The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-01-28

SUFFERED severely up TO this time IN TN
engagement with Heintziemnn. soor
after this new force was joined. ths
enemy, repulsed, fell back toward Rich
mond and the earthworks which they
had had the precsution to throw up be-
fore making the attack.
These eartLworks were exceedingly
numerous, and all of them we're exc
cuted under my vision from the balloon,
and so impressed were they upon my
mind that l could today make correct
sketches OF most of the n from memory.
This ended, for the time being, one OF
the most noted battles of the war, but
it wac only the beginning of what after.
wards followed, the dreadful seven days
battle.
remained at this point for quite a
time, General Mcclellan expecting re-
Inducements. His command was much
reduced from loss in battle and more
dread foe even than the confederate
soldiers-the Ohickahominy fever-so
that after Fair Oaks he was left with
not more than $4,000 effective men,
while the enemy was being constantly
reinforced, until Jackson, with his cele-
brated foot cavalry, so called because of
the rapidity of their movements, joined
the confederate General Lee. and to-
gether they began their endeavor to
surround our little army. often feared
they would accomplish this, but our
commanders were 80 thoroughly on the
alert, and the information was able to
give Of the movements of the enemy,
enabled them to know exactly what
vancouver to expect, and thus to check
mate or evade them. But the inevita-
BILE soon came-retreat to the James
river. This retreat is regarded by all
distinguished European generals as one
OF the most remarkable in history.
Retreating and fighting, our forces
went back until the browning battle of
that campaign was fought at Malvern
hill, ON the banks of the James river.
Near this point our army remained and,
after receiving much needed reinforce
ments, began its celebrated march back
for the protection of Washington, and
in time to gain the victories Of South
Mountain and Antietam, the latter
being one of the grandest victories of
the war, driving the enemy with its
superior forces back across the Po-
tomac.
The French and English officers who
carefully watched the progress of the
war have abundantly acknowledged and
given due credit to the part performed
in this campaign. And the Prince de
Joinville especially has given in the
books he has published what regard as
just tribute OF praise to the important
part played by the balloon CORPS in these
battles. The information he gives was
gained from his nephews, the Comte de
Paris and Due de Chsrtre, who, ever ON
the alert to our interests, never sparing
themselves in anything which was for
the good OF our government, were more
American In their pure patriotism than
many native born Americans, made q
number of ascents with NE in the bal
loon for the purpose of observing the
movements OF the enemy, and their
statements are made from their own
knowledge. These young princes thus
added another connecting link in the
chain of amity and concord existing be-
tween France and this country, COM
menced in the Revolutionary war by the
noble and timely acts of Lafayette.
The brief time allotted to me for this
paper is not sufficiently extended to per-
NIT me to give due credit to the noble
commanders of our own forces with
whom ! came in contact, a pleasure /
propose to give myself when l publish
in book form the account of my aero
nautic experiences in the war. The
writing OF this book is to DO my next
work after completing the task am
now engaged upon in constructing the
railway to the summit of the Sierra
Madre mountains and the establishment
of an astronomical observatory thereon.
l ought not to omit, however, to state
the great interest General Mcclellan
took in the work of the balloon corps,
and he gave me complimentary notice
in his report to congress at the close of
his campaign. He and all others famil-
lar with the facts unhesitstinsly af-
firmed that 1t was balloon observations
that materially helped to cave the army
of the Potomac, mainly by being instru-
mental in giving such timely informa-
ton as led to the completion of Sum-
ner's bridge; and General Heintzleman
himself stated to me that had the bridge
not been completed and he been rein
forced at the time he was, it would not
have been possible for him to have held
his position more than one to two hours
longer at best; and had this branch of
the army been captured, it would not
have taken long for the enemy, enthused
by such victory, to completely subdue
the balance of our forces. For, as I
have before remarked, never at any
other time, either before or after. did
the confederates have so fine and well
equipped an army together. Hence my
conclusions that had the confederates
won the battle of Fair Oaks, the march
OF Lees army to the north would have
been more victorious one than was
Napoleon's triumphant march through
Prussia, Austria, and other countries of
Europe.
1t may be remarked by some in nv
audience that such a triumphal march
as have here suggested could not have
been possible when the north had go
large number of citizens who afterward
became such excellent soldiers. But it
must be remembered that at this time
the north had little idea OF its great
strength, and there were, comparatively
speaking. very few extra soldiers being
enlisted and drilled and it was generally
supposed impossible to raise many more
men than had already been called for
by President Lincoln. 1t was only by
being aroused by the great disasters
that early came upon us that the north
was melted to put forward ite full
strength. But, had not Mcclellan 80
ably and courageously handled his
forces when opposed by the greatest
army the confederates were ever able to
muster, and had the enemy won the
battle OF Fair Oaks, their forward march