‘Civil War Aeronautics’

CORNWALL — The Cornwall Public Library will host a presentation on Monday, Jan. 7, entitled: “Civil War Aeronautics: The Use of Balloons.”

The program, lead by U.S. Army Maj. Joseph C. Scott, an instructor at the United States Military Academy at West Point and Civil War historian, will begin at 7 p.m. in the library’s community room.

The use of balloons by the Union Army during the Civil War was spearheaded in by “Professor” Thaddeus Lowe. Initial efforts were met with a mix of skepticism and unrealistic enthusiasm, but Lowe and his associates mixed persistence and ingenuity to earn the support of key Union political and military figures.

The balloonists participated in several critical campaigns during the American Civil War and demonstrated the potential of aerial reconnaissance.

Ultimately, however, the technical limitations of 19th-century balloons, the unique status of the aeronauts themselves, and the gradual removal of their supporters from positions of authority undermined their ability to play a decisive role and led to the end of the Union Balloon Corps in 1863.

Registration is not required. Contact the library with any questions at 534-8282.