December 5, 1861 (Wednesday): "The Infernal Balloon"

Old Hammil Hotel,  Occoquan-Hampton's HQ

historicoccoquan.com

CENTREVILLE, December 5, 1861.

General WHITING:                                                                                                                                MY DEAR GENERAL: I have just heard that the road from Dumfries to Bacon Race by Greenwood Church is blocked up. I want to know precisely what roads are open and which closed. Please inform me. The enemy's movements might be such as to tempt me to go in your direction first. It is necessary to be prepared to do so at all events. That road seems to me the best for our purposes. The bridge at Bland's Ford is done. Preparations are begun for one at Davis's Ford. Should we go against your enemy it ought to be in two columns on those two routes. The infernal balloon may interfere with success as we had with Patterson.
Yours, truly,
J. E. JOHNSTON.
RICHMOND, December 5, 1861.
The week leading up to this letter had been a busy one for the Confederates, who were convinced McClellan would fake going into winter quarters and spring on them in a major attack.  The idea of McClellan as a tricky, uncoiling viper seems amusing in hindsight, but Thomas Jordan’s (of Beauregard’s staff) network of spies in Washington had uncovered a plan the Lincoln administration wanted to put forward (a move across the Occoquan) and Johnston and Beauregard prepared for an attack which would never come.  Here Johnston prepares for a strike on what would be the left of an advancing Union Army and requests information Whiting (who succeeded in command of Bee’s troops after Bull Run.  Hampton’s Legion had occupied Bacon Race and was in the process of retiring to winter quarters near the Occoquon River in the area spoken of.  The balloon spoken of here belonged to T. S. Lowe and Johnston's comments speak to its effectiveness.