PROFESSOR THADDEUS LOWE
THE CIVIL WAR YEARS
Lowe Defending Against False Statements from Non-Balloonist - 1863
War of the Aeronauts, pages 265-267
Part of the reason that Lowe had to defend his department's operations was that outside critics of the Balloon Corps were also finding a voice within the War Department. In March, 1863, an inventor by the name of England, from 1724 Rittenhouse Street, Philadelphia, wrote to General Rufus Ingalls, the chief quartermaster of the Army of the Potomac, claiming to have devised a more efficient way of generating hydrogen gas for military balloons.
In a lengthy letter to Ingalls, England claimed to have learned, "that the expense of (the) Balloon corps was about $200 per day," during the period in which the army was engaged in the Peninsular Campaign. Furthermore, England broke down these expenses along with "the vast amount of material" used to support the Balloon Corps: I was informed that a steamboat, costing $85 per day, was constantly employed for transportation and storage; also some 40 horses, and 10 wagons, and 30 men were employed in that department.
Exactly from what source England obtained his information was never mentioned. However, the inventor went on to state that he had a proposal that would reduce the Corp's expenses, "to about one half or less."
England continued his letter by claiming that he had developed a new type of hydrogen generator that would "dispense entirely (with) the vast amount of valuable material, and cumbersome apparatus" that was used by the corps and that his process would provide a total savings of "$300 to $400 per day."
Although England did not reveal any significant details of his new invention he emphatically exclaimed that "the overwhelming advantages gained over the present method of inflation ... (will) certainly add to the efficiency" of military aeronautics.
Ingalls forwarded England's proposal to Brig. General Seth Williams, who served as assistant adjutant general to Hooker. Thaddeus Lowe was livid when he received word of England's proposal. In a lengthy response to Williams, Lowe refuted everyone of England's claims.
Memoirs of Thaddeus Lowe, pages 162-165
HEADQUARTERS AERONAUTIC
DEPARTMENT,
Camp near Falmouth, Va.,
March 30, 1863.
Brig. Gen. S. WILLIAMS,
Assistant
Adjutant-General, Army of the Potomac:
GENERAL: On the 21st of
this month I received from you an article setting forth a new plan for
operating balloons for military purposes, proposed by a Mr. B. Englend, and
referred to me for an expression of opinion and report. In consequence,
however, of my time being occupied during the past week in Washington before
the Committee of Congress on the Conduct of the War, I have not been able to
make a report until now.
In examining the papers I find many misstatements concerning the
present balloon operations, which, in justice to myself and those connected
with this department, I feel in duty bound to set right.
First, then, in comparing the two methods, he states that "the time
required to inflate a balloon by the present mode is fifteen hours," when in
fact it never required over three hours and fifteen minutes, and since
adding my last improvements Mr. Allen, one of my assistants, informs me that
the gas now makes in two hours and thirty minutes instead of fifteen hours
as represented.
Second. He states that the cost of inflating now for a simple
inflation is $400, when the actual cost is only about $60 now; and when the
iron (which we now obtain free of cost at the Washington Navy-Yard) had to
be purchased, the cost was then in the neighborhood of $75, which, when
divided into fourteen (the number of days the balloons will retain their
power, on the average), the cost per day for gas will be about $5.30. Of
course this does not include contingent expenses.
Third. Mr. Englend states that it now requires 12,000 pounds of acid
and iron for a single inflation, when, in fact, that amount will keep two
balloons inflated from three to four weeks.
Fourth. He states that it now requires twelve or fourteen wagons,
when the facts are that it never did require over seven wagons to haul four
balloons and appendages and material to keep them inflated, and all camp and
garrison equipage for the whole aeronautic corps.
Now that I have made the above corrections, I will give my opinion
(as I am ordered to do so) of the relative advantages between the method
proposed and the one now employed.
First. According to the statement of Mr. Englend, it requires a bulk
of 68,000 cubic feet to lift the same weight that now requires 15,000 cubic
feet, much lees than a quarter of the capacity of the balloon which he
proposes. After figuring the weight of the appendages, which he puts down at
750 pounds, he then has left 250 pounds ascensive power. Now, considering
that nine-tenths of the ascensions now made require an ascensive power of
400 to 600 pounds in order to counteract the force of the wind against the
side of a balloon, it is certain that with a bulk more than four times as
large and weight and with less than a quarter of the power, it could not
ascend at all; or, in other words, when the balloon of 15,000 cubic feet
capacity lifting 1,000 pounds, with weight of apparatus and two persons,
between 400 and 500 pounds, can ascend from 1,000 to 2,000 feet, the balloon
of 68,000 feet capacity and weighing 750 pounds, with a lifting power of
1,000, could not be held by fifty men against the wind, and would be blown
to the earth.
