...not in the Steampunk sense.
As we know, the first balloon flight took place in 1783. What if someone had the idea of using them for war?
Basically, your challenge, should you accept it, is to create war airships that are used during the 19th century, dropping bombs on armies and cities, striking terror against the helpless armies beneath them.
But, by the turn of the 20th century, the air plane and the high-velocity