Thaddeus Lowe's balloon Intrepid high in the air during the Battle of Fair Oaks, 1862

chubachus

First Sergeant
Joined
Nov 27, 2014
Location
Virginia
balloon intrepid battle of fair oaks 1862.jpg

"View of the 'Intrepid,' Thaddeus S.C. Lowe's aerial reconnaissance balloon, flying high above the battlefield during the Battle of Fair Oaks, 31 May or 1 June 1862. Troops can be seen on the ground."

This seems to be the most rarely published balloon photograph from the Civil War.

Source.
 
View attachment 126061
"View of the 'Intrepid,' Thaddeus S.C. Lowe's aerial reconnaissance balloon, flying high above the battlefield during the Battle of Fair Oaks, 31 May or 1 June 1862. Troops can be seen on the ground."

This seems to be the most rarely published balloon photograph from the Civil War.

Source.


Hey on the right side is that a tether for the balloon, or is it just a flaw in the photograph?
 
Hey on the right side is that a tether for the balloon, or is it just a flaw in the photograph?

It is one of the tether lines. Lowe required a minimum of three tethers to help stabilize the balloon as it was in the air which made it easier on the people in the basket as the balloon swayed with the wind. Each line was one (1) mile long and there is record of balloons going as high as 3,000 ft. Much higher than that and the observers loose perspective of what they are looking at on the ground.

Respectfully submitted,
 
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