The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-06-28
a sixh. fren 60 R.lleo..

Col. loves balloon yesterday was stationed
near Gamers Mills, on the right center Of the
Union line, and within six miles of Richmond.
1t 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 enc.
my's troops from the elevated point of view it
afforded. The balloon is held to the ground by
q cord o thousand feet in length, and of course
ascends to that distance above the earth. A
pulley and tackle arrangement, worked, BY
men below, is the power used to pull it down,
and, being strongly fastened to the earth there
is but very little danger of the machines es-
seldom ascend, officers and others with author
ity for the ascension, being sent up by twos
and threes at . time, and after few min
utes stay, hauled down.
When the balloon has assembled at this point
to the end Of its tether, grand view of both
armies is unfolded. Within q circle of TWO
miles in radius the sight is very perfect; be-
youd that the angle of vision becomes so near
~ horizontal that woods, houses, and hills,
materially interfere with the view. The land
scape has three marked objects upon it, which
are the first to strike the eye. The Chicka-
homiDy, almost beneath ones feet, bordered
by Its dark green swamps, runs like thread
from where it rises on the horizon, away of to
the northwest where it blends with woods
and hills to the south east. The James river
in front though distant, runs in deep crook
ed valley, and bears en- its bosom hundreds of
craft that in the distance look like white specks
upon the blue waters.
Richmond, covering large portion Of the
western horizon, is, however the principal
sight. 1t appears to the balloonist as con-
used medley Of red, white and black, and
heavy brown Notifications stretching from
right to left, with thick walls plentifully
sprinkled with cannon, surrounding it on all
sides. The Capitol Square can scarcely be
discerned being too thickly surrounded by
buildings. The white Capitol, however, is
quite conspicuous and Of course the stars and
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 looking at
Richmond. But little else however. can be
distinguished, although, for general view of
the town, nothing could be better than that
from the balloon.
The space between the Chickahominy and
the Notifications around Richmond is almost
filed with Rebel camps. A thousand Cavalry
horses were picketed in one field, and others
were plentifully sprinkled all about Wedge
tents, used by the officers, and little dog tents
by the men shone in every direction as the
suns rays struck them. Intrenchments and
rife. pits lined the front of their position tho
very few guns were mounted. Several guns of
heavy caliber are sprinkled along these earth
works. Rebel camps are however the most
prominent of all the sights. They show in
every direction, and the southern and western
horizon seems to be their only boundary.
Of our own position, as seen from the bal
loon l must be silent. One thing, however,
in the whole view is most remarkable Right
in the center of the picture runs curved belt
Of green and yellow about a mile wide Not
a man, gun, tent. or wagon appears upon it.
1t is the line between the two armies Over it
cannon balls are thrown, and on its surface
scouts and pickets hide from each other. but
no military sign is to be seen upon it. Every
where else, stretching as far as the eye can
reach, are the thousand and one things Incl
dent to war; but this broad, quiet deserted
belt of land, so lonely, so sombre, varying on
ly as it is swamp OF field, or stream, lies there
so still that it almost inspires the beholder.-
Jupiter rings or Saturn's belts never wore a
grander sight than this belt of land on which
nothing like tent or gun appears-TBetor
Richmond Cor. Phila, press