Year: 1862

J.


The telegraph reported the complete sue
cess Of the telegraphing experiment at the
Rght near Richmond a week ago, where
every movement Of Che rebel army was
promptly reported by telegraph from the
ballOOnists who viewed the scene from
point two thousand feet above the ground
Such a scientific feat Of warfare was never
known before. The operations in this line
are thus described by the N. Y. Herald
correspondent:


You are aware that, through the conduct
Of Gen Caseys division, we were terribly
cut up and lost considerable ground. The
next day Gen. Mcclellan determined, as |
have before stated, to regain it and estab-
lish his supremacy in that quarter. After
making all the necessary precautionary
movements, and taking the proper steps to
move forward, he sent up balloon TO the
distance Of two thousand feet, where it
was kept, and a regular telegraphio com
munication established from that elevated
point Of view direct to the Commanding
General. As soon as the telegraphers were
ready they infinitely described the location
and number Of the enemy's troops. 81 And
as they advanced-for they were again
coming forward to charge upon what they
supposed our demoralized trOops-the OPP
orators gave the General their force and
the direction in which they were advanc-
ing, and he ordered his troops to the proper
place, when the enemy were met, and of
course repulsed. sHI


The rebels, finding that wherever they
went they were met by overwhelming
numbers, or at points where they little
supposed they could be annoyed by our
troops, the balloon, Of course, was pointed
TO by the enemy, and shortly afterwards
they trained a rifle gun at the daring
aerial general and after repeated firing
they succeeded in exploding shells near
the balloon; in fact so near that it was
deemed imprudent to remain up any long
er in that precise location, and accordingly,
the balloon was lowered to the ground, to
be shifted to another position. N0tmany
minutes elapsed before it was again sent
sloft, and in a position not easily reached
by the enemy's missiles. .fH


The communication, thus more securely
established, was again opened and with
the same success, the aeronauts reporting
large bodies Of troops in the rear Of Rich
mOnd marching up to the scene Of deadly
strife. The telegraphers saw brigade af-
ter brigade march up from the rebel strong
hold, and as rapidly as they advanced into
action they were met in a style wholly in
comprehensible by the rebels. To them il
seemed as if their boasted "GOd of battle"
had deserted them, and they only advanced
-. s. esrt
rifle balls. Net road was advanced upon
nor a broad field trodden upon by a rebel
lious body Of people but they we're con-
fronted by our people. After worrying
them some time the gallant Heintzelman
charged upon them with the irusty bayo-
net, and drove them back to their citadel
frightened, and suffering a heavy loss in
men. The sight mast have been, from their
aerial lookout, one Of grandeur not often
witnessed by us grOundlings So good
was the standpoint from which the teTe-
graphers saw all and directed all, that in
many instances, with the aid of very pow-
erful glasses. the number Of the regiment
could readily be discovered; and had the
operators personally known or been able
to recognize the faces of persons command
ing they would have been able to have
given General Mcclellan the names of the
rebel generals in the field. If this is not
fighting battle by lightning, then pray
tell me what it is2 If only one thing is ac-
complished, it will be to impress upon the
rebel sOldiery that the skill of our gener-
ais is unapprOachable, or lead them to
think that our army far outnumbers theirs.
Every ones attention could not have failed
to have been attracted TO the balloon in the
air; and if the rebels had only the inge-
enabled soon to hear Of a fight two thous-
and feet above the surface Of the ground.
The attempt Of the rebels at Yorktown to
use balloon proved a failure, think they
have given it up. 4f- s-s-