McDowell's Army

United States Corps Topographical Engineers, Balloon Detachment

MAJOR A J MYER, Signal Officer, Army States Army
Major A J Myer, United States Signal Corps, was assigned as aid to Brigadier General D Tyler, Connecticut Militia, at 3/4 PM on 21 July, 1861, and to Brigadier General I McDowell, United States Army, in the evening the same day.

Aeronaut J WISE
Aeronaut J Wise and his son Charles Wise arrived at Washington, D. C., on 17 July, 1861, and were assigned to Captain A W Whipple, United States Corps Topographical Engineers, at Centreville, Fairfax County, Virginia, on 19 July, 1861.

BALLOON DETACHMENT ESCORT

26th Pennsylvania Infantry, detachment: SGT. F B BIRD
A detachment of the 26th Pennsylvania Infantry (22), under the command of Sergeant F B Bird, 26th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company H, was temporarily assigned to Aeronaut J Wise's balloon at the Columbia Armory, corner of Sixth Street and Maine Avenue, Washington, D. C., on 17 July, 1861 (See the 26th Pennsylvania Infantry).

Sources

"Professor Lowe experimented with his army balloon this afternoon from the Columbian armory grounds."

The Baltimore Daily Exchange (Baltimore City, Maryland),, 19 June, 1861

"Professor Lowe's balloon was making experimental trips to the upper regions of the air, at the Smithsonian Institution grounds on Saturday."

Baltimore Daily Exchange (Baltimore City, Maryland), 17 July, 1861 - Balloon experiments

Books/ Manuscripts

Aeronautics in the Union and Confederate armies, with a survey of military aeronautics prior to 1861, Volume 1, by F Stabsbury Haydon

Communication addressed to Major H. Bache, of the Topographical Engineers, Washington D. C., 29 July, 1861, by T S C Lowe, Aeronaut

Through the air, by John Wise

Military ballooning during the early Civil War, with an introduction by Tom D. Crouch, by F Stansbury Haydon

Notes

Major A J Myer

Assistant Surgeon A J Myer, United States Medical Corps, was appointed major and signal officer, United States Adjutant General's Department, on 27 June, 1860, dated 2 July, 1861, and was ordered to New York City, New York, on 1 June, 1861.

War Department, on West Seventeenth Street, Washington, D. C., & Fort Monroe, Old Point Comfort, Elizabeth City County, Virginia, 3 & 10 June, 1861: Major & Signal Officer A J Myer, United States Adjutant General's Department,, was ordered to the War Department, on West Seventeenth Street, Washington, D. C., on 3 June, 1861, and to Fort Monroe, Old Point Comfort, Elizabeth City County, Virginia, in the afternoon on 10 June, 1861.

Note: Major & Signal Officer A J Myer, United States Adjutant General's Department, was ordered to set up a school of signal instruction at Fort Monroe, Old Point Comfort, Elizabeth City County, Virginia, on 10 June, 1861.

Special Orders No.34, Headquarters, Department of Virginia, Fort Monroe, Old Point Comfort, Elizabeth City County, Virginia, 12 June, 1861: Second Lieutenant W M Maynadier, 1st United States Artillery, Company M; Second Lieutenant E Thomas, 4th United States Artillery, Company D; First Lieutenant J M Quackenbush, 2nd New York Infantry, Company E; Second Lieutenant L F Hepburn, 4th New York Infantry, Company K; Second Lieutenant T S Dumont, 5th New York Infantry, Company B; Private R T Yelverton, 7th New York Infantry, Company C; Second Lieutenant H Ayres, 1st New York Infantry, Company E; First Lieutenant T S Seabury, 3rd New York Infantry, Company G; Second Lieutenant W S Andrews, 9th New York Infantry, Company G, and Sergeant L M Bergen, 10th New York Infantry, Company F, were assigned to Major & Signal Officer A J Myer, United States Adjutant General's Department, by Special Orders No.34, Headquarters, Department of Virginia, Fort Monroe, Old Point Comfort, Elizabeth City County, Virginia, on 12 June, 1861.

