Happy 250th Birthday U.S.A. By G.C. Stevens

 

 

Happy Birthday America!

We The People

"Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country" 

-John F. Kennedy

As we approach the 250th anniversary of the birth of this great nation, I am reminded of this statement by President John F. Kennedy. 

 This iconic line comes from Kennedy’s inaugural address on January 20, 1961. Delivered at the start of his presidency, the speech emphasized both domestic and international responsibilities, reflecting the challenges of the Cold War and the need for global cooperation. It was a call to civic responsibility and public service, urging citizens to contribute actively to the nation.

 Kennedy's administration was fraught with extreme dangers, and that political danger resulted in his assassination on November 22nd, 1963. His death was a stark reminder that there are always dark forces at work that seek to topple what Americans have worked so diligently to secure for the last 250 years.

Kennedy's call was also reminder that we have a civic responsibility to preserve our history and to honor of ancestors who risked everything to give us a better life. No one has the right to destroy our history or our culture without our consent, or to unite with outside forces to overthrow our elected government. We are a nation of freedoms, which must be protected at all costs. It is a travesty when writers, journalist and historical gatekeepers hide behind cheap political platitudes, silence or self-righteousness to serve themselves or slave masters when freedom, freedom of speech, freedom of content and freedom of open research is at stake. 

Our national elections must be both free and secure. Honest, free and secure elections are a pillar of democracy. Our borders must also be secure, as it is the inherent responsibility of all governments to protect its citizens, this is the first and foremost duty of the United States government and those protections are enshrined within our Constitution. 

Abraham Lincoln held the utmost respect for the Constitution and believed that any of his controversial actions in relation to the Constitution were necessary for the preservation of the Union during the extraordinary times of the Civil War. Throughout his career he spoke of the importance of the Constitution.

1856

“Don’t interfere with anything in the Constitution. That must be maintained, for it is the only safeguard of our liberties.”

1858

“[The prosperity of the United States] is not the result of accident. It has a philosophic cause. Without the Constitution and the Union, we could not have attained the result.”

1861

“I am exceedingly anxious that this Union, the Constitution, and the liberties of the people shall be perpetuated in accordance with the original idea for which that struggle was made.”

ref National Park Service

I pray that everyone has a safe and prosperous July 4th. 

G.C. Stevens

The Union Army Balloon Corps By Author O.J. Fargo

 THE UNION ARMY:

 BALLOON CORPS

Professor Lowe's military balloon near Gaines Mill, Virginia:

Inflation of the balloon Intrepid to reconnoiter the Battle of Fair Oaks; Lowe, not visible in this image, is standing to the right of the balloon. Courtesy of the Library of Congress

The Union Army Balloon Corps was a civilian branch of the Union Army established by Lincoln and headed by Thaddeus S. C. Lowe to perform aerial reconnaissance and direct artillery fire. Initially, he was offered $30 per day each day his balloon was in use but he accepted a colonel’s $10 per day pay if he could build more than the two balloons he was initially authorized and could hire as many men as he needed at $3 per day.

On September 25^th, 1861, after the Bull Run fiasco, Lowe received permission to build four observation balloons with hydrogen gas generators. Eventually he used six balloons. They were stationed up and down the Potomac River and a coal barge, the first aircraft carrier, was used to transport them.

                                       

 Credit: Ref Library of congress: negative : glass, wet collodion. | Photo shows Chief Aeronaut of the Union Army Balloon Corps Thaddeus Lowe. He often went by Professor Lowe

 (Source: Higgins, M.P., 2017)

Lincoln supported the Balloon corps as he supported many of the 

other ingenious inventions and weapons innovations of the day.

