PROFESSOR THADDEUS LOWE
THE CIVIL WAR YEARS
Observation from the George Washington Parke Curtis Barge
George Washington Parke Curtis, a coal barge built in the mid-1850's, was purchased by the Navy in August 1861; fitted out with a gas-generating apparatus developed by Thaddeus Lowe; and modified by John A. Dahlgren at the Washington Navy Yard for her service as a balloon boat.
Early in the morning of 10 November 1861, steamer Coeur de Lion towed George Washington Parke Custis out of the Navy Yard and down the Potomac. The next day Lowe, accompanied by General Daniel E. Sickles and others, ascended in his trial balloon from the barge off Mattawomen Creek to observe Confederate forces on the Virginia shore some 3 miles away.
On the 12th Lowe reported: "We had a fine view of the enemy camp fires during the evening and saw the rebels constructing batteries at Freestone Point." This operation and John La Mountain's earlier ascension from Fanny began the widespread use of balloons for reconnaissance work during the Civil War arid foreshadowed the Navy's future use of the air to extend its effective use of sea power.
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY --
NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
Online Library of
Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --
USS Coeur de Lion (1861-1865)
USS Coeur de Lion, an 110-ton (burden) side-wheel gunboat, was built in 1853 at Coxsakie, New York, as a civilian steamer. Later becoming a U.S. Light House Tender, she was loaned to the Navy soon after the outbreak of the Civil War and began her commissioned Navy service in early October 1861. Coeur de Lion was active thereafter on the rivers tributary to Chesapeake Bay. In November 1861 she towed the barge George Washington Parke Custis during Thaddeus Lowe's observation balloon operations over the Potomac River. During 1862-1864 Coeur de Lion captured or destroyed several would-be blockade running schooners and participated in a number of engagements with Confederate forces. Returned to the Lighthouse Board in June 1865, Coeur de Lion was sold in 1867. As the commercial steamer Alice she lasted until about 1873, when she was removed from shipping registers.
