Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1886-09-14
AIrgR THR YANKEE BALLOON.

AElE Elk IHE 1hNhbr bhbASS''
An .C1nfedsfsts writes to the Ere,
Press: A matter which greatly exercised
the Confederaies during the early par.
Of the war W. the use Of balloons by
the federals TO spy out our position. AT
Yorktown where AlmOs, daily aseensions
were made. our camps, bi,isri's, field
works and defenees were plain TO the
vision Of the occupants Of the balloon.
and !, Was also quite easy 10 form ieli-
able estimate Of our numbers.
These balboa ssceasioas excited us
more than al the outpost attacks. All t
"a. officially d,,ermIn.d % pa, stop 70
them at Whatever cost The longest
range niles 10 the South were seni for.
and they were pa, int, the h'ni. Of
Confederate, noted fof their ma'knAn.
ship. bat, although the BALBOA ssen'i to
be within easy rage. IL vac o) far away
for any na, TO do execution from our
oa,pOst.. Ligh, artillery was then
broash, in,o play, using b',h shot Sni
she'll. ba, somehow the ,arse, could not
be struck. We faally opened uPoi II
With any aud every piece Of o'daane'
which could b. br)lghi % osit, bat
while -e thres .ho; fu bsJoni II, and
apparently close 10 IL. We e)ild n o, even
fn,h,ea the MA ia the bA,ks,. Between
our ou,po.,s aud those OF the fsderal'
Was half mile Of neutral Territory. One
dark night. thirty I've Co hfed,iais sharp
shooters, each armed " iih the heaviest
rias known To oar So u,hsrn hunters
were seen 70 creep =, far seross this nsu-
trail srolai .s s,lbls. fad hidins-Plae'',
and TO open on tbs BALBOA next morning
The re.al, ". DISASTROUS % us. Ten OF
the men were captured before the balloon
assembled. aud III. res, Of ~ h al hardly
opened fu when heavy force hunted
u. oa, and killed AID captured all but
sir.
Reward. were then offered for III de.
.,ruc,ion of ,h. BALBOA ia the Re dsral
camp. add was one ofthe five who IN.
der,ook the task va, promised
81 900 ia gold aud commission q"
.eeoai lisulenant III succeeded. AMI |
presume the same promise wa' made to
the Others. We lsfs sspirl'ely aud by
different routes. each one beng told TO
make auaa,smsar 70 salt hlm'sN. |
W. nearly thihy..iS hours getting In
the rear Of the Federal army. aud when
1 entered the camp, IL wa' a. a Peiilsr
Of tobacco and no,ioas. who would have
been Ia the ranks. ba, f0r bis lamene.s.
|, va. nearly week after left the Con.
feieraic camp before | reached the vlein'
i,y where I.ose made his Ascension..
and IL W.. then 10 discover ihA, the
creates, pr,eAiiiJns were taken 10 guard
ay.in., What hal been cent % effect.
Scniinels were stationed about the place
in such numbers that IL was useless 20
hope that | nigh. pas them. Aad What
made the matter worse vas the fact tia,
two Of our .pie. had been c,P,ared aud
held on suspicion. Nothing bat IRE
~oillaassir our pifPI'e Rats eoili
be mvnded and hole. patched. and while
/, va. likely that balloon could be made
In couple Of week, the iaiefval would
permit the ConfederA,es 10 make many
changes.
Ga the day ,hG, Flu John Porter
made bis ascen,i)a ani the rope broke
ani le, the BALBOA h).t away, | Was
within ra, .ho, Of the spot Of .'ein' ION.
A. he ho.ied away over our camp II
seemed q. II accident nal sealed the fate
Of the BALBOA and given u'a distinguish
ell prisoner. ba, change Of vial oesar'
ed AID back came the aif ship 10 drop to
the ground almost A. my feet. vas
oae Of the hfteen or tvea,y men wh1
.iezei the basket and held Il 10 the ca nth
while Porter stepped oa'. had m''ehe'
and | only had to strike light TO de-
.uoy the BALBOA a. sa,,a. | mssni TO
take every ri,k. bu, as | dss q match
from my pocket, h.vinsa filed pipe al
ready ia my mouth a. an excuse. . olg
sergeant Who stood beside me seized me
by the neck. hang me several feet away
on my back. and shouted a, me /: "iou
internal IDIOT, ba, do you want 70 fire
the BALBOA. ,
Ibid. ba, he had deprived ms OF the
opportunity. slms Of the men laughed.
Some said ought to be kicked out Of
camp. AMI p,uisace Whispered to m 20
take myself OF while had the ehanse.
Only two Of u, out Of the five 20, back
TO our regiments. whs, became OF The
Others was mystery we were never able
to clear up. Other plans to destroy the
balloon were projected. bu, !, made only
two or three more a.csn,ions. Tbs ,rou.
bic OF Initiating and caring Coz Il. added TO