He was so impressed with the Balloon innovations, that he personally introduced Thaddeus Lowe to the General in Chief Winfield Scott and advised Scott to appoint Lowe the areonautics chief. Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress

Lincoln saw balloons as valuable as all military activity depending on line of sight. If you couldn’t see an object, you couldn’t effectively deal with it. A balloon, rising 1000 feet, increased the line of sight more than 10 times. Because they inflated quickly, the smaller balloons (Eagle, Constitution, and Washington) were used in windier weather, or for quick, low altitude observations. The larger balloons (Union and Intrepid) were used for carrying more weight, such as a telegraph key set and an additional man as an operator. They could also ascend higher. The balloons were purposely colorful and easily visible to intimidate Confederate troops, making them feel as if nearby Union troops were watching them.

[Prof. Thaddeus Lowe's "Balloon Camp" at Gaines Mill, Va., May 1862: balloon in backgrd. across field; horsemen in foregrd.] Courtesy Library of Congress

The balloons had a crew of 7 and were inflated with hydrogen gas generators (sulfuric acid and iron filings). The balloon itself was constructed with India silk and cotton cording covered with varnish. The $1,500 ($58,500 today) silk balloons could be moved with relative ease but it took several hours to inflate. They were useful for engineers interested in mapping terrain, observing fixed defenses, locating river crossing sites, and spotting for artillery. Dawn was the best time for reconnaissance as the observer could locate enemy positions and estimate manpower on the basis of breakfast campfires. From late 1861 to early 1862, the balloons were tethered around D.C. along the Potomac River. This surveillance allowed the Union Army to protect the capital from Confederate attacks. The Union used balloons during the Manassas Campaign. On September 24, 1861, Cannon could only accurately fire at targets they could see. Lowe provided intelligence which enabled Union troops at Arlington, Virginia to accurately fire at Confederates at Falls Church, Virginia, without having a visual.

By March 1862 Thaddeus Lowe operated two observation balloons. Often the observer could estimate almost down to a platoon the size of the Confederate forces by the campfires. Often these ascensions were dangerous because “some stupid sentinel, ignorant whether the aerial voyager was friend or enemy, would be sure to fire at the indiscreet individual who thus hovered over their heads.” Such incidents convinced the balloonists to mark their baskets with red, white and blue bunting.

 

When it was impractical to use the aerial telegraph, written messages, weighted with a stone were dropped to an officer, who sent them on. By using the telegraph, Lowe directed the first artillery fire directed by aerial observation. A telegraph line was run from the balloon car to the gun positions, and the effect of each shot was communicated to a general officer more than three miles away. Flags were also used to direct artillery fire. However, enemy surveillance was the greatest value. In 1862 Lowe used small signal balloons with daytime markings and flares for night operations. He also constructed a powerful oxyhydrogen or calcium light apparatus to facilitate night operations when secrecy was not essential.

Balloons were used extensively in the east during the 1862 Peninsula Campaign where they were effective enough to observe movement in downtown Richmond, seven miles away. The were also employed during the Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville campaigns.

Flag Officer Andrew Foote used the Eagle as an artillery-spotting platform on the Mississippi River’s Island Number Ten. The Eagle’s spotter recommended firing corrections to the mortar boats which enabled them to wreck many Confederate guns, allowing Pope’s forces to capture New Madrid, Missouri, and the island on April 7, 1862. Confederate attempts to shoot the balloons down were not successful. Positioned well behind the front lines at an altitude of near 1,000 feet, balloons were difficult, if not impossible, targets.

Maj. Gen. George McClellan valued the aerial observation as did many senior Federal officers, including, Fitz John Porter, John Sedgwick, Baldy Smith, John Reynolds, Joe Hooker, and George Custer rode in balloons. Despite its successes, a variety of factors led to the abandonment of the balloon corps in 1863. Its funding was cut in 1863 making it less effective, Lowe’s pay was reduced and he was accused of fiscal wrongdoing. Furthermore, Balloon Corps personnel never received a military commission, leaving them open to being executed as spies.

 Lowe had a difficult time integrating his operation into Army bureaucracy The Balloon Corps was never fully appreciated by the military as balloonists were regarded as carnival showmen. Lowe’s information was often ignored by many commanding officers who didn’t trust a civilian. They preferred intelligence from scouts, spies, prisoners, and deserters.