Special Orders No.17, War Department, Adjutant General's Office, Washington, D. C., 17 July, 1861: Major & Signal Officer A J Myer, United States Adjutant General's Department, was assigned to Brigadier General I McDowell, United States Army, by Special Orders No.17, War Department, Adjutant General's Office, Washington, D. C., on 20 July, 1861, dated 17 July, 1861, and was assigned to command Aeronaut J Wise's balloon and a detachment of the 26th Pennsylvania Infantry (22) at the Columbian Armory, corner of West Sixth Street and Maine Avenue, Washington, D. C., in the morning on 21 July, 1861.

Note: Major & Signal Officer A J Myer, United States Adjutant General's Department, was stationed at Washington, D. C., on 20 July, 1861.

Washington, D. C., to Henry Hill, one mile west of the Stone Bridge, on the Bull Run River, 21 July, 1861: Major & Signal Officer A J Myer, United States Adjutant General's Department, was ordered across the Aqueduct Bridge, on the Potomac River, at Georgetown, D. C., at 2 AM on 21 July, 1861, and arrived at Henry Hill, one mile west of the Stone Bridge, on the Bull Run River, at 3/4 PM the same day.

Note: A signal camp of instruction was set up at Red Hill, Georgetown, D. C., by First Lieutenant & Assistant Signal Officer S T Cushing, United States Adjutant General's Department, on 30 August, 1861.

James Allen

Aeronaut J Allen and two balloons was ordered to proceed by the steamer Empire State to Washington, D. C., at 2.30 PM on 19 April, 1861, and was accompanied by a detachment of the 1st Rhode Island Detached Militia, under the command of Colonel A E Burnside, 1st Rhode Island Detached Militia, and Governor W Sprague, State of Rhode Island.

Note: Privates J Allen, 1st Rhode Island Detached Militia/ Providence Marine Corps Artillery, and W H Helme, 1st Rhode Island Detached Militia, Company C, were assigned as aeronauts to the 1st Rhode Island Detached Militia on 18 April, 1861 (See the 1st Rhode Island Detached Militia).

Easton, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, 23 April, 1861: Aeronaut J Allen, 1st Rhode Island Detached Militia/ Providence Marine Corps Artillery, arrived at Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, on 20 April, 1861, and at Perryville, Cecil County, Maryland, on 21 April, 1861. He was assigned to the 1st Rhode Island Detached Militia/ Providence Marine Corps Artillery at Easton, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, on 23 April, 1861.

Note: Aeronaut J Allen, 1st Rhode Island Detached Militia/ Providence Marine Corps Artillery, was stationed at Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, on 23 April, 1861.

Camp Sprague, G Seating's farm, west of North Capitol Street, D. C., 9 June 1861: One of Aeronaut J Allen's, 1st Rhode Island Detached Militia/ Providence Marine Corps Artillery, balloons was inflated at the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Third Street and was towed to G Seating's farm, west of North Capitol Street, D. C., on 9 June, 1861. Aeronaut J Allen, 1st Rhode Island Detached Militia/ Providence Marine Corps Artillery, made experiments and tests in aerial observations, under the supervision of Major & Signal Officer A J Myer, United States Adjutant General's Department, at Camp Sprague, G Seating's farm, west of North Capitol Street, D. C., the same day.

Camp Sprague, G Seating's farm, west of North Capitol Street, D. C., 8-9 July, 1861: First Lieutenant H L Abbott, United States Topographical Engineers, was ordered to inflate one of Aeronaut J Allen's, 1st Rhode Island Detached Militia/ Providence Marine Corps Artillery, balloons and make a reconnaissance at Camp Sprague, G Seating's farm, west of North Capitol Street, D. C., by Captain A W Whipple, United States Corps Topographical Engineers, on 8 July, 1861, and made a partial ascent in the morning on 9 July, 1861.

