Today, armies can observe troop movements from hundreds of miles in space. That technology, as breathtaking as it may be, had its origins in the simple act of Union inventors in 1861.Using a balloon, observers were able to ascend several hundred feet into the air to count Confederate troop strength and dispositions. The Union army made use of balloon observation throughout the war. To make reporting easier, a telegraph wire was attached to the basket holding the observer. Thus, a double first: the first aerial observation and the first air-to-ground communication. Although of limited use during the Civil War, the concept of aerial observation in support of military operations was never questioned; it only awaited technology to catch up to make it more useful to the battlefield commander. Now, military aircraft and space platforms provide nations with strategic and tactical military information on potential enemies every day.