Inscription
During the Civil War, both the Union and Confederate armies performed reconnaissance while suspended from Hot Air Balloons. The Union Army's use of balloons began in the summer of 1861. After observing civilian balloonist Thaddeus Lowe float in a basket 1500 feet above Washington, D.C., President Lincoln realized the military potential for balloons. He promptly established the Balloon Corps and approved funding for equipment and personnel. On August 28, 1861, the first U.S. military balloon, the "Union," was ready to enter the war.
May 1, 1863 at 9:15 AM
"Heavy columns of Infantry/Artillery moving upriver opposite Falmouth accompanied by wagons."
May 2, 1863 at 6:15 AM
"The enemy are advancing in large numbers to attack our Army on the right of Fredericksburg."
May 4, 1863 at 6:50 PM
"The enemy are engaged in full force and driving our force badly."
May 4 and 5, 1863 at 7:30 PM
"The enemy have driven our left with a large force and have possession of the river opposite Falmouth."
Balloonists Thaddeus Lowe as quoted, May - May 5, 1863, in providing Major Generals Joe Hooker and John Sedgwick with strategic information during the Union Army's engagement at the Battle of Chancellorsville.
May 1, 1863 at 9:15 AM
"Heavy columns of Infantry/Artillery moving upriver opposite Falmouth accompanied by wagons."
May 2, 1863 at 6:15 AM
"The enemy are advancing in large numbers to attack our Army on the right of Fredericksburg."
May 4, 1863 at 6:50 PM
"The enemy are engaged in full force and driving our force badly."
May 4 and 5, 1863 at 7:30 PM
"The enemy have driven our left with a large force and have possession of the river opposite Falmouth."
Balloonists Thaddeus Lowe as quoted, May - May 5, 1863, in providing Major Generals Joe Hooker and John Sedgwick with strategic information during the Union Army's engagement at the Battle of Chancellorsville.
Details
| HM Number | HM1927 |
|---|---|
| Tags | |
| Marker Condition |  0 out of 10 (2 reports) |
| Date Added | Tuesday, September 23rd, 2014 at 6:18pm PDT -07:00 |
Pictures
Locationbig map
| UTM (WGS84 Datum) | 18S E 279854 N 4246128 |
|---|---|
| Decimal Degrees | 38.33626667, -77.51878333 |
| Degrees and Decimal Minutes | N 38° 20.176', W 77° 31.127' |
| Degrees, Minutes and Seconds | 38° 20' 10.56" N, 77° 31' 7.62" W |
| Driving Directions | Google Maps |
| Area Code(s) | 540 |
| Closest Postal Address | At or near 1 Bolivar Point Lane, Fredericksburg VA 22406, US |
| Alternative Maps | Google Maps, MapQuest, Bing Maps, Yahoo Maps, MSR Maps, OpenCycleMap, MyTopo Maps, OpenStreetMap |
Is this marker missing? Are the coordinates wrong? Do you have additional information that you would like to share with us? If so, check in.
Nearby Markersshow on map
Mud March
George Washington: Statesman and Public Servant
George Washington: Surveyor and Family Man
George Washington: Soldier and Virginia Planter
Historic Kenmore and George Washington's Ferry Farm
The Mud March
Fredericksburg Campaign
Civilian Conservation Corps Company 2363
Hunter's Iron Works
Falls of the Rappahannock River
The Marker Listing Needs Corrected
The narrative listed above has two (2) inaccuracies: 1 - They were gas (hydrogen) NOT hot air balloons; and 2 - Lowe tethered to an altitude of 500 NOT 1500 feet over Washington.
Jul 26, 2015 at 4:41pm PDT by tsclowe
I Could Not Find It
I looked, but could not find this marker :-(
Jul 26, 2015 at 4:40pm PDT by tsclowe
Comments 1 comments
Maintenance Issues
- Is this marker part of a series?
- What historical period does the marker represent?
- What historical place does the marker represent?
- What type of marker is it?
- What class is the marker?
- What style is the marker?
- Does the marker have a number?
- What year was the marker erected?
- Who or what organization placed the marker?
- This marker needs at least one picture.
- Can this marker be seen from the road?
- Is the marker in the median?
1. I didn't find a marker at the coordinates listed above.
2. The narrative listed above has two (2) inaccuracies: 1 - They were gas (hydrogen) NOT hot air balloons; and 2 - Lowe tethered to an altitude of 500 NOT 1500 feet over Washington.
Respectfully,
Kevin Knapp / Thaddeus Lowe, Aeronaut
Civil War Balloon Corps Living History