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128
Wonderful Balloon Ascents; Or, The Conquest of the Skies
·
Fulgence Marion
127
Perhaps
it
was
because
if
balloons
were
discovered
to
be
of
real
utility,
his
enemies
might
make
use
of
them
as
well
as
himself,
and
France
retain
no
special
advantage
in
them.
But
however
this
may
be,
on
his
return
from
Egypt
he
sold
the
balloon
of
Fleurus
to
Robertson.
The
company
of
ballooneers
was
dissolved,
and
the
balloons
themselves
disappeared
in
smoke.
During
the
war
in
America,
the
role
which
the
balloon
played
was
a
more
important
one.
The
Government
of
the
United
States
conferred
the
title
of
aeronautic
engineer
upon
Mr.
Allan,
of
Rhode
Island,
who
originated
the
idea
of
communicating
by
a
telegraphic
wire
from
the
balloon
to
the
camp.
The
first
telegraphic
message
which
was
transmitted
from
the
aerial
regions
is
that
of
Professor
Love,
at
Washington,
to
the
President
of
the
United
States.
The
following
is
this
despatch:--
“WASHINGTON,
Balloon
the
‘Enterprise.’
“SIR,--The
point
of
observation
commands
an
extent
of
nearly
fifty
miles
in
diameter.
The
city,
with
its
girdle
of
encampments,
presents
a
superb
scene.
I
have
great
pleasure
in
sending
you
this
despatch--the
first
that
has
been
telegraphed
from
an
aerial
station--and
to
know
that
I
should
be
so
much
encouraged,
from
having
given
the
first
proof
that
the
aeronautic
science
can
render
great
assistance
in
these
countries.”
In
the
month
of
September,
1861,
one
of
the
most
hardy
aeronauts
(La
Mountain)
furnished
important
information
to
General
M’Clellan.
The
balloon
of
La
Mountain,
which
arose
from
the
northern
camp
upon
the
Potomac,
passed
above
Washington.
La
Mountain
then
cut
the
cord
that
connected
his
balloon
with
the
earth,
and
rising
rapidly
to
the
height
of
a
mile
and
a
half,
he
found
himself
directly
above
his
enemies’
lines.
There
he
was
able
to
observe
perfectly
their
position
and
their
movements.
He
then
threw
over
ballast,
and
ascended
to
the
height
of
three
miles.
At
this
height
he
encountered
a
current
which
carried
him
in
the
direction
of
Maryland,
where
he
descended
in
safety.
General
M’Clellan
was
so
much
satisfied
with
the
observations
taken
in
the
balloon,
that,
at
his
request,
the
order
was
given
to
the
War
Department
to
construct
four
new
balloons.
If
this
volume
of
“The
Library
of
Wonders”
had
not
had
for
its
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