
lie was sensible Of being hifhty (he General loves a
pun a. well as the next one) bat not at all
lie saw the win had taken him the line Of the
ell inuenchments. Having no wish % drop In among
them be let the valve take OF itself aud proceeded
to take advantage Of his position 70 note the aspect Of
rebel objects below Crowds Of soldiers rushed from the
woods, and he heard their shouts distinctly Luckily he
above the reach OF their bullets he was not
afraid this The map Of the country dis
uhety disoernible. He saw Yorktown aud its works.
York river and its wndngs, and Norfolk and It's suok
ing chimncys. counter current Of air struck the bal
loon, ana rs reversed It's from over
heoeldom rapid lie opened the valve, the gas
capped and down he lie could not say how fast he
came down. but d was with rapdity he would not
TO have repeated. The struck the top Of shelter
en-9nueI which, luckily, happened 20 be at the
ume-knockrd the tent into 'p' aud len him enyolop
ed ~ mass Of collapsed oil silk. lie crawled out aud
found himself ia the middle Of camp, not one hundred
rods from Gen. MeClelaus headquarters
II came mounted you sec was his remark 10 a gem
cfal % whom he gave the details OF his aerial VOYAGE
"And you have come down safe, See" remarked his
staff officer Il came with ibis cavalry company 90 ook
you up"
You ought to have seat flying artillery aher me,
reJoined Gen. Porter.
Hon. Emerson Elheridge says one of the
rebel Oihcers among the - Number Ten" ptis-