Near Richmond in Henrico County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Civil War Balloonists

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, November 25, 2009

1. Civil War Balloonists Monument

Inscription. Dedicated to the intrepid and patriotic men: the Civil War Balloonists, Union and Confederate, known and unknown who against ridicule and skepticism laid the foundation for this nation’s future in the sky.

Inscribed hereon are the names of those who are known

Erected May 30, 1962, by the City of Richmond, Virginia on the field where a century ago, a battle raged as one of these pioneers served aloft

Erected 1962 by City of Richmond.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is May 30, 1860.

Location. 37° 31.039′ N, 77° 20.004′ W. Marker is near Richmond, Virginia, in Henrico County. Marker can be reached from Huntsman Road, 0.1 miles South Airport Drive. This marker is located in the parking lot of the Virginia Aviation Museum at Richmond International Airport. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5701 Huntsman Road, Richmond VA 23250, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Virginia Air National Guard (within shouting distance of this marker); Richmond Defences (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); Civil War Artillery (approx. ¼ mile away);

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McClellan’s Picket Line (approx. 0.8 miles away); Battlefield of Seven Pines (approx. 0.9 miles away); Sandston (approx. one mile away); a different marker also named Battlefield of Seven Pines (approx. 1.1 miles away); McClellan’s First Line (approx. 1.1 miles away).

Center Panel image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, November 25, 2009

2. Center Panel

Aeronauts, Assistant Aeronauts And Members Of The Balloon Corps (left panel) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, November 25, 2009

3. Aeronauts, Assistant Aeronauts And Members Of The Balloon Corps (left panel)

Union
Ezra S. Allen, James Allen, Capt. J.S. Austin, Sgt. William Bancroft, Pvt. Francis A. Barringer, Sgt. Edward Bird, Richard Brown, George McDowell Burns, Pvt. James F. Case, Pvt. L.M. Chickey, Robert Collins, Col. Cyrus B. Comstock, Alexander J.R. deMorat, Sgt. Edward S. Dewey, John R. Dickinson, Sgt. Charles F. Eaton, Pvt. George W. Fisher, Charles Fonda, Jacob C. Freno, Pvt. J.H. Hall, Pvt. William A. Hodges, Gen. Andrew A. Humphreys, Col. Rufus Ingalls, Albert Kendrick, Samuel A. King, John LaMountain, D.D. Lathrop, Clovis Lowe, Prof. Thaddeus S.C. Lowe, Ebenezer Mason, John O’Donnell, William Paulin, Francis Raveneth, Herbert C. Robinson, Ebenezer Seaver, Park Spring, Corp. James Starkweather, John H. Steiner, Pvt. Albert Trumbull, Pvt. L.P. Van Natta, Pvt. Robert Wardwell, Gen. Gouverneur K. Warren, George A. Waters, Pvt. W.H. Welch, N. Frank White, Charles Wise, John Wise

Confederate
Gen. E. Porter Alexander, Capt. John Randolph Bryan, Charles Cevor, Capt. Langdon Cheves, Lt. Hunter Davidson, A.F.Gray, Capt. John McCrady, Prof. James C. Patton, Samuel S. Smith, Richard Wells, Dalton, Marble, Prof. Wilson

Made Ascensions With The Balloon Corps During The War (right panel) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, November 25, 2009

4. Made Ascensions With The Balloon Corps During The War (right panel)

Union
Gen. Henry L. Abbot, Col. Hiram G. Berry, Junius Brown, Col. N.B. Buford, Maj. Leyard Colburn, Col. Clinton G. Colgate, Col. Robert Cowdin, Gen. S.P. Heintzelman, Col. John N. Macomb, Gen. John H. Martindale, Capt. H.E. Maynadier, Gen. George B. McClellan, Capt. Isaac Moses, Lt. P.H. O’Rorke, Gen. Fitz-John Porter, Gen. Daniel Sickles, Col. William F. Small, Gen. William F. Smith, Gen. Charles P. Stone, G. Alfred Townsend, W.W. Ware

Used Or Encouraged The Use Of Balloons

Union
Maj. Hartman Bache, Gen. N.B. Banks, Gen. Henry W. Benham, Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside, Gen. Benjamin F. Butler, Gen. Daniel Butterfield, Col. A.V. Colburn, Dr. John C. Cresson, Commodore Andrew Foote, Gen. William B. Franklin, Prof. Joseph Henry, Gen. Joseph Hooker, Gen. Erasmus D. Keyes, Gen. Irwin McDowell, Maj. Albert Myer, Gen. John Sedgwick, Gen. George Stoneman, Gen. Alfred H. Terry, Capt. Amiel W. Whipple

Confederate
Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard, Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, Gen. James Longstreet, Gen. John B. Magruder

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, November 25, 2009

5. Civil War Balloonists Monument

Virginia Aviation Museum at Richmond International Airport image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, November 25, 2009

6. Virginia Aviation Museum at Richmond International Airport

Professor Lowe's military balloon near Gaines Mill, Virginia image. Click for full size.

Jun 1862

7. Professor Lowe's military balloon near Gaines Mill, Virginia

Library of Congress [LC-USZC4-7995]

Credits. This page was last revised on November 5, 2021. It was originally submitted on November 25, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,601 times since then and 52 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on November 25, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.