Porter on the Pensinsula: The Height of a Career
Union General Fitz John Porter unintentionally entertained troops on both sides during the seige of Yorktown. When war became a certainty, Thaddeus Lowe, an avid hot-air balloonist, offered his services to the United States Army for reconnaissance and observation. Part self-educated scientist, part shameless showman, Lowe staged a series of tethered flights around Washington to promote the potential of aerial surveillance. Having equipped his […]