The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-11

turn to my former service, but he
would not do 30. i felt cot1lplimented
but I was not clatcd.
J In day ar two after second as.
/; cent was made, at the general or
ders, which was much like the flrst
one, but less trepidation By General
halready been nicknaned by Ills fell
j low-soldiers Balloon Bryan and who
was suspected by them OF having u
screw loose somewhere In his head on
account Of his mad trips in the air.
4 General Johnston received the second
! report about as he did the first. but
still refused to discharge me from tho
balloon service.
A few nights later ! made another,
and | am glad to say, my last asccn-
sion.
Just before the army fell back from
Yorktown and fought the battle OF
Williamsburg, the balloon squad was
awakened with orders from General
| johnston to heat up the balloon, and
mako Il reconnaissance as soon as pos
| sibe.
The courier who brought the order
informed me privately that General
Johnston was very anxious to nscer-,
tain IN what direction tho movement
OF troops was being made. and
whether they were advancing upon
more than one point. 1t was at this
| time near the full moon, and the
nights were as bright almost as da..
On TINS. occasion the balloon, shining
| IN the bright frelight, attracted d
larger crowd than usual and the crew
In charge had great difficulty in keep
ing thcm back out of their way so
ihey could properly perform their
work. However. when tho balloon wac
minated stepped into the basket and
gave the signal to rise. feeling UNI
| usually comfortable. had assembled
about 400 feet, when, all at once,
without warning, the balloon was
Jerked upward as by some great force,
was breathless and gasping and
yomited profusely, ell the breath and
wind having been sucked out of mo
~ this long, sudden ascent. and trenb-
ing ike leaf from fear, without
knowing what had happened, beyond
the surmise that the rope which had
me TO the earth had broken What
had actually occurred afterwards
found was this.
one OF the soldiers who was drawn
by curiosity to see the balloon ascend
Ead crowded with the others too near.
had unwittinsly stepped into one OF
me coils of the rope which held the
| balloon; before he could step out
again. the rope frightened around his
, ,es' and, ana began dragging him up TO
loudly. and one of his friends seized
an axe and cut the rope, releasing him
bOt also releasing me. Now, there !
vas, a couple of miles up in the air.
feeling absolutely helpless. one thing
1 knew was that when the heat dicd
out OF the balloon must make a
graceful descent: but as 10 where 1
should land / could not even guess.
To say that was frightened hut
.aantiy expresses 1t. for the almost in.
aot o,,,S rs ascent ! had made had
my body. but seemed also tn haye
deprived me of all MY nerve and co1,r-
age FOR tho time being. However. At
~, , WINE. recovered my breath and
my heart was beating as usual. Tho
paiioon had now reached its eduiIib-
rum, and was apparently standing
quietly over the Confederate army (for
was looking down to where. far below
me. lay tho York River and the sur
we'll ~
Blown Back and Forth.
-, vas not left long to enjoy tho
f neaI,ies of this scene. for the wind
may, I found myself being blown tron,
the Confederate lines over into those
great delight when. after drifting
along for some distance, tho wind yeer.
ca "a and n. ! was blown back towards
inc Confederate lines near Yorktown.
1t was evident that the balloon wa
cooling and settling. SO that was get
tinS nearer and nearer to the earth.
When my balloon passed over the spot
where Colonel Wards Second FLORIDA
Regiment was encamped they turned
out en- nassc and. thinking me to be
Yankee balloon" followed me on foot.
Nring at me as fast as they could In
vain cried to them that was a. good
the only answer receive
ca was: Shoot him shoot him and
inc Wnistling OF their bullets How
Is wns Inc l1ew WIND nd freshensd again, and
nalioon began now to settle quite ran.
IDLY; and 1t was evident that I would
T ns dumped unceremoniously into York.
River, far below.
paratory TO long swim. The balloon
was now SO near the river that could
near my rope splash in the water as
u dragged along over the surface. anc
! /, was waiting to begin my swim at any
and blew me towards the williamsburg
shore. This was, indeed. luck OF the
greatest kind. After travelling a ahnrl
distance inland. MY balloon by this
time having settled nearly to the
''tNA' -SAiptcu iONSIlAlUC HlQG OF the /
basket and sliding down the rope, safe.
~ and joyfully stood once more on nv
native heath. had landed III an anna
orchard s,r and running with my rope. as
the balloon passed over an apple tree.
I twisted 1t quickly around the tree
trunk. and after few inefrcctual fops
my balloon sank exhausted over one
OF the apple trees.
The information which I was abba
70 give General Johnston as to the
roads upon which the enemy were now
moving enabled him to prepare for an
attack which was made by them early |
the next morning lust before day. M
This was my last ascension, for cen
eral Johnston allowed mo to return
to General Magruders headquarters
In a few days the army fell back 10 |
Williamsburg. which wal the first bat
Ito OF any size in which took part.
and we retired to the lines around |
Richmond
I was not again called upon to mako
any sscenstons, but believe that the |
balloon was used at least once more
about the time ofSthe battle Of Seven,
Pines, and have I1gver been ahle TO
hear OF any other balloon ascnuslons
that were made Nv the ConfaHerates |