Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-13

Of my loyalty he made provisions for a series
OF tests for real purposes.
After many successful observations I per-
fected balloon telegraphic system and sent
the first dispatch as follows:
Balloon Enterprise in the Air, June Is, 1851.
ITO His Excellency Abraham Lincoln, Presi-
dent Of the United States:
Dear Sir-FFom this point of observation
we command an extent of country nearly fifty
miles in diameter 1 have the pleasure of send
ing you the first telegram ever dispatched from
an aerial station, and acknowledging indebted
ness to your announcement for the oppor-
tunity Of demonstrating the availability of the
science of aeronautics in the service Of the
country. am your excellencys obedient
want, 1T. S. c. LOWE"
Invited to Conference
In response to the above Mr. Lincoln invited
me to another conference at the White House,
where spent the night, and after the depar-
ture of a number of his able assistants, he
called me into his business room and we sat
down at an old fashioned writing table mo
desk or surplus furniture in the room) where
we discussed several matters Of interest to
him. He thanked me again in the name Of the
nation for the Information 1 had given him
concerning the secession of Tennessee, about
two weeks before it was officially announced,
for I had attended the first meeting of the
legislature at Nashville on this subject in the
afternoon, and at the night session with closed
doors that state went out of the Union. An
account Of how 1 acquired this information
without being present would be interesting,
but too long for this paper.
Mr.. Lincoln said he had acted upon the
information which I had wired him, greatly
to the benefit of the country. He par
ucularly interested in my sketches and de-
scription Of my new idea of directing the fire
of artillery so that the gunner could hit
mark that he himself could not see.
Mr. Lincoln gave me a letter of introduc-
tion to General Scott, leaving the subject of
where balloons should be sent and best used
entirely to his judgment, but the general at
his age of 81, seemed to have no for bal
manders in active service in the field had
plenty of use for all that my limited machin-
cry and assistance could do.
Sends Messenger
On the 25th Of July Mr. Lincoln sent
messenger to my camp requesting me to call
at the White House if possible that evening.
At this interview he said that he had just
received information that it would be neces-
sary TO build an ironclad mortar boat to shell
the enemy out of their Notifications at Island
Number Ten on the Mississippi river that
our feet might mass to supply the armies be-
low; that they had already been detained
more than month at cost to the govern
ment of a million dollars a day, and as 1t
would take at least that much more time
to build efficient ironcad it would make
war in the west very expensive.
He said that at last interview he he
came impressed that my system of signals TO
our gunners might accomplish the object. He
then gave me the following card to General
Scott requesting me to see him the next
morning and explain what 1 required and It's
importance and to report results during the
day. 1t reads follows
will Lieutenant General Scott please see
PROFESSOR Lowe once more about his balloon?
July 25, 1861"
day and each time it was returned, twice say
ing that the general was engaged the third
that he was at lunch, and the fourth time
that he was asleep! This is the reason that
. have the original card show zyd1I bar
tonight.
was more fortunate in delivering several
other letters which Mr.. Lincoln had favored
me with, but as a substitute 1 have another
original letter written by Mr.. Lincoln to a
committee of the Methodist conference IT il
considered one of his most remarkable and
diplomatic letters This letter was sold at
fair in Philadelphia to help raise funds for
the Soldiers hospital, and was bought bv
Mrs Lowe, who treasures it beyond price.
Reports Failure
To return to the subject knowing that Mr.
Lincoln was expecting to hear the results of
my visit to General Scott, at o'clock that
afternoon reported to him my failure to see
the general Without moments hesitation
he picked up his hat and asked me to ac-
companying him over to General Scotts head
quarters.
The guard presented arms the door was
opened and in less than ten minutes General
Scott gave orders on Captain Dahlgren COM
mander of the Washington navy yard, and
MeSSS 10 furnish
with everything 1 might require to introduce
my aeronautic system on land and water. 1
lost time in running the Potomac block
ade to get a balloon to Fortress Monroe, and
sent a complete outfit to Island Number Ten
and in twenty-four hours after my signal
system put into operation the enemy
evacuated their stronghold and our feet ran
by without further hindrance
Another of my balloon strategies caused the
lifting of the blockade on the Potomac which
enabled the earlier departure of our trans
port carrying troops to Fortress Monroe for
the peninsular campaign.
My night and day balloon observations be-
fore and during the battle of Fair Oaks en-
abled the uniting of our army in time to save
it from destruction, so says the hero of that
great battle in letter to me, which still
have, and the testimony of the foreign officers
Fits Out Expedition
In 1866, at the request of Emperor Dom
Pedro, I fitted out expedition to accom-
pany the Brazilian army and navy up the
Paraguay river during the war with Paraguay
When their fortifcations were reached the
Paraguayans opened fire, but the BraziIians
held their fire until the balloon went up and
pointed out BY nv system Of SIGNALS the