The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-08-13
After the Yankee Balloon.


By an Ex- Rebel
A matter which greatly exercised the
confederates during the early part OF
the war was the use of balloons by
the tederals to spy out our position
AT Yorktown, where almost daily as
tensions We're made, our camps, bat.
teries, field works and all defenses were
plain to the vision ofthe occupants OF
the balloon, and it was also quite easy
to from a reliable estimate OF our
numbers.
These balloon ascensions excited us
more than all the outpost attacks, and
IL was oticlally determined to put u
stop to them at whatever cost. The
longest range rifles in the South were
sent tor, and they were put into the
hands OF Confederates noted for their
craftsmanship, but, although the bal
loon seemed to be within easy range,
1T was too far away for any rifle to
do execution from our outposts.
Light artillery was then brought into
play, using both shot and shell, but
somehow the target could not be
struck. We finally opened upon it
with any and every piece OF ordnance
which could be brought to bear, but
while we threw shot far beyond it,
and apparently close to it, we could
not even frighten the men in the bask-
ct. Between our outposts and those
OF the Federals was half a mile of neu-
trail territory. One dark night thir-
ty-iive Confederate sharpshooters,
each armed with the heaviest rifles
known to our Southern hunters, were
sent out to creep as far across this
neutral ground as possible, find hiding
places, and to open on the balloon
next morning. The result was disas-
trous to us. Ten ofthe men were cap.
tured before the balloon ascended,
and the rest OF US had hardly opened
fire when a heavy force hunted us out
and killed or captured all but six.
Rewards were then offered for the
destruction of the balloon in the Fed
eral camp, and / was one OF five who
undertook the task. was promised
81, 900 in gold and a commission as
second lieutenant if l succeeded, and |
presume the same promise was made
to the Others. We left separately and
by different routes, each one being told
to make arrangements to suit himself.
! was nearly thirtysix hours getting
in rear of the Federal army, and when
entered the camps it was as u ped
dler OF tobacco and notions, who
would have been in the ranks but for
his lameness. 1t WAS nearly week at
ter left the Confederate camp before
L reached the vicinity where Lowe
made his ascensions, and it was then
to discover that the greatest precau-
tions were taken toguard against what
lhad been sent to effect. Sentinels were
stationed about the place in such
numbers that it was useless to hope
that ] might pass them, and what
made the matter worse was the fact
that two OF our spies had been cap.
tured and held on suspicion. Nothing
but fire would answer onr purpose.
Rents could be mended and holes
patched, and while it was likely thao
balloon could be madein couple OF
weeks, the interval would permit tile
Confederates to make many changes.
On the day that Fitz John Porter
made his ascension and therope broke
and let the balloon float away, | was
within rifle shot of the spot OF ascen-
sion. AS he tloated away over our
SoIip ~ ScCHlcu US II aCCluelL liiU
sealed the fate OF the balloon and Civ
en- us distinguished prisoner, but a
chang OF wind occurred and back came
the air ship to drop to the ground al
most at my feet. was one of the tif-
teen or twenty men who seized the
basket and held it to the earth while
Porter stepped out. had matches, and
had only to strike light to destroy
the balloon at a flash l meant to
take every risk, but as drew a match
from ny pocket having filled pipe
alreauy in my mouth as an excuse, a
big sergeant who stood beside me
seized me by the neck flung me several
feet away on my back and shouted at
me:
"You Internal idiot! but do you
want to fire the balloon?"
did, but he had deprived me ofthe
opportunity. Some Of the men laugh
ed. Some said l ought to be kicked
out OF camp, and prudence whispered
to me to take myself off while | had
the chance. Only two of us out OF the
five got back to our regiments. What
became Of the Others was u mystery
we were never able to clear up. Other
plans to destroy the balloon were
projected, but it made only two or
three more ascensions. The trouble
OF initiating and caring for it, added to
the peril OF those who assembled, in
duced the military authorities to
abandon the enterprise
Free Press.