The Proto-Aircraft Carrier of the Pamunkey Part Two

 . . . continued from the posting of February 26 . . .

Model of the USS G.W. Parke Custis at the Hampton Roads Naval Museum

". . .the balloon-boat USS G.W. Parke Custis* was added to the equipment of the balloon service in November, 1861. This vessel had originally been purchased by the Navy Department in August of the same year for service as a coal barge in the Washington Navy Yard. She had been assigned to Lowe for the aeronautic service by personal instructions of Secretary Gideon Welles, to whom Lowe's application for a vessel had been referred. This balloon-boat, which may properly be called the first aircraft carrier in history, was approximately 8 years old at the time of her conversion to the aeronautic service. Her initial coast to the Navy had been $150. She had an overall length of 122 feet, a 141/2 foot beam and was 51/2 feet in depth of hold. Of very shallow draft, she had a carrying capacity of 75 tons in 21/2 feet of water, which was increased in deep water to 120 tons. This vessel was not equipped with engines, but was dependent upon an attending tug or small steamer for propulsion. In waters too shallow for towing, she could be propelled by large oars or heavy poles.

Under the direction of Lowe, the superstructure of the vessel was remodeled by naval carpenters to suit the requirements of her new service. The entire hull was covered over with a  single flat deck, which provided a large level area for the inflation and ascension of the balloons. A small deckhouse on the stern was also added for the headquarters of the aeronaut in charge of the boat. The shallow draft and roomy hold made the vessel admirably suited to balloon operations. She could be towed into any position navigable by her attending tug, and by means of her poles and oars could be maneuvered through more shallow waters into positions of advantage for observation that were otherwise inaccessible. In addition to her usefulness in providing ascension areas on her deck, her hold also furnished ample space for the stowage and transportation of iron turnings, acid, and other materials and equipment."

-Aeronautics in the Union and Confederate armies, with a survey of military aeronautics prior to 1861, vol. 1, by the Johns Hopkins Press, 1941.”

* The USS G.W. Parke Custis was of course named after the grandson of Martha Washington and until 1858 the owner of White House and the largest land owner in New Kent. Custis was also, through his daughter Mary Custis, father-in-law of Robert E. Lee. Ironic both in being the name of the US Navy's first "carrier" and in its eventual return to the Custis estate on the Pamunkey.

The Proto-Aircraft Carrier of the Pamunkey Part One

New Kent and the Pamunkey River's role in the very early history of naval aviation . . .

A Harper's Weekly image of a balloon boat from late in the war

"On the afternoon of the 4th of May I received orders to move everything pertaining to my department by water, with General Franklin's command. I was to proceed up the Pamunkey River until I reached the White House and bridge crossing the Pamunkey River. (typescript note: This house was once the residence of George and Martha Washington and it is supposed that the President's residence in Washington was named after it.)

This I did, starting early the next morning (May 5, 1862), passing by the cotton bale fortifications on the York River and soon into the little, winding, but easily navigated stream of the Pamunkey. Every now and then I would let the balloon up to view the surrounding country and over the ridge beyond the Pamunkey River valley, I saw the rest of the retreating Confederates, which showed me that our army had not gotten along as fast as was expected.

The balloon boats were the first to reach the White House landing and were even some distance ahead of the gunboats and so the first night, the balloon guard was the advance picket on the river bottom. Instantly I realized my precarious situation.

My outfit consisted of the balloon boat, a steam tug, one hundred and fifty men with muskets, a number of wagons, horses, and gas generators for three independent balloon outfits.

We arrived at the Lee Mansion, known as the White House, at six o'clock, and found the bridge crossing the Pamunkey on fire, which fully convinced me that I was well into enemy's country. This house was the residence of W.H. Lee, son of General R.E. Lee and the tents of McClellan's headquarters a little later surrounded it. With his usual fine feeling McClellan refused to make use of it.

I immediately landed my troops and had them surround a thick clump of young pines a short distance from the house. There we found the overseer and two house servants. The family had left a few minutes before on a special car that took them to Richmond. On entering the house I found that dinner was being served when my boats made their appearance, and that coffee was still warm in the cups and an inviting, friendly looking fire blazed in the great fireplace.

To carry out a bluff I immediately rushed a long line of tents along the edge of the locust grove in which the house stood, reaching down the river a quarter of a mile, and built as many fires as my men could get material for the purpose, making it appear as though we were strong, not only in numbers, but in equipment. The darker it got the more secure I felt, and we certainly had made a great display for a small squad. My three prisoners were being guarded and I sought to get information from them, but the overseer, a man of about fifty years, was exceedingly bright and evaded all my questions with unusual tact. He then stated that if I had got through with him he would like to go home. I stated that his home for the present would be with us and we would take good care of him. I then questioned the negroes separately and got a large amount of valuable information. The next morning I took observations and could see scouts on the ridge two miles beyond, but no apparent movement to disturb us, although a small force could have captured us in a few minutes if they had known my situation."

-Memoirs of Thaddeus Lowe: Volume 53 of Studies in American History by Thaddeus Sobieski Coulincourt Lowe, Michael J. Jaeger, Carol Lauritzen


 . . . .More to follow in The Proto-Aircraft Carrier of the Pamunkey Pt. II