Visit the site of some unique Civil War and Falls Church history – the first aerial reconnaissance mission by the United States military. Parking is easily available on N. Roosevelt Street, immediately adjacent to Fort Taylor Park. Congrats to zgrav as the first to find on 1/6/21. Military challenge coins will be placed in the cache periodically as prizes for those who make the find. Good luck!
Please…
…Bring your own pen.
…Do not enter the cemetery or Koons Automotive.
…Only search for the cache during daylight hours.
At the beginning of the Civil War, Union commanders were uncertain of Confederate intentions and military capabilities. On June 22, 1861, civilian balloonist Thaddeus Lowe inflated his racing balloon, the Enterprise, at the Washington Gas Company to demonstrate its potential in obtaining military information about Confederate troop movements. With the assistance of a 15-man army detachment, he walked the balloon to Taylor’s Tavern at the edge of Union territory on the Falls Church heights. On June 24-25, Lowe made several tethered ascents to scout Confederate positions to the west, the first aerial reconnaissance missions in American military history.
Over a 34-day period in late summer, Lowe made 23 flights from Fort Corcoran and the Ball’s Cross Roads (present-day Ballston). In September, he implemented another first when he used signal flags to direct artillery fire from a balloon at the area of Falls Church where Confederate J.E.B. Stuart’s troops were celebrating their commander’s promotion to Brigadier General. On September 29, the Confederates withdrew to the south and west.
For further reading:
https://fcnp.com/2018/08/24/covert-park-eastern-edge-city-houses-historic-site/
http://civilwarwashingtondc1861-1865.blogspot.com/2011/06/professor-lowe-flies-high-in-falls.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Challenge_coin