Alexandria, Alexandria County, Virginia, 14 July, 1861: Aeronaut J Allen's, 1st Rhode Island Detached Militia/ Providence Marine Corps Artillery, and two balloons were inflated at Alexandria, Alexandria County, Virginia, in the morning on 14 July, 1861, and were ordered to rendezvous with Brigadier General D Tyler, Connecticut Militia, at Falls Church, Fairfax County, Virginia, the same day.

Note: A detachment of the 11th New York Infantry (60) was assigned as escort two balloon to Falls Church, Fairfax County, Virginia, on 14 July, 1861, and one balloon burst during inflation and collapsed at Alexandria, Alexandria County, Virginia, and one struck a telegraph pole and exploded at and in the vicinity of Falls Church, Fairfax County, Virginia, the same day (See the 11th New York Infantry).

John Wise

Aeronaut J Wise was stationed at Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, on 15 July, 1861, and was ordered to Washington, D. C., by Captain A W Whipple, United States Corps Topographical Engineers, on 16 July, 1861.

Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, to Washington, D. C., 17 July, 1861: Aeronaut J Wise and Charles Wise were ordered to Washington, D. C., in the morning on 17 July, 1861, and arrived by the Washington Branch, Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, the same day.

Note: Captain A W Whipple, United States Corps Topographical Engineers, notified the Bureau of Topographical Engineers, Washington, D. C., to adopt a balloon for army service on 26 June, 1861, and a contract for a military balloon was awarded to Aeronaut J Wise on 27 June, 1861. Aeronaut J Wise was assigned to the United States Topographical Engineers, Balloon Detachment, on 1 July, 1861.

Washington Gas Works & Columbian Armo corner of West Sixth Street & Main Avenue, Washington, D. C., to Centreville, Fairfax County, Virginia, 19 July, 1861: Aeronaut J Wise was ordered to inflate his balloon at the Washington Gas Light Company, east of the Columbian Armory, corner of West Sixth Street and Main Avenue, Washington, D. C., and was assigned to Captain A W Whipple, United States Corps Topographical Engineers, at Centreville, Fairfax County, Virginia, on 19 July, 1861. He arrived at the Columbian Armory, corner of West Sixth Street and Main Avenue, Washington, D. C., the same day.

Washington, D. C., to Centreville, Fairfax County, Virginia, 21 July, 1861: Aeronaut J Wise, under the command of Major & Signal Officer A J Myer, United States Adjutant General's Department, was ordered across the Aqueduct Bridge, on the Potomac River, Georgetown, D. C., at 1 AM on 21 July, 1861, and was accompanied by a detachment of the 26th Pennsylvania Infantry (22), under the command of Sergeant F B Bird, 26th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company H (See the 26th Pennsylvania Infantry).

Note: A detachment of the 26th Pennsylvania Infantry (22), under the command of Sergeant F B Bird, 26th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company H, was temporarily assigned to Aeronaut J Wise at the Columbian Armory, corner of West Sixth Street and Main Avenue, Washington, D. C., on 17 July, 1861.

Fairfax Courthouse & Centreville, Fairfax County, Virginia, to Washington, D. C., 21 July, 1861: Aeronaut J Wise's balloon was badly torn in trees between Fairfax Courthouse and Centreville, Fairfax County, Virginia, in the afternoon on 21 July, 1861, and was ordered to be repaired and refilled at Washington, D. C., by Major & Signal Officer A J Myer, United States Adjutant General's Department, the same day.

Professor Thaddeus S C Lowe

Professor T S C Lowe and the balloon Enterprise was stationed at Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, on 4 June, 1861.

Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, to Washington, D. C., 5 June, 1861: Professor T S C Lowe and the balloon Enterprise was ordered to proceed by the Philadelphia, Wilmington & Baltimore Railroad to Washington, D. C., on 5 June, 1861, and arrived at the National Hotel, northeast corner of West Sixth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D. C., the same day.

Columbian Armory, corner of West Sixth Street & Maine Avenue, Washington, D. C., 17 June, 1861: Professor T S C Lowe ascended in the balloon Enterprise at the Columbia Armory, corner of West Sixth Street and Maine Avenue, Washington, D. C., at 4 PM on 17 June, 1861, and was accompanied by Superintendent G MD Burns and Telegrapher H C Robinson, American Telegraph Company.

