March 22, 1863 (Tuesday): Ballooning In Falmouth

One of Lowe's Balloons Launching Near Phillips' House, Falmouth

Balloon Camp,
Near Falmouth, Virginia
March 22, 1863

Professor Lowe:
    SIR: Lieutenant Comstock went up to-day in the Washington.  It was very calm, and I let the balloon ascend up to an elevation of 2,000 feet, where he remained for an hour and a half in full view of the enemy camps and works for twenty miles distant.  The balloon was then towed, at an elevation of 1,000 feet, three miles on our left, with him in the car of the balloon.  He expressed himself gratified with the knowledge thus obtained.
   Respectfully,

   JAMES ALLEN
   Aeronaut In Charge of Balloon Washington

Official Records, Series I., Vol. 25, Part 2, Page 299.

The views attained by Lowe's aeronaut's of the famous scenes of the war would be the envy of modern students of the war.  As noted, at an altitude of 2,000 feet the view was clear to 20 miles and at the height there was no danger of being taken under fire.