July 4, 1862: Loss of the Confederate "Aircraft Carrier" CSS Teaser

JULY 4TH, 1862:  The USS Maratanza, Lt. Stevens, engaged the CSS Teaser, Lt. Davidson, at Haxall's on the James River.  The Teaser was abandoned and captured after a shell from Maratanza exploded her boiler.  In addition to placing mines in the river, Davidson had gone down the river with a balloon on board for the purpose of making an aerial reconnaissance of Union General McClellan's positions at City Point and Harrison's Landing.

By this time both Union and Confederate forces were utilizing the balloon for gathering intelligence; the Teaser was the Southern counterpart, the USS G.W. Parke Custiss, from whose deck aerial observations had been made the preceding year.

Well, essentially they were early aircraft carriers.

The Teaser's balloon, as well as a quantity of insulated wire and mine equipment, were found on board the Teaser.  Six shells with "peculiar fuzes" were also taken and sent to Captain Dahlgren at the Washington Navy Yard for examination.

Mines and Balloons, Oh My.  --Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago, November 11, 1861: Professor Lowe Goes Up in a Balloon

NOVEMBER 11TH, 1861:  Thaddeus Lowe made a balloon observation of Confederate forces from Balloon-Boat G.W. Parke Custis, anchored in the Potomac River.  The G.W. Parke Custis was procured for $150, and readied for the service at the Washington Navy Yard.

Lowe reported:  "I left the navy-yard early Sunday morning, the 10th instant ... towed out by the steamer Coeur de Lion, having on board competent assistant aeronauts, together with with my new gas generating apparatus, which, though used for the first time, worked admirably.

We located at the mouth of Mattawoman Creek, about three miles from the opposite or Virginia shore.  Yesterday [11 November] proceeded to make observations accompanied in my ascensions by general Sickles and others.  We had a fine view of the enemy's camp-fires during the evening, and saw the rebels constructing new batteries at Freestone Point."

The Beginning of Naval Aviation.  --Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago: First Union Balloon Ascent

AUGUST 3RD, 1861:  John LaMountain made first ascent in a balloon from the Union ship Fanny at Hampton Roads to observe Confederate batteries at Sewell's Point, Virginia.

This was a small beginning for the future potent aircraft carriers in the tridimensional U.S. Navy of the Twentieth Century.

--Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago: Balloon Observation Begins at Fort Monroe

JULY 25TH, 1861:  John LaMountain began balloon reconnaissance ascensions for the Union at Fort Monroe, Virginia.

**  CSS Sumter, Commander Semmes, captured schooner Abby Bradford in the Caribbean Sea and, denied the right to enter Venezuela with Confederate prizes, dispatched her to a Southern port.

**  USS Resolute, Acting Master W. Budd, brought two schooners and one sloop into Washington, D.C..

--Old B-R'er

150 Years Ago: November 2-3, 1863-- Operations at Fort Sumter

NOVEMBER 2-3RD.

Lt. Cmdr. Greenleaf Gilley of the USS Catskill reported on Confederate operations at Fort Sumter to meet any Union attempts to breech the obstructions between Forts Sumter and Moultrie as the furious Union bombardment of Fort Sumter continued.

He reported: "Two boats under sail were seen moving from Sumter towards Sullivan's Island. About 11 p.m. a balloon with two lights attached arose from Sumter and floated toward Fort Johnson.... At midnight a steamer left Sumter and moved toward Fort Johnson.

At sunrise...observed the three rams [CSS Charleson, Chicora and Palmetto State] and the sidewheel steamer anchored in line of battle ahead from Johnson toward Charleston, and each with its torpedo topped up forward of the bows."

Being Vigilant, Very Vigilant. --Old B-Runnee