Note: The balloon Enterprise was stationed at the grounds of the Executive Mansion/ President's House, on Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D. C., in the evening on 17 June, 1861.

Columbia Armory, corner of West Sixth Street & Maine Avenue, Washington, D. C., to Arlington House/ Lee-Custis Mansion, Arlington Heights, Alexandria County, Virginia, 22 June, 1861: Professor T S C Lowe and the balloon Enterprise were ordered to Arlington House/ Lee-Custis Mansion, Arlington Heights, Alexandria County, Virginia, in the evening on 21 June, 1861, and across the Long Bridge, on Potomac River, at Washington, D. C., in the afternoon on 22 June, 1861. He was accompanied by a detachment the 8th New York State Militia (15) and arrived at Arlington House/ Lee-Custis Mansion, Arlington Heights, Alexandria County, Virginia, on 22 June, 1861 (See the 8th New York State Militia).

Note: Captain A W Whipple, United States Topographical Engineers, was stationed at Arlington House/ Lee-Custis Mansion, Arlington Heights, Alexandria County, Virginia, in the afternoon on 22 June, 1861.

Falls Church, Fairfax County, Virginia, & Columbian Armory, corner of Sixth Street & Main Avenue, Washington, D. C., 23-25 June, 1861: Professor T S C Lowe and the balloon Enterprise was ordered to Falls Church, Fairfax County, Virginia, at 4 AM on 23 June, 1861, and arrived at 10 AM the same day. Professor T S C Lowe ascended in the balloon Enterprise at 6 PM and 10 PM on 23 June, 1861, and was ordered to the Columbian Armory, on the corner of Sixth Street and Main Avenue, Washington, D. C., in the morning on 25 June, 1861.

Smithsonian Institute, on Maine Avenue, Washington, D. C., 12 & 13 July, 1861: Professor T S C Lowe varnished and repaired the balloon Enterprise at the Smithsonian Institute, on Maine Avenue, Washington, D. C., on 12 July, 1861, and ascended in the afternoon on 13 July, 1861.

Falls Church, Fairfax County, & Fort Corcoran, a quarter of a mile southwest of W Ross' farm, Rosslyn, Arlington Heights, Alexandria County, Virginia, 21-22 July, 1861: Professor T S C Lowe and the balloon Enterprise was ordered to Centreville, Fairfax County, Virginia, in the evening on 21 July, 1861, and was accompanied by a detachment of the 26th Pennsylvania Infantry. He arrived at Falls Church, Fairfax County, Virginia, on 21 July, 1861, and was ordered to Arlington Heights, Alexandria County, Virginia, at 4.30 AM on 22 July, 1861. Professor T S C Lowe arrived at Fort Corcoran, a quarter of a mile southwest of W Ross' farm, Rosslyn, Arlington Heights, Alexandria County, Virginia, at 8 PM the same day.

Fort Corcoran, a quarter of a mile southwest of W Ross' farm, Rosslyn, Arlington Heights, Alexandria County, Virginia, 24 July, 1861: Professor T S C Lowe ascended in the balloon Enterprise in the vicinity of Fort Corcoran, a quarter of a mile southwest of W Ross' farm, Rosslyn, Arlington Heights, Alexandria County, Virginia, at 7.30 AM on 24 July, 1861

Note: Professor T S C Lowe was ordered assigned to Brigadier General I McDowell, United States Army, by Major H Bache, United States Corps Topographical Engineers, on 17 July, 1861, but was countermanded on 19 July, 1861.

United States Corps Topographical Engineers

Captain A W Whipple, United States Corps Topographical Engineers, was assigned to Brigadier General I McDowell, United States Army, at Arlington House/ Lee-Custis Mansion, Arlington Heights, Alexandria County, Virginia, on 31 May, 1861, and was appointed chief topographical engineer of the Defenses of Washington, D. C., between 1 June and 15 July, 1861. He was appointed chief topographical engineer, McDowell's Army, on 16 July, 1861, and brevet lieutenant colonel, United States Corps Topographical Engineers, dated 21 July, 1861.

