Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1862-07-30
The Sight from a Balloon
Correspondenee PHILADELPHIA Press.


Col. Lowe balloon yesterday was sta
toned near Gaines Mills, on the right
center Of the federal line and within six
miles Of Richmond Ii was IN the air du-
ring she whole day, and in the few hours
it ascended, some thirty or forty army
officers Observed the position OF the enc
mys troops from the elevated p6jut of
view it afforded The balloon IS held 20
the ground by a strong cord | 900 feet in
length, and OF course ascends to that lis
tancc above the earth A pully and tack
le arrangement, worked by men below. is
the power used to pull it down. and be
ing strongly fastened to the earth, there is
but very little danger of the machines 5 es-
cape.-Ihe Colonel and his assistants
very seldom ascend, officers and others.
with the authority for the ascension. be
sent up BY two and three at ti.ae. and,
alter few moments stay hauled down.
" hen the balloon has ascended at this
point to the en- of its tethcr, grand view
OF both armies is unfolaed Within a cir
Gle OF two miles inradius the sight is very
perfect; beyond that the angle of vision
becomes 50 near horizontal that woods
houses and hills materially interfere with
the view. The landscape has three mark
ed objects upon 1t, which are the first to
strike the eye The Chickahominy. al
most beneath ones feet, bordered bv its
dark green swamps, runs like Il thread
from where 1t rises on the horizon, away
OIL 20 the northwest. to Wh re II blends
with woods and hills in the southeast
The James river in front though dis
tant runs in a deep crooked valley. and
bears on It's bosom hundreds Of crafts.
that IN the distance look like white specI1s
upon the blue waters Richmond. cover
ing Il large portion Of the western horizon
Is, however the principal sight Itappears
10 the baIoonIst as confused medley OF
red white and black and heavy brown for
tlhca tionS stretching from the right to the
lett with thick walls plentifully sprinlIc.l
with cannon, surrounding it on all sides
iho capitol square can scarcely be dis
cerned being too thckly surroande by
buildings The capitol is quite couspicn-
Gus, and of course the stars and bars Chat
hoat over the roof Three church spires.
seemingly all in one, are the brightest part
OF the town, and catch the eve almost be
lore the observer IS aware he is looking
ut Richmond. But little else, however
can be dlstlnru shed, although for 4 gen
eral view OF the town, nothing ColId be
better than that from the balloon The
space between the Chickahominy and the
iortIIcatlons around Richmond is almost
hIied with rebel camps l,000 cavalry hor-
ses were picketed in one field. and others
were plentiful around Wedge tents used
by the officers, and little dog tents by the
men, shoHc IN every direction as the sun 8
rays struck them. Fn;renchments and
riheplts, lined the front Of their position
though very few guns ere mounted. -
several guns OF heavy calibre are sprink
led along these earthworks. Rebel camps
are the most prominent Of all the sights
lhey show in every direction, and the
southern and western horizon is their ONLY
boundary.
Oh our own position as seen from bc
balloon, | must be silent. One thing how
ever, III the whole view is most romark-
able. Right through the center of tho ! G
ture runs curved belt of dark green and
yellow, about a mile wide Not q mar.
gun, tent or wagon appears upon it
the line between the two armies Over
cannon balls are thrown, and on its sur
face scouts and pickets hide from each
other, but no military sign is to be seen
upon IT Everywhere else. stretching as
lar rs the eye can reach. are the thousand
and one things incident to var; but this
broac, quiet deserted belt Of land so lone
y, so .ombre varying only as it is swamp,
or iield.or stream, lies there so still that
1t aimost inspires the Deholder. .Jupiter's
or Saturn rings never were Il eeTan,Inl.
sig It than this belt Of land on which moth
In9 Ike tent or gun or munitions, OF war
appear