The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-09-24
BALLOON USED
F0 :|R|7 SCOUT DUTY
HPcrilous Exp riences Of a Com
Il federate Officer, WHO Saw the
Enemy From Dizzy Heights.
ROPE CUT AS HE AS CEND.E II.
An Ascent That Completely I'm
nerved the Acronaut, But He
Finally Game Down Safely.

Finally Came Down Safely.
During tho war, between the North ind
4 tho South many events OF absorbing In
terest occurred, and 1t has been the OBJ
ject Of tho Times Dispatch to record as
many as possible of these in tho Con-
federate Column OF this paper.
The following account Of Capt. John
Randolph Bryan's trips In d war aloon,
while attached to Gen. J .B. Magruder's
K headquarters before Yorktown, we con-
slider as well deserving publication as
1t was ESQ far:as known to us) the first
time balloon was used by the Confed-
crates in order to ascertain tho position
and strength fof the Union forces. y
1t will add to the interest Of this nara
Y tive to know that at the time Captain
p Bryan was making his ascensions from
the Confederate lines Con. Irtz John
Porter was performing tho same service
for the Union army which lay facing the
Confederatcs. His experience was similar
to Captain Brynnls, in that his balloon
rope broke and his balloon also drifted
s f.:n!essiy in9the air.
General Portors balloon was a much
x more expensive affair than the one the
Ccarcdcrates could afford. and was at
tachfd to- the ground by a silken rope.
Although General Porter escaped with
ont injury in this adventure, the exploit
IS now recorded In bronze upon mon,,-
ncnt TO him.
Capt Randolph Bryan at present resides
in birmingham. Ala. He is the eldest
brother Of Mr.. Joseph Bryan of this city
Ct Nh St. George 7. G. Bryan, and OF
the Rev. BraXton Bryfn. of Petersburg
= CAPTAIN BRYAN's STORY.
The storV is given Us told by Captain
Bryan. He says: Yi
was a young man at the time tho
events here mentioned TRANSFERRED, and
& was serving as clerk In the Adjutunt-
2 Generals Office and acting as aide-de-
camp to Major General ]. I3. McC,rudcr.
then commanding the Army of the PENN
sula, near Yorktown, Va. In the spring
( of 1862. when General Mcclellan, OF the
4 Union army, decided to make his advance
on Richmond by the Pepnsula route, with
his two tanks Guarded BY gun-bonts, he
found General ,McGruder .entrenchcd
from the York TO the james . River.
Hardly had Mcclellan made his
\ appearance when General Johnston
with the Army OF Northern 11lr-
ginia, came to tho relief of 5McGruder,
who, with but q few Thousand mon. was
holding tho Onion army In check Tho
line across the Peninsula wus nn jlrrcg,l-
lar one, being made TO follow the contour
OF some streams IND anil dams which
greatly strengthened their positions. Nc
Gruder's headquarters We're mt Yorktown,
while Joseph i. Johnston took up his
headquarters mt Major I14aess house. ii carer
tho James riXer, some miles farther along
y the line from York river General John
ston had brought down with him from
/, Richmond what 4 believe to DO the first
! balloon used for military service during
the war. 1t was nothing but big cotton
! bag. coated over so al to make 1t air
/, tight and Intended to be inflated with
hot air. as gps was q thing not to be llad
in those days and In those places. After
( being on the Peninsula for some days
General Johnston wrote to General Nd
= Gruder requesting him to detail some on.
( who was thoroughly acquainted with tn,
4 country, and who WAS capable Of forming
n correct opinion az to the numb Der and
4 character of the troops In front OF hin.
in order that he might DO assigned to d
duty with General Johnston This order
coming from General Johnston's head
quprteys passed through my hands as
was chief clerk in McGrlder's Adiutant
Generals Office and being young and,
fear, OF q daredevil spirit and supposini
that an assignment to this duty woul,
bring me prominently into notice, an
probably offer como opportunity for dis
tinrlishng myself TOR since childhood
had been thoroughly familiar with all tina
eect!On Of country, and felt myself com
petent az to the other renurements),
therefore at once asked that / might b
\ detailed for this service.
ASKED FOR THE DETAIL,
"aIajor Henry Bryan, McGrlders Ad
( 5utant General, strongly Nssundcd m
e from the undertaking, but ] was so ben
on II that ! went in person to Genera
McGruder and asked for the detail. which
after some little persuasion on any par,
Was granted to mo. although ms friend
told me that 1t MAS moro thnn likely tina
would get myself into hot water, an
very possibly Gin case should go int
s. the enemy's ltnes) that would get she
I, for my pains. Nevertheless joyfuliy re-
ceived my orders, and mounting my horst
rode gaiy over 10 1a;eH farm. where Gen
eral Johnston Wps. 10 report myself te
special service. On arriving there haRdc
MY orders IN 70 the proper officer. an
reported for duty. Having number {
acquaintance around headquarters, 4 tre
" .ina out far what purpose I was needs,
or to what duty YOU'D probably be or
signed, but conld get no Information. a
/ could learn was from Colonel Rhet
Joflnston's Ad1utant- General. that I'll
f.onaraI would be out prescntly and poul