This may be of interest to those looking for something different to grace their late 18th Century battlefields. Last year I made an unscheduled (and all too brief) visit to the Gaines Mill battlefield in Virginia. Whilst there, I discovered that, at one point, balloons from both sides were in the air - probably the first time in history that this had ever happened. This and 'an observation' of mine on another thread prompted me to look further into this topic and this is what I found.
http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/civil-war-ballooning/civil-war-ballooning.html (http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/civil-war-ballooning/civil-war-ballooning.html)
ACW - 18th Cen ?????
Although I think Nappy had a balloon unit for a short time.
IanS
I set up a 6mm ACW game of Seven Pines which included a Union balloon.
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g440/dourpuritan/Altar%20of%20Freedom/IMG_1505_zps6qjdpher.jpg)
Interesting article. Thanks Westie!
@Leman - great looking balloon model. I like that you animated it by having it react to a breeze out of the southwest.
Quote from: ianrs54 on 06 September 2016, 12:49:26 PM
ACW - 18th Cen ?????
Although I think Nappy had a balloon unit for a short time.
Oops! Meant to say Late 19th Century!
I could have tried to bluff it (article starts off with Late 18th Century reference to French Revolutionary War Balloons) but, hands up, elementary error on my part. :-[
Great photo btw, Leman.
La Compagnie D'Aérostiers (1794-1802) was formed by the Committee of Public Safety of the French Republic.
Initially well regarded by the generals they served under they suffered by getting tangled up in other people's disasters!
The First Company was sent to Egypt with Napoleon's expedition but failed to unload it's balloon which was therefore destroyed by the Royal Navy. They served without a balloon until their return to France in 1802.
By 1802 Second Company had already been captured by the Austrians, imprisoned, exchanged, reformed, dismissed as useless by their commanding general and disbanded in 1799.
When I visited the Austrian Army Museum in Vienna some years ago, they had a captured French Balloon from the Revolutionary Wars on display. Presumably it is still there as it is still included in the following link.
http://www.panaustria.com/vt/110106/index.html (http://www.panaustria.com/vt/110106/index.html)
Slightly tricky to navigate using the virtual camera view. After clicking on the link, click on "Karte" in the top left corner of the screen. Then go to "1. Stock" (1st Floor) and click on the right hand circle in the "Franzosenkreige, Revolution 1848" room. When the camera moves round, you'll see the balloon and basket lurking in the background. The camera can also be manually moved. Good museum. Exhibits from 30 Years War up to the 20th Century. Located in an outlying district of the city but well worth the effort to visit it.
OK, maybe I've misread your instructions, but I've failed the aeronautical "Where's Wally?"
Looks like a nice museum, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of visitors.
Do you spend any time in this country?
Quote from: d_Guy on 06 September 2016, 03:07:27 PM
Interesting article. Thanks Westie!
@Leman - great looking balloon model. I like that you animated it by having it react to a breeze out of the southwest.
I think the fact that it is a metal model helps with the illusion of the breeze.
Quote from: fsn on 06 September 2016, 06:46:39 PM
OK, maybe I've misread your instructions, but I've failed the aeronautical "Where's Wally?"
When you run the cursor over the correct circle, the words,"Franzosenkreige, Revolution 1848 (1)" appear and when the room/hall appears on screen move the camera to the right (using the arrows at the bottom of the screen) past the bust. The balloon basket and a 'pretend' balloon can then be seen in the gap between the 3 cannon tubes and the 3 small portraits. I think it may only be the basket that is original (I can't remember - it wasn't yesterday). I'm not so sure about the balloon itself (e.g., if still intact, it may be too fragile to display?). For a better idea of what the basket and balloon look like, refer to this link (jeez, why didn't I find that first?).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museum_of_Military_History,_Vienna#/media/File:HGM_Kriegsballon_Würzburg_1796.jpg (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museum_of_Military_History,_Vienna#/media/File:HGM_Kriegsballon_Würzburg_1796.jpg)
when I click on either of those all I get is a black screen,
So you do.
