The photograph below is a picture of an observation balloon that is being fueled with hydrogen gas. The name for this balloon is called the Intrepid and was invented by Thaddeus Lowe. These air balloons had been around for decades by the time the Civil War began, and Lowe insisted that they be used to aid the Unions. This was truly a new concept in North America. To sell the idea, Lowe, although smart, came up with a rather foolish plan to fly to Washington, D.C., and land on the White House lawn.
His plan did not go as planned, seeing as he caught a “rebel” wind, which caused him to land right in enemy territory. He was arrested and escaped from being lynched. Afterward, he returned to Washington to demonstrate all the advantages soldiers would have if they were to use it as a way to observe.
A Fist Fight Stopped a Gun Fight
The picture below shows the positions that were held around Fredericksburg, Virginia. This area was the gateway to Richmond. This was an extremely bloody engagement between Union forces and the Confederate Army. The outcome was a crushing Union defeat, which strengthened the Confederate cause. However, something peculiar happened at the Battle of the Wilderness. During the battle, there was a Union soldier who had taken cover in a gully.
Only to find that there was already a Confederate soldier in it. Strangely, the two began to argue about who should surrender. It escalated to the point where the two began to fistfight. Reports stated that the battle in its entirety stopped until the two of them stopped fighting. The Confederate soldier had won the fight by belting the Union soldier. It was then that the Union soldier had agreed that he should surrender.
This Has To Be A Joke
This photo shows all that is remaining of the Confederate ironclad ram Albemarle. Named after Albemarle Sound, where she was built in 1863 and where she would terrorize Union ships for months. Although many bullets hit the ship, it managed to sink two ships at the cost of one man who opened a hatch to watch the battle. It was the last thing he saw. The Albemarle was a strong ship, but it wasn’t strong enough to sink the Union ship Miami.
However, it was the ending for the Captain of the ship, Captain Fusser. Because there were cannon balls bouncing off the Albemarle's iron hull, he had ordered his crew to light a ten-second fuse. This was, unfortunately, the last order he would give. One of the shells bounced off the Albemarle and landed at Captain Fusser’s feet seconds before it exploded. He didn’t have a chance at finding cover.
Taking Credit
This photo below was taken by a man named Andrew Russell. He was then published incorrectly as “Sherman’s Neckties” in reference to the Union General, William Tecumseh Sherman. This photo makes this block look rather harmless; however, it was an effective method used by Southerners to destroy Union railroad lines. The ties would be used as fuel, and the fire would produce a very high heat when it was against the steel.
Once the steel was hot enough, soldiers would stand on each side and twist the metal to the best of their ability so that it wouldn’t be able to be used for railroad tracks. “Sherman’s Neckties” ended up sticking because the Union general at the time thought the tactic was very effective.
So Close, Yet Still Far
Former United States Senator Jefferson Davis was elected as the president when the Confederacy formed their government. In addition, they chose Richmond as their capital. As we all know, Virginia is the neighbor of Maryland, where the US capital, Washington DC, is located, which are only roughly 100 miles apart from one another. If this army looks bored to you, it’s because they most certainly are.
There were two attempts to take Richmond at the beginning of the war, but they were unsuccessful. At this point, they just watched their neighbors to the south until they were weak and tired enough to invade. It took a total of three years for the Union to make its way into the South. It’s apparent that these soldiers didn’t have much to do until then.