Thaddeus Lowe's Balloon Ascent
- Creator:
- Brady & Co. (Washington, D.C.)
- Title:
- Thaddeus Lowe's Balloon Ascent
- Date:
- Civil War, 1861-1865
- Notes:
- Note that this is a composite image, consisting of the May 31, 1862, stereo view photograph showing people on the ground and the basket of the balloon, with the balloon labeled "Intrepid" drawn in above the original image
- Summary:
- Image of Thaddeus Lowe's balloon test of the "Intrepid" at the battle of Fair Oaks, Virginia, during the Peninsular Campaign, May-August 1862. Lowe's balloon was used for reconnaissance for the Union Army during the Civil War. Using a telegraph the driver could send a message about Confederate camps and troop movements to soldiers below who then gave the information to Union generals. The test was supported by Smithsonian Institution Secretary Joseph Henry, who served as President Abraham Lincoln's scientific advisor during the war
- Restrictions:
- For permission to reproduce or publish, contact osiaref@si.edu or call 202-633-5870. To order reproductions, call 202-633-1933 or contact photos@si.edu
- Topics:
- Ballooning, Telegraph, Hot air balloons, Experiments, Soldiers, Tents, Aeronautics, Fair Oaks, Battle of, Va., 1862, Balloon ascensions, History
- Subjects:
- Lowe, T. S. C (Thaddeus Sobieski Coulincourt) 1832-1913, Henry, Joseph 1797-1878, Lincoln, Abraham 1809-1865, Intrepid (Hot Air Balloon)
- Category:
- Historic Images of the Smithsonian
- Places:
- United States, Virginia
- Form/Genre:
- Event, Photographic print, Group, candid
- Local Number:
- SIA2011-0961 and A30915H
- Physical Description:
- Number of Images: 1; Color: Black and White; Size: 10w x 8h; Type of Image: Event; Group, candid; Medium: Photographic print
- Full Record:
- http://siris-sihistory.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?&profile=all&source=~!sichronology&uri=full=3100001~!12871~!0#focus
