Civil War Balloon Trading Cards

TSCLowe

Corporal
Joined
Sep 14, 2012
Location
Redding, CA
CW Balloon Trading Cards:

US Observation Balloons: First Air Force

Corrections for historical accuracy:
1. John Wise was THE leading aeronaut of the time and was the first to be offered the position of Chief Aeronaut for the Union Army in part because he underbid Lowe by $200.00; Thaddeus Lowe was one of the leading aeronauts and was offered the position of Chief Aeronaut after Wise resigned.
2. Lowe was from New Hampshire, not New Jersey
3. On June 18, 1861 Lowe's balloon "Enterprise" went to an altitude of 500 not 1,000 ft when an operator in the basket sent the first air to ground telegraph.
4. Hydrogen was preferred over heated air because a hydrogen filled balloon could stay inflated for a week and a half to two weeks at a time weather permitting while a hot air balloon will only stay inflated as long as the air inside the envelope (balloon) was hotter than the air outside. Gravity works as soon as the heated air begins to cool!



us-observation-balloons-air-force-jpg.jpg




US Observation Balloons: First Air Force:

Corrections for historical accuracy:
1. While McClellan initially prohibited Officers from going aloft after Fitz-John Porters accidental free flight, Officers continued to go aloft to make observations.
2. The Rebels DID NOT make a balloon out of a silk dress. No Southern Belles were harmed nor did they donate the dresses off of their backs to make the Confederate's second balloon, The Gazelle, which was made of a patchwork of material that could have been used to make silk dresses.


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Confederate Balloons:

Balloon Duty "Balloon Bryan"



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Corrections for historical accuracy:
1. There are no period photographs or drawings of any of the three (3) balloons used by the Confederates. Their first balloon was the ONLY HOT AIR Balloon used by either army during the war. Disappointing they used a picture of the Union's "Intrepid" and "Constitution" at Gaines Mill to depict a balloon that would have looked similar to this:

smoke-balloon-jpg.jpg



2. Bryan made three (3) ascents in this balloon before it was damaged and Bryan gladly went back to his desk job.
3. The Confederates second balloon, the Gazelle, went aloft during the battle of Seven Pines with E. P. Alexander in the basket.


Balloon Duty "Nothing But a Big Cotton Bag"

Corrections for historical accuracy:
1. There are no period photographs or drawings of any of the three (3) balloons used by the Confederates. Their first balloon was the ONLY HOT AIR Balloon used by either army during the war. Again, it is disappointing they used a picture of the Union's "Intrepid" to depict the balloon that would have looked like the "Big Cotton Bag" above.
2. Not having a professional balloonist around and because they used heated air to give the balloon lift, the Confederates used a single point tether (only one rope) to anchor the balloon to the ground. While more ropes would give the balloon a stable base, they would also add weight to the aircraft thus limiting its' potential payload and altitude. With a single point tether, any wind passing by the balloon would cause it to spin around and around . . . and around and around . . . .


balloon-duty-cotton-bag-jpg.jpg




1997 Keepsake "The Blue and the Gray" Civil War Art Trading Cards #20 By Mort Kunstler

Thaddeus Lowe and His Balloon



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First let me say this is a beautiful painting of Lowe and his balloon "Intrepid"!

Corrections for historical accuracy:
1. The collective total of military ascents by Lowe and the nine (9) Aeronauts he hired was more than 3,000

Respectfully Submitted,

TSC Lowe, Aeronaut
 
The last card I shared, #20 in the "Blue and the Gray" Keepsake Civil War Art Collection can be found individually or on a full uncut sheet on Amazon (second from the left, top row)

1997 Keepsake Blue and Gray Uncut Sheet.jpg
 
Corrections for historical accuracy: "FAKE NEWS"! "If it bleeds, it leads" . . . anything to get attention!! NO Union or Confederate Balloon was ever shot down by the other side, nor were any Aeronaut or Military or Civilian Observer shot or injured during the Civil War. So I'll leave you with this for the entertainment value . . . .

Here is one from Topps . . . #20 "Balloonist Watch Battle From the Sky" - Fair Oaks, VA May 30, 1862

Topps #20 Front.jpg


Topps #20 Back.jpg


Those interested can find other Topps Civil War Trading Cards on Amazon

Respectfully Submitted

TSC Lowe, Aeronaut
 
Then there are these antique Matthew Brady collector cards found at the Antique Center of Gettysburg. They are a bit pricey . . . but then again I've yet to see any others offered for sale.

Respectfully Submitted,

TSC Lowe, Aeronaut

Matthew Brady #423.jpeg
Matthew Brady Gaines Mill 1.JPG


Matthew Brady #424.jpeg


Matthew Brady Gaines Mill 2.JPG
 
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