<P> Lowe's first military balloon, the Eagle was ready by 1 October 1861 . It was called into service immediately to be towed to Lewinsville, Virginia, without any gas generator which took longer to build . The trip began after inflation in Washington, D.C. and turned into a 12 mile (19 km), 12 - hour excursion that was upended by a gale - force wind which ripped the aerostat from its netting and sent it sailing to the coast . Balloon activities were suspended until all balloons and gas generators were completed . </P> <P> With his ability to inflate balloons from remote stations, Lowe, his new balloon the Washington and two gas generators were loaded onto a converted coal barge the George Washington Parke Custis . As he was towed down the Potomac, Lowe was able to ascend and observe the battlefield as it moved inward on the heavily forested peninsula . This would be the military's first claim of an aircraft carrier . </P> <P> The Union Army Balloon Corps enjoyed more success in the battles of the Peninsula Campaign than the Army of the Potomac it sought to support . The general military attitude toward the use of balloons deteriorated, and by August 1863 the Balloon Corps was disbanded . </P> <P> The Confederate Army also made use of balloons, but they were gravely hampered by supplies due to the embargoes . They were forced to fashion their balloons from colored silk dress - making material, and their use was limited by the infrequent supply of gas in Richmond, Virginia . The first balloon "pilot" in the Confederate "air force" was Edward Porter Alexander . By the summer of 1863, all balloon reconnaissance of the Civil War had ceased . </P>

When were hot air balloons first used in war