1786

Jeffries, John, fl. 1790

Book signed

Title: A Narrative of the Two Aerial Voyages of Doctor Jeffries... (George Washington's copy)

"A narrative of the two aerial voyages of Doctor Jeffries with Mons. Blanchard; with meterological observations and remarks...." Printed for the author. Small folio format, signed on the titlepage by George Washington. Handsome tree-calf binding. With handsome frontispiece engraving of Jeffries. Jeffries had been a Loyalist who went to England where he pursued research on air, its properties and balloons. After this flight, he went to Paris, dined with Franklin and met John Paul Jones. He returned to Boston in 1790. In 1794, Blanchard came to America and in Philadelphia, with…

GLC04936

1863

Bachelder, John B. (John Badger), 1825-1894

Print

Title: Gettysburg Battle-field [color lithograph] [panorama of field]

One print entitled Gettysburg Battle-field by John B. Bachelder dated 1863. "Isometrical" panoramic chromolithograph with some hand-coloring showing troops positions and movements over the three days, with (lithographed) endorsement of General Meade, his corps commanders and civilians (town authorities and administrators of the Lutheran Theological Seminary). Bachelder visited the field shortly after the battle and drew a map which he published in the Autumn after the battle. His "Key" to the drawing asked the viewer to imagine himself in a balloon suspended in the air two miles east of…

GLC10018

March 1784

Gouvion, Jean Baptiste, 1747-1792

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Informs Knox that the Society of the Cincinnati is "... sure do well in this country, but the news we have from america give me some uneasiness, the american gentlemen who are in paris and not members of the Society are much against it, chiefly Mr. Jay who went the other day so far as to say that if it did take well in the states, he should not care whether the revolution had succeeded or not." Discusses exclusionary policies of the Society. Describes recent developments in hot air ballooning: two days prior, "a gentleman went in the air as far up as four thousand yards..."

GLC02437.02988

circa 1861-1865

Brady, Mathew B., 1823-1896

Photograph

Title: View of Professor Thaddeus Lowe and staff inflating reconnaissance balloon

Image shows a group of about five men inflating Lowe's reconnaissance balloon, with a large crowd gathered to watch. The balloon itself is about 1/2 inflated. Imprint on recto "Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1862, by M. B. Brady, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Columbia." Graphite inscription on verso "1.25.--." Photographers imprint on verso: "Brady's Album Gallery. No. 423. Professor Lowe inflating Balloon Intrepid To Reconnoiter Battle of Fair Oaks. The Photographs of this series were taken directly from nature, at considerable cost…

GLC05111.02.1345

circa 1861-1865

Photograph

Title: View of soldiers holding ropes attached to a reconnaissance balloon

Image shows approximate twenty-one soldiers holding the ropes attached to a floating balloon. In the background are A-frame tents amid trees, with other figures watching the balloon action. Ink inscription on image "2348." Graphite inscription on verso "Professor Lowe in His Balloon Watching the Battle of Fair Oaks" "2.00--." Photographers imprint on verso: "Published by E. & H. T. Anthony, 501 Broadway, New York. Manufacturers of the best Photographic Albums."

GLC05111.02.1346

7 November 1790

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Acknowledges receipt of Knox's last letter. Tells Knox that he has spoken with the ailing Governor [James] Bowdoin "respecting the Fish, and we have concluded to put on board the first Vessell bound to Philadelphia." Bowdoin died at 4 o'clock that morning. "He had his reason to the last moment." Bowdoin's property left to "Mrs. Temple" will be "put into the hands of the Trustees, and the income only at her command during the life her husband but if she outlives him, it comes into their hands and at her own disposal." Notes he had a visit from Mr. [Sylvanus?] Bourne, but Jackson had no…

GLC02437.04773

29 August 1790

Jeffries, John, fl. 1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Jeffries writes to Knox thanking him for his kindness. Says he fears more for his wife whose "constitution" is particularly vulnerable, which also prevents Jeffries from traveling from Boston. Asks Knox to present a copy of his [aerial] narrative to the President of the United States, George Washington.

GLC02437.04705

1783-1900

Gregorie, Catharine S.M., 1765-1821

Header Record

Title: [Catharine Macaulay family correspondence][Decimalized .001- .109]

Collection of letters belonging to Catharine Macaulay dated approximately 1783-1900. Consists of 109 letters and documents related to the Macaulay, Graham, Gregorie, and Brickdale families, Majority of letters are sent from Catharine S. Gregoire to her mother Catharine Macaulay. Later correspondence is later sent to William Graham from Catharine S. Gregoire following the death of Macaulay and Catharine S. Gregoire's husband, Charles Gregoire. Letters also includes recipients of Charles Richards, Jane Frazer, Anne Frazer and Isabella Frazer from their cousin Catharine Gregoire Brickdale.

GLC01795

August 29, 1873

Early, Jubal Anderson, 1816-1894

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Raphael Semmes

Jubal Anderson Early, a former lieutenant general in the Confederate Army, writes to former Confederate admiral and brigadier general Raphael Semmes regarding correspondence with a German who has created a flying machine that could be used to bombard northern cities. Says "...I have this day received an offer from a German who says he has invented a flying machine, to dedicate to the Southern Cause, which he says is not lost...he says we can bombard and destroy...Northern Cities with his flying machines. I will publish the letter as a fitting comment in all the fit Northern papers are raising…

GLC00610

December 4, 1805

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Rush

John Adams writes concerning his and George Washington's administrations by referring to those "melancholly books" such as "Tully's Memoirs" and "Cicero's Life" from which he compares the first and second triumvirates to Hamilton's "Schemes, to get rid of Washington, Adams, Jay and Jefferson, and monopolise all power to him Self."

