In
a quiet corner of the Oakwood Cemetery located in the Texas City of
Corsicana, a weather beaten and Moss covered headstone bears a simple
inscription. A.E. Morse. 1843-1914. Not much to show for the man who
piloted the last Confederate Balloon on a scouting mission over the
Front Lines during the defense of Charleston, South Carolina in 1863.
When the War Between the States
commenced in April 1861, with Georgia being amongst the first of the
original seven States to secede, Charles Cevor, a well-known early
pioneer of balloon flights in the South, was living and working in
Savannah offering “Demonstration” balloon flights at county fairs and
similar public gatherings, all in an effort to earn a living and to
spread interest in this new method of transport. In fact early in April
1860, Cevor and a man named Dalton, completed an inadvertent first
Cross-Country flight when they lifted off into a gale and were promptly
blown out to sea dragging their winch-line behind them!!
In 1861, as people flocked to support to their Civic leaders, and to enlist in the States Militia and National Guard in an enthusiastic support of the Southern States bid for independence from the Union, Charles Cevor promptly approached the Military to offer his balloon and services to the Army. Unhappily he was turned away, though not forgotten as news of his balloon was passed on to higher authorities. General Thomas Drayton of the newly minted Confederate Army was apparently very interested in the idea of using balloons for field observation, and so was General Joseph Johnson, it becomes very possible then, that Cevor after losing his first balloon the “Montpelier” at sea. Replaced it with a new vehicle, called the “Forest City” and continued flying his “Demonstration” flights, just in time to be called on to fly as a Contractor for the Army in June 1861 near the Leesburg Pike as first reported in the Northern press.
Up through April of 1862, Charles Cevor as a civilian, continued to operate his balloon on behalf of the Army probably as part of what today would be called a Test and Development program despite having enlisted in the Chatham Artillery Battery in August 1861 in Savannah. At this same period in August 1861, a young and enthusiastic recruit to the Confederate cause had enlisted on the same day as Cevor, and while Cevor was now developing his aviation skills and expertise. Young Adolphus Morse was learning how to be a soldier, and carry a backpack and musket and to march everywhere as soldiers seem to delight in doing! At this time, there appears to be no evidence of any other balloons operating in the South apart from the “Forest City”, so any references in the Northern press to “rebel” balloons during this period presumably had to refer to Cevor.
Adolphus Morse was born in Troy P.A. in 1843, sometime later his family moved to Georgia, it’s a mystery now as to why they moved, but perhaps the family at the time felt the prospects for their future looked better in the South. It is highly likely that young Adolphus Morse was most impressed to be going through 19th Century “Boot Camp” with someone like Charles Cevor, a famous local hero, and if he had had an opportunity to attend one of Cevor’s Balloon exhibitions in Savannah before the war started, one can imagine the young lad’s determination to listen and learn from an expert! Its probable too that Cevor spent most of his time ensuring his balloon was airworthy and available when required, and perhaps not much time being spent on the niceties of military discipline, though its more than likely he would have had to get involved in the supervising and training on the logistical support side of the operation. Being an early “Smoky” type balloon, the only real support required, was the use of several strong backs to move the balloon and basket from a cart, and to spread the envelope out after digging a hole that would be used as a fire-pit. But the Army would also have needed a training system!
In 1861, as people flocked to support to their Civic leaders, and to enlist in the States Militia and National Guard in an enthusiastic support of the Southern States bid for independence from the Union, Charles Cevor promptly approached the Military to offer his balloon and services to the Army. Unhappily he was turned away, though not forgotten as news of his balloon was passed on to higher authorities. General Thomas Drayton of the newly minted Confederate Army was apparently very interested in the idea of using balloons for field observation, and so was General Joseph Johnson, it becomes very possible then, that Cevor after losing his first balloon the “Montpelier” at sea. Replaced it with a new vehicle, called the “Forest City” and continued flying his “Demonstration” flights, just in time to be called on to fly as a Contractor for the Army in June 1861 near the Leesburg Pike as first reported in the Northern press.
Up through April of 1862, Charles Cevor as a civilian, continued to operate his balloon on behalf of the Army probably as part of what today would be called a Test and Development program despite having enlisted in the Chatham Artillery Battery in August 1861 in Savannah. At this same period in August 1861, a young and enthusiastic recruit to the Confederate cause had enlisted on the same day as Cevor, and while Cevor was now developing his aviation skills and expertise. Young Adolphus Morse was learning how to be a soldier, and carry a backpack and musket and to march everywhere as soldiers seem to delight in doing! At this time, there appears to be no evidence of any other balloons operating in the South apart from the “Forest City”, so any references in the Northern press to “rebel” balloons during this period presumably had to refer to Cevor.
Adolphus Morse was born in Troy P.A. in 1843, sometime later his family moved to Georgia, it’s a mystery now as to why they moved, but perhaps the family at the time felt the prospects for their future looked better in the South. It is highly likely that young Adolphus Morse was most impressed to be going through 19th Century “Boot Camp” with someone like Charles Cevor, a famous local hero, and if he had had an opportunity to attend one of Cevor’s Balloon exhibitions in Savannah before the war started, one can imagine the young lad’s determination to listen and learn from an expert! Its probable too that Cevor spent most of his time ensuring his balloon was airworthy and available when required, and perhaps not much time being spent on the niceties of military discipline, though its more than likely he would have had to get involved in the supervising and training on the logistical support side of the operation. Being an early “Smoky” type balloon, the only real support required, was the use of several strong backs to move the balloon and basket from a cart, and to spread the envelope out after digging a hole that would be used as a fire-pit. But the Army would also have needed a training system!
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