Second. I should say that it would be impossible to tow from place
to place a balloon of the kind last mentioned; therefore should two
ascensions be required at different points in one day (as is often the case,
in order to make a full and correct report), the balloon would have to be
inflated at each point, which would be another impossibility, and would
involve the expense of $250, according to the cost set down for each
inflation. Besides, the constant handling of the machinery must necessarily
soon wear it out.
I would here take occasion to say that the balloons now in service
have been in use for nearly two years; have been inflated from one to two
months without changing the gas; have stood the storms of two winters, and
are kept constantly ready to ascend at five minutes' notice (whenever the
weather will admit), and ascend four times higher than ever was done (by
ropes) before, These are circumstances which history affords no parallel in
any country. Notwithstanding this, I would respectfully recommend that Mr.
Englend be permitted to try his experiments in the field beside the present
balloon operations, in order to compare fairly the relative advantages of
the two upon precisely the same grounds that I was allowed to try my first
experiments, namely, with his own balloon and apparatus and at his own
expense.
In conclusion, I would beg to state that the knowledge I have
acquired in the aeronautic art has cost me much means and expense and many
years of hard labor; therefore I would most respectfully ask that this
report will not be furnished to Mr. Englend or his associates, as I desire
not to instruct any persons except in the U.S. service.
I remain, general, with great
respect, your most obedient servant,
T. S. C. LOWE,
Chief of Aeronautics, Army of the Potomac.
BALLOON CAMP,
Near Falmouth, Va., April
1, 1863.
Prof. T. S. C. LOWE,
Chief of Aeronautics, Army
of the Potomac:
SIR: In accordance with
your request that I should furnish you with a report of my operations
previous to my employment under your direction and my opinion of your system
of aeronautics, that you may avail yourself of it in your report to the
Secretary of War, I would most respectfully submit the following:
For a number of years previous to the breaking out of this war I
followed the profession of an aeronaut, as then practiced by the leaders in
that art. At the commencement of the rebellion I was induced by my friends
to offer my services to the Government. I did so, and for the purpose of
demonstrating what I could do I brought on two balloons in July, 1861. Some
experiments were made before an officer of the Topographical Engineers,
appointed for that purpose, After witnessing my operations he pronounced
them unsatisfactory, although I had, as a general thing, been as successful
as other aeronauts had previously been. After ascertaining what was expected
of balloons, and under what circumstances they would have to be operated,
in' order to meet the requirements of those not acquainted with the art, I
came to the conclusion that balloons could not be introduced into the U.S.
service without an entire different arrangement. Not only must decided
improvements be made in the balloon and paraphernalia, but the balloon must
be inflated at short notice, and at different points in the field, and for
that purpose there was no apparatus yet invented. After thus summing up the
matter I returned to my home in Providence and subsequently watched with
much interest the report of your progress in aeronautics for war purposes,
until in the spring of 1862 you invited me to join your corps, since which
time I have received much valuable information and instruction from you in
the use of your inventions, which now enables me to operate with entire
success, and, I believe, satisfactory to you, as I have often had evidence.
In conclusion, I can conscientiously say that the Government is
indebted to you alone for the introduction of this useful branch of the
public service, and were it not for your improvements in the construction of
balloons and invention of portable gas generators, your untiring
perseverance, hard labor, and exposure, against great obstacles, aeronauts
could never have been of service to our Army.
Balloons, as usually constructed, could not be kept inflated in
heavy winds, and at best could not hold their power but a few hours, whereas
now the balloons are kept constantly ready to go up, day or night. From
their manner of construction and great strength they are able to withstand
any storm, and enables the aeronaut to ascend in nearly all weathers, and
are so impervious that they can be kept inflated for months with but little
replenishing, and consequently trifling expense. These are qualities
heretofore unknown in the history of aeronautics, and are merits that
deserve the highest commendation.
I remain, professor, with great
respect, your most obedient servant,
JAMES ALLEN,
Aeronaut.
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