Evening journal., 1912-05-13
new NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The First American to Take
a Balloon to Var
By Holland

In the autumn of 1858 one James
Allen, who called himself an aero
naut, created intense excitement
throughout Rhode Island and Eastern
Connecticut by making a balloon as
cension at Providence, r l., and an
other one at Norwich, Conn.
The ascension at Norwich | wit
messed. While the balloon was being
inflated a man who was in his shirt
sleeves superintended the imitation.
The preparations for the ascent fin
ished, this man put on a coat and a
heavy overcoat pulled a heavy walk
ing cap well over his head, and jump
ed into the basket. AT the proper sig
nal the anchor rope was let go, the
balloon shot upward and as the sole
occupant of the basket peered over
the edge, all that could be distinctly
seen of his features was a ferocious
looking mustache. And so James AL
len sailed away into the blue sky un-
til his balloon seemed no bigger than
an orange.
About three years later, and within
few hours after President Lincoln's
first call for volunteers, a Rhode Is
land battery was ready to start for
Washington. So also were two Rhode
Island regiments; in command OF one
was Colonel Ambrose F. Burnside.
Commanding the Rhode Island Bri-
gade was the Boy Governor, only thlr-
ty-one years Of age, the only Governor
who went to the front with his troops
and following in the rear Of the Rhode
Island battery was James Allen, with
his balloon packed upon a car.
Within twenty-four hours after the
Rhode Island troops were called into
service by Governor William Sprague
he was visited by James Allen, who
said: Governor. ] want 10 90 with
the Rhode Island Battery"
Have you volunteered asked the
Governor
81 am volunteering now; I want tC
20 with my balloon. When we get t'
| Virginia I will have the balloon in
fated then ! will go up in her and
can see the country for miles aroun'
and can let you know what is goinl
on"
Governor Spraglle did not know a
first what to say He told Mr.. Aller
that he would consult with Colone
Burnside. He made an appointment
with Mr.. Allen for two or three hour
later. At the appointed time the Gov
ernor said 10 Allen: Colonel Burn
side SAYS that maybe YOU can do SOM
good-certainly you can do no harm
so YOU can 90 with us"
When a few weeks later. Governo
i Sprague saw James Aliens balloon
two thousand feet in the air, hoverinl
over the fields beyound Arlington an
Alexandria and received message
which Allen wrote in the balloon an
dropped. Governor Sprague was sat
ished that he had done a wise thing !
permitting Allen to accompany tn
Rhode Island troops with his balloon
A year later Allen made an asser
from Fortress Monroe. his balloo
lowering many feet above the easter
Virginia shore. With his field glasst
he surveyed the Confederate trooT
encamped at Yorktown. He saw
movement OF these troops He wa
/, persuaded that they we're evacuatiu
/, Yorktown and he sent a message
/, earth telling the Union commander
! that the Confederates we're evacuatin
/, Yorktown-which was the case.
other important services James A
len performed and Governor Spragu
at last saw President Lincoln an
said TO him. This man, James Allei
is a volunteer. He receives no pay fC
/ his services. He has given great sci
vice to the Union army and he hs
: got nothing for il. I hope now th'
E he will be appointed an officer so thi
/ hereafter his services can be properl
= paid for. I recommend his appoin
D ment as captain"
Two days later Allen received h
r appointment as captain in the reguls
army and was detailed for balloon r.
connoissance. The government ;
Washington had already learned thu
the Confederate army commander
. looked with greater apprehensio
upon the balloon reconnaissance
than upon any other strategy of II
war up to that time And to Jam'
Allen rightly belongs the honor {
, first employing the balloon for mil
tary purposes in the Civil War
, Copyright. 1912. by f. ]. Edward
All rights reserved.)
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