Built by Professor Thaddeus S. C. Lowe and his father, Clovis Lowe, in 1858, The Enterprise was an experimental aerostat. Using a breakthrough secret-recipe varnish, the india silk ship was able to stay aloft for up to two weeks.
On a later test flight it traveled 900 miles, into confederate South Carolina where Thaddeus Lowe was picked up as a confederate spy. After a few days, a local college professor was able to vouch for Lowe as a scientist and he was allowed to return to Union territory to be reunited with his ship.
Upon his return, Lowe was called to Washington, D.C. by Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase. On June 11, Lowe met with Lincoln and offered to demonstrate the balloon. He took the Enterprise 500 feet above Washington, D.C. and telegraphed a message back to Lincoln on the ground.
- Balloon Enterprise in the Air
- To His Excellency, Abraham Lincoln
- President of the United States
- Dear Sir:
- From this point of observation we command an extent of our country nearly fifty miles in diameter. I have the pleasure of sending you this first telegram ever dispatched from an aerial station, and acknowledging indebtedness to your encouragement for the opportunity of demonstrating the availability of the science of aeronautics in the service of the country.
- I am, Your Excellency's obedient servant,
- T.S.C. Lowe
Lincoln was impressed, ordering seven to be built for the Union, which were quickly put into service. The Enterprise, however, crashed after the first free-flight demonstration. Once repaired, it was put into light service around Washington D.C. and eventually decommissioned.
-Professor Walter
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