...... do you think we should wait for daylight? :-\
[or try this link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Aerostatic_Corps (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Aerostatic_Corps) - the captured balloon, L'Intrepide, is in the last pic]
Nice balloon Leman :-bd =D> :-bd =D>
Westmarcher, perhaps wait until the museum is open & they have turned the lights on ;)
Quote from: Westmarcher on 06 September 2016, 03:43:06 PM
Oops! Meant to say Late 19th Century!
I could have tried to bluff it (article starts off with Late 18th Century reference to French Revolutionary War Balloons) but, hands up, elementary error on my part. :-[
Great photo btw, Leman.
Respect for being ready to 'fess up. :)
Oh. That's rather disappointing really, isn't it? :(
It's just a big grey bag with a picnic hamper hung underneath it.
Must confess I was looking for something a bit more ... colourfiul.
Oh well.
Another of life's little blows. :(
:P
Quote from: fsn on 07 September 2016, 07:00:55 AM
Another of life's little blows.
Feeling deflated, are we? I understand your disappointment. I was the same with "Gone With The Wind" - nothing to do with ballooning whatsoever.
Anyway, what were you expecting? A balloon shaped like a bicorne? :P
P.S. Paul, are the lights on yet?P.P.S. Did anyone notice that the Civil War balloon was also called Intrepid?
Quote from: Westmarcher on 07 September 2016, 08:40:29 AM
Anyway, what were you expecting? A balloon shaped like a bicorne?
I'm afraid I
keep seeing a painted ball valve from a cistern. X_X :-[
What is it in reality, Andy ?
Cheers - Phil
I was hoping for something a little more colourful.
Maybe a bit more Montgolfier than Zeppelin.
As an aside, I do find early military ballooning fascinating.
(Please no jokes about the Prince Regent's tummy.)
Quote from: Techno on 07 September 2016, 10:32:21 AM
I'm afraid I keep seeing a painted ball valve from a cistern. X_X :-[
What is it in reality, Andy ?
Cheers - Phil
It is actually the purpose made Irregular Miniatures 6mm ACW balloon and wagon with crew. One of the crew is serenely lying on his back gazing up at said balloon. Figures painted in such a way that they can also represent FPW engineers, plus both the Union and French colours are red, white and blue (yes, I know the French balloon was yellow and I have no idea of the colour of ACW balloons - despite having had the chewing gum card showing it plummeting to the ground in flames - which never happened).
Union balloon "Intrepid"
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/84/TheIntrepidReplicaGeneseeCountryVillage.JPG)(http://www.civilwar.org/photos/galleries/civil-war-ballooning/slides/the-colorful-design-of-the-1.jpg)
How disconcerting for the rebels having Gen Maclelland (?) staring down from on high!
I have General McLellan's great, great something or other staring down on my ACW games.
Quote from: d_Guy on 07 September 2016, 02:44:22 PM
How disconcerting for the rebels having Gen Maclelland (?) staring down from on high!
It's worse than that. On one balloon he's looking to the left, on the other he's looking to the right.
Does that mean the balloon-McClellan is actually alive?
Quote from: fsn on 07 September 2016, 07:25:45 PM
It's worse than that. On one balloon he's looking to the left, on the other he's looking to the right.
Does that mean the balloon-McClellan is actually alive?
Dang! Good catch - he bestrides the world like a colossus!
Quote from: Leman on 07 September 2016, 05:19:46 PM
I have General McLellan's great, great something or other staring down on my ACW games.
Is it preserved under glass?
No, he's a descendant, but I'm not sure how far down the line. His father, also a McLellan, was a US serviceman stationed over here.
Quote from: fsn on 07 September 2016, 07:25:45 PM
It's worse than that. On one balloon he's looking to the left, on the other he's looking to the right.
Does that mean the balloon-McClellan is actually alive?
The eagle is also holding different flags, *but* is pointing in the same direction... :-\
I aim to have a balloon in my Anglo Egyptian force for Suakim...