The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-12
PoRTER's BALLOON RIDE.
A Different Account of the Venture Given
by Philadelphia Lawyer.
Philadelphia Times.

A Different Account of the Venture Given
by o Philadelphia Lawyer.
Philadelphia Times.
In the Times of yesterday an article from the
Atlanta Constitution is printed, in which it is
told. with considerable circumstance, how Gen.
Ftz John Porter got adrift in a balloon during
the Peninsular campaign of Mcclellan, in 1862
1t happened that Jacob G. Freno. prac-
ticing attorney at No. lac South Sixth street, in
this city, was at that time connected with the
balloon service, and from him yesterday were OBJ
tanned the details of General Porter's adventure,
differing very materially from those related in
the article quoted
"In the fall of 1857 said Mr. Freno, "while
lying back of Washington with the Sixty-sixth
Pennsylvania Volunteers. in which was first
lieutenant, l. In consequence OF communica
ton from Prof. T. S. @. Lowe, then engaged by
tho War Department to organize a balloon serv-
ice, resigned my commission and was appointed
by him an assistant. had considerable expert
ence in balleoning, having been with Lowe
in the West before the war in number of as
tensions, being the money partner in the bust
ness and acting as his assistant The service as
organized for the Army of the Potomac was
composed of the Professor. two assistants, Ma
son and Ben Allen. in addition to myself and
ten enlisted men, chosen from sailors who had
enlisted in the army. They were preferred be-
cause they were accustomed to handling
ropes. When we reached the Peninsula
we had three balloons, and wherever we we're at
the time we had, in addition to our regular
service, thirty additional men detailed from the
regiments conveniently near, who, when we
moved, were returned to their regiments and
when we found new location thirty other men
were detailed from other regiments, and so on,
it requiring large number of men to hold the
balloons while they were being inflated and do
other necessary work
Now / was not present with the balloon in
| which General Porter got adrift This was be-
fore Yorktown while the army was engaged in
the siege. but the circum lance was so extraor
binary and my information about it was OBJ
tanned so soon after from those who were present
that / am sure | am correct in what L
state. / do not know whether the ascen-
ing, but as the ascensions were as
rule. in the morning, believe it to have been
at that time. The balloon happened to have at
the time only one rope attached to it, while the
usual number was three. The balloon had not
risen far when the rope parted and the balloon
ter. no doubt knowing that he was adrift. hal.
looed over the side of the car: What shall
DOR and Allen, who had charge of the ascen-
sion, cried: Pull the rope over your head
| which was the valve rope.
Probably the General did not hear him, for
| the balloon rose to great height, and for time
| was over the confederate position. think the
times by the rebel artillery is mistake because
| if this had been true would have heard of It,
and in addition to this, / never saw, nor think
any other man in that war, piece of either field
or siege artillery imposition that could be fired
at such an elevation as to hit balloon
/ overhead if even within gunshof. Nor can il be
true that the General was aloft for twenty hears.
| for during that long time. as the wind, even IT
/ light, blew fand the air in the higher strata IS
never stiH1, he would have drifted many.
many miles away. He was up according
TO my information, but short time.