Basil Smith: Intrepid Hydrogen Balloon

Artist: Basil Smith
1925 -
Nationality: British
Artwork Year: 1983
Image Size: 7 by 6 inches
Overall Size: 10 by 9 inches
Medium: Mixed Media on Hot Press Illustration Board

During the Civil War, there existed a special division of the Union Army which had one primary responsibility -- observation. Known as the Balloon Corps, it consisted of combat-trained aeronauts that carefully watched the enemy troops from special gas-filled balloons, and reported what they saw. Often, the military leaders themselves would float above the battlefield and telegraph information down to the Union gunners below. With this information, the Union cannons became deadly accurate weapons. By January 1862, seven Union Army war-balloons were in service. They varied in size and shape, but the Intrepid was by far the largest and the most powerful -- able to lift up to five large men. The Intrepid was a huge hydrogen-filled balloon that was made of large sheets of tan silk that had been sewn together, coated with a leak-proof rubber compound then filled with lighter-than-air hydrogen gas. The colorful basket, or gondola, that hung below the balloon proudly displayed the colors of the Union and had special iron floor to protect the balloonist from enemy bullets. As the balloon would rise high above the trees, the balloonist could estimate the size of the enemy troops and survey their movements. Through the skillful use of gas-filled balloons such as the Intrepid, the Union army enjoyed a definite advantage over the Confederate forces ... an advantage that, no doubt, helped them to win the Civil War.

This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood® Trains & Boats & Planes & More Collection Description Card for the Intrepid.

Artwork Copyright © 1983 Unicover Corporation. All Rights Reserved under United States and international copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, transmit, or otherwise exploit the Artwork in any way. Images of the Artwork may be watermarked and/or digitally watermarked. Any sale of the physical original does not include or convey the Copyright or any right comprised in the copyright.

Our Stock Number (SKU): XB08196

US$ Price: $950.00

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