Note: First Lieutenants H L Abbot and G K Mendell, United States Corps Topographical Engineers, were assigned to the Department of Northeastern Virginia on 29 June and 15 July, 1861, respectively, and Major & Signal Officer A J Myer, United States Adjutant General's Department, was assigned to Brigadier General I McDowell, United States Army, on 21 July, 1861.

Major H Bache, United States Corps Topographical Engineers, Washington, D. C., 11 April-11 December, 1861: Major H Bache, United States Corps Topographical Engineers, was assigned to command the Bureau of Topographical Engineers at Washington, D. C., between 11 April and 11 December, 1861.

Brevet Second Lieutenant H S Putnam, United States Corps Topographical Engineers, Annapolis, Anne Arundal County, Maryland, 9-26 May, 1861: Brevet Second Lieutenant H S Putnam, United States Corps Topographical Engineers, was assigned as mustering officer at Annapolis, Anne Arundal County, Maryland, on 8 May, 1861, and arrived in the evening on 9 May, 1861. He mustered the 20th New York State Militia in United States service for three months on 11 May, 1861; the 6th New York State Militia for three months on 14 May, 1861; the 13th New York State Militia for three months on 14 and 17 May, 1861; the 3rd Massachusetts Battalion Rifles for three months on 16 May, 1861; the Boston Light Artillery for three months on 18 May, 1861, and the 8th Massachusetts Infantry, Companies J and K, for three months on 9 and 26 May, 1861.

Note: Colonel C P Stone, 14th United States Infantry; Captain & Assistant Quartermaster R O Tyler, United States Quartermaster's Department; Brevet Captain & Assistant Adjutant General J B Fry, United Sates Adjutant General's Department; and Brevet Second Lieutenant H S Putnam, United States Corps Topographical Engineers, were assigned to Brigadier General I McDowell, United States Army, at Arlington House/ Lee-Custis Mansion, Arlington Heights, Alexandria County, Virginia, on 28 May, 1861.

General Orders No.2, Paragraph I, Department of Northeastern Virginia, Arlington, Alexandria County, Virginia, 31 May, 1861: Brevet Second Lieutenant H S Putnam, United States Corps Topographical Engineers, was appointed chief, United States Corps Topographical Engineers, Department of Northeastern Virginia, by General Orders No.2, Paragraph I, Department of Northeastern Virginia, Arlington, Alexandria County, Virginia, on 31 May, 1861.

Captain J W Abert, United States Corps Topographical Engineers, Army of Pennsylvania, 21 June, 1861: Captain J W Abert, United States Corps Topographical Engineers, was assigned to Major General R Patterson, Pennsylvania Volunteers, Army of Pennsylvania, on 21 June, 1861.

Colonel W B Franklin, 12th United States Infantry, First Brigade, Third Division, McDowell's Army: Captain W B Franklin, United States Corps Topographical Engineers, was appointed superintending engineer in charge of the extension of the Capital (including the new dome), and the General Post Office, Washington, D. C., between 1 November, 1859 and 3 March, 1861, and chief of the Construction Bureau, United States Treasury Department, and superintending engineer of the Treasury building extension, on West Fifteenth Street, Washington, D. C., between 3 March and 14 May, 1861. He was stationed at Albany, Albany County, New York, on 1 June, 1861, and was appointed colonel, 12th United States Infantry, by General Orders No.33, Adjutant General's Office, Washington, D. C., on 18 June, 1861, dated 14 May, 1861. Colonel W B Franklin, 12th United States Infantry, was appointed brigadier general, United States Volunteers, by General Orders No.62, Adjutant General's Office, Washington, D. C., on 20 August, 1861, dated 17 May, 1861 (See the First Brigade, Third Division, McDowell's Army).

Orders of Battle

• United States Corps Topographical Engineers, Balloon Detachment
  Major A J Myer ›
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The above painting, 'New York's Bravest', is by Don Troiani, modern America's finest historical artist.