 Many times, communication with the battlefield officers was difficult and it couldn’t move as quickly as desired. The aeronauts’ intelligence reports were vague which irritated battlefield commanders. Reports drafted by officers who accompanied them were more precise, but commanders rarely assigned them to balloon duty. Those conditions, combined with Lowe not being able to get along with Capt. Cyrus B. Comstock, his final supervisor, led to his resignation from the army on May 7, 1863 and Grant dissolving the Corps on May 8, 1863.

                                      

                                              ARMY OF THE SOUTHWEST 

                                  250 YEARS OF AMERICAN HISTORY

Crossing the Frontier 1839 a Letter Home: By G.C. Stevens

 

Photo courtesy of the library of congress

Crossing the open frontier was a taunting task fraught with danger. But the hope of a better life drew settlers further west. Letters written home to relatives told the tales of the hardships and triumphs of spirit of the early settlers. One such letter was written by pioneer John Morgan. They original letter (copied below) was difficult to read due to the fading and cursive style used. The author of this article highlights what could be deciphered. Question marks (?) appear where words could nor be read.

CROSSING FROM TENNESEE TO MISSOURI

Dear Mother, I have taken my pen in hand to write you a few lines hoping these lines may find you in the same state of health, we landed on tolerable well. We came to the Ohio bank it was a very good river, very sandy, and we had to wade the water. I walked on with the children & Jonathan. John is a little restless. The 1st day Mr. Morgan was very sick. A week after we got home 3 days we crossed a stream but we rolled through it and came on travelling hard things and worst coming. We landed at the Mississippi River and crossed next morning at Greens Ferry. Mr. Morgan Reuben Simpson went a cross & I staid 3 days & pole William Morgan. They are all well at this time. One of the children died in the travel. We want you to send for mother Morgan. I hear the land and the richest land we ever saw is the Mississippi bottoms. 

                

                       Jackson Morgan and Susan Turner Morgan approx. 1839               

We would a settled here but the water was very bad it was very sickly. The 2d Sunday in travelling the wagon turned us side down a bank. Every thing is in good order in it notwithstanding the Reuven family is hearty. Adams is as far as far as one they are beware well all aged I will tell you in the next letter while whether I am please or not. We are on rented land at this time. There is 15 acres of cleared land. Give the (?) as naught it best for a snow. Our [?] makes this his home & is trading & [?] bought charge with 50 [?]. The place we expect to settle is 2 miles below Mr. [Cumings?] on Beaver Creek a branch bottom 175 acres a first rate spring.

Mr. Morgan is again to help Reuben Clear and wants to clear  as much as we can find and Clear. There is a good , 300 acres spring & a plenty of timber. The beloved place is from 50 to 375 . It is said to be better than to settle there. Really for there is not much land that can be settled only one there every  of  on the  I . I never saw [?] I make choice [?] or on the account of larger bodies of land and it can be there [?]. I have not looked [?] much [faded] going over on white river. The great bodies of land it is said that there can be 1000 acres in it. 7 hundred acres of corn it is supposed to be. it is 2 or 30 miles [?]. In last year there can be a good. made in this settlement if any minister should happen in. There was preaching  here the 7th of this month. The people [?] and an [?]. By [?] I am in [?]. [faded] horse I always [?] 20 head of hogs we bought corn [?] [?] he has sold 200 [?] worth [?]. I have cut and made 1 coat it is first [?] [?] another in the house to make. The drought was great the crops was short but on the [?] and very [?] [faded] year there is a long [?]. They [?] [faded] I have a [?] [faded] [?] I [?] [faded] [?] [faded]. [more about expenses, horses, etc.]

They sell from 12 to 15 [?]. They are doing well [faded]. [mentions working, family members like Jerry, etc.]

Closing section:

... The post office is kept at the mouth of [?] [faded]

[Signed] John Morgan

                                                        Letter courtesy Patrick Meguair

250 YEARS OF AMERICAN HISTORY