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

suit was. that landed in South Caro-
lima short distance from the line OF
North Carolina nearly in due east d.
reetion from Cincinnati.
In crossing over Virginia could dis
tinctly hear the cannonading which told
the story that the Virginians were cele-
brating the fact of their secession. South
Carolina had alrecdy gone out of the
union, and the descent of my balloon
caused great deal of excitement, it be-
ing only eight days after the attack on
Fort Sumter. [ WAS looked upon as q
federal spy and was arrested and locked
up in Columbia Jail. Indeed. it is as
serted on good authority, that | was the
first prisoner of war captured by the
south during the civil war.
Not desiring to be shot as a Spy sent
for the president OF the South Carolina
college, and he satisfactorily explained
to the authorities that he was familiar
with the purpose of my balloon expert
ments, which at that time had nothing
to do with the army, and, at the solicit
tation of himself and faculty, was re-
leased. Major Boatright OF Columbia then
accorded me the freedom of the city and
letter bearing the city seal asking safe
conduct for me through "the Confed-
6Iabo bbdL6b VI ItuIbn AAcftChs 4hO
incidents for the next five days and
nights were as interesting as any in the
whole course of my life. l heard
number OF speeches against the union;
saw the trains loaded with union fami-
lies going west to get out of the con-
federacy, as all communication to the
north was cut off by confederate forces
at Manassas junction, and the silence
khat ,xauarally ,,ravoilad mao atrikiuU in
the extreme.
As I passed through Tennessee /
learned, through some means that
would be quite interesting to relate had
l time, the fact that that state had gone
out of the union in secret session. This
l communicated to President Lincoln
two weeks before it became authenti-
cally known from the state.
On my arrival ct Cincinnati l found
people very much interested in the re-
suit of my experiments, but l was de-
sirous OF urging on my Atlantic trip,
and was both surprised and disap-
pointed when | received q dispatch
from Secretary Chase saying that Preei-
dent Lincoln desired TO consult with me
in regard to organizing balloon service
for the United States army. Prof.
Henry and the friends upon whom /
had relied for assistance to carry out my
Atlantic plans positively refused to aid
me further until the country was at
peace. They argued that as the country
desired and needed my services, my own
personal plans ought to be subservient
to the wishes of the government. Ac-
cordingly, l went to Washington, con-
suited with President Lincoln and the
military authorities, and the result was
that through the aid of the president l
finally organized the aeronautic corps
of the United States army.
To recount the many difficulties en-
countered even at the outset would &C.
cupy more than the whole evening
such as the fact that the older aero
nauts and their friends considered me
too young to have the necessary expert
ence and ability for carrying out such
an important work. and far greater
obetacle was that no means then exist
ed for rapidly generating hydrogen gas
for initiating balloons. The old methods
were slow, clumsy and absolutely inn
practicable where rapid movements
were republican essential condition in
the army. Absolute necessity became
hsre the mother of invention, for the
circumstances were such that the in
ventions had to be made on the spot and
without delay, and the plans l then
originated have never been improved
upon.
Thus equipped, the balloon corps be-
gan its work, and for the first year of
the war constantly operated on the Po-
tomac, Chesapeake bay, and the James,
York and Pamunkey rivers, the balloon
being manipulated by means of barge,
towed by tug and guarded by a gum
boat, all of which were fitted out under
my personal supervision. The balloons
were also OF great service at Yorktown
and all the battles which occurred up to
the time of Fair Oaks.
The first year of the war I must
thus pass over, although there
were many things that occurred
a recital of which might be far
more interesting to you than that of
the battle of Fair Oaks, which, how
ever, consider one of the greatest i'm
portance. l believe our army and
country went through their most criti-
cal days during that campaign, for had
our little army-I say little as compared
with the larger armies that moved on
Richmond later in the war-thsn been
destroyed or captured. it would have
been an easy matter for the enemy, with
their superior numbers and flushed with
victory, to have marched on to Wash
ington, and not only captured the Capt.
toll, but have struck dismay throughout
the whole country. For, with those
rapid movements that General Jackson
had shown to be practicable, and, when
we remember that at this time the
confederate army was in better condi-
ton than it ever was afterwards, both in
numbers, equipment and efficiency, and
we weaker at that time than at any
other, had they been able to execute
this movement to Washington, or out
fianked us and reached Baltimore, thew
would have gained large acquisitions to
their army, and then it would have been
an easy matter to march through the
country west of Philadelphia to New
York-which was then, practically, in a
state OF rebellion negroes often being
hung on lamp posts, and union men as
Hauited by ruftians in New York city
and thus with double forces and the
consciousness Of added power gained by
victory, would have put obstacles in the
way of the federal government that,
possibly, never could have been over
come. Hence, there has never been
question in my mind that had we been
defeated in this battle, the confederates
would have been enabled to carry out
their boosted threats that they would
call the roll OF their slaves under the