GLC00747

January 3, 1863

Lewis, Henry, fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to cousin Charlie

Lewis describes the destruction in the town from artillery when Union forces occupied it. He mentions pickets and surveillance balloons, and talks about morale. Letter written from Camp Opposite Fredericksburg, in Virginia.

GLC00653.25

27 April 1863

Pugh, Eli, fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to L. D. Wood

re: Yankees going "up every day in their Bulloons;" attempts to secure discharge due to rheumatism; travel from Dublin, Va., to camp in Caroline Co.

GLC03135.06.015

December 1, 1784

Gregoire, Catharine S., 1764-1821

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mama

One letter addressed to Catharine Macaulay from Catharine S. Macaulay dated December 1, 1784. She reports the payment of 250 pounds on a Scottish mortgage. She enquires whether balloons have yet become fashionable amusements in America for travel.

GLC01795.010

1861-1864

Dodge, Nelson E., fl. 1862-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

re: Dodge writes about the balloon the Union dispatched over the Confederates as well as sickness and despair that has befallen the soldiers. He also writes about the prices for food: "butter is .40cts a pound…potatoes…are 1.25a bushel and shugar is not 11cts a pound."

GLC02162.08

1914-1918

Keystone View Company

Stereocard

Title: Attaching Observation Balloon to Winch for Towing into Position, Army of Occupation, Weissenburg, Germany.

American troops attach an observation balloon to its winch and prepare it to take off in a field in Weissenburg, Germany.

GLC09584.160

1914-1918

Keystone View Company

Stereocard

Title: Through the Uncharted Heavens She Blazed the Trail --- Dirigible R-34 at Minneola.

A view of a Dirigible R-34 at Roosevelt Field in Mineola, NY. Lines of troops are visible underneath the airship. In the foreground, two soldiers stand in a field with their weapons over their shoulders.

GLC09584.161

1914-1918

Keystone View Company

Stereocard

Title: Observation Balloons near Coblenz, Germany.

An observation balloon floats upwards to the sky with two soldiers in its wicker basket, who look downwards at the crowd below. Next to it, another blimp is in the process of being inflated.

GLC09584.261

1 October 1862

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Ordered to act as Sergeant (from Corp.) and arresting two deserters who returned. Reconnaissance balloons report rebels digging rifle pits 10 miles to the south.

GLC04558.045

24 July 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. West

Says little has happened and they remain anchored at Alexandria. Says they were told to wait in readiness to man the town's batteries last night, but nothing came of it. Says the USS "Pawnee" is docked next to them. Went on shore and describes the town and the defeated soldiers from Bull Run. Has heard that no forward movement has been made by the enemy. Says "Last night and this morning they were reconnoitering from Washington in a balloon, and this morning it passed over Alexandria and descended just outside the town." Blasts the newspapers that were clamoring for the North to end their…

GLC03836.12

2 May 1862

Mortimer, Caleb C.E., 1835-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his wife

Mentions a Union hot air balloon that was used for reconnaissance. "Our big Balloon is just making preparations to take a look at the rebs they are getting very vicious and they make night hideous with the howling and bursting of shells..." Describes skirmishing near Yorktown during the Peninsular campaign and mentions that the pickets on both sides are firing at each other all day and night. Written from Camp Winfield Scott.

GLC01898.18

26 May 1862

Mortimer, Caleb C.E., 1835-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his wife

Camped eight miles from Richmond, Virginia. Mentions the reconnaissance balloon again. Marked "Camp of 3rd Mass Battery" and "near Chickahominy River, Va."

GLC01898.19

June 14, 1858

Foster, fl. 1858

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his cousin

Foster describes Class Day at Brown University and an upcoming event called Whately Burial, in which juniors carry a coffin through the streets containing one of their textbooks, Whately's Logic. Comments on last year's Whately Burial and getting caught in the rain. Mentions hot air ballooning in Providence, in which a the balloon reached heights of 1000 feet and a rabbit was dropped down in a parachute. Describes the parachuting process.

GLC01450.712.02

1862/06/01

Brady, Mathew B., 1823-1896

Photograph

Title: Scene at Balloon Camp, Gaines' Hill

Photograph of Prof. Lowe's balloon ascent during battle of Fair Oaks, near Richmond, Va.

GLC04087

1861/07-08/1863

Taber, Joseph S. C., fl. 1861-1863

Diary

Title: Civil War diary of soldier in Co. B 23rd regiment Pa. Volunteers

Mentions Peninsula Campaign, rebel balloon, Harper's Ferry, and Gettysburg.

GLC07218

1861/07/08-1861/12/27

Pitcher, Henry, fl. 1862-1891

Diary

Title: Diary of member of 33rd New York Regimental Band

Diary of musician, includes descriptions of 2 photos taken by Mathew Brady, on field near Bull Run (included as .02 and .03), as well as review by Lincoln and McClellan, Professor Lowe warning of enemy's advance from his balloon, etc.

GLC06889.01