USS George Washington Parke Custis (1861)

USS "George Washington Parke Curtis" (1861) was a barge acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War for the purpose of using her as a balloon-launching platform in order to spy on Confederate defenses a long distance off.

This initial balloon experiment by John A. Dahlgren led to intensified balloon spying during the remainder of the war.

Conversion to balloon barge by John A. Dahlgren

"George Washington Parke Custis", a coal barge built in the mid-1850's, was purchased by the Union Navy in August 1861; fitted out with a gas-generating apparatus developed by Thaddeus Sobieski Constantine Lowe; and modified by John A. Dahlgren at the Washington Navy Yard for her service as a balloon barge.

Balloon launched to view Confederate forces in Virginia

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 River. 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."

Balloon launches cause technological leap in reconnaissance

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.

Final decommissioning

No data available.

References

See also

* United States Navy
* American Civil War
* Thaddeus S. C. Lowe
* Balloon (aircraft)
* Observation balloon

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/g4/george_washington_parke_custis.htm USS George Washington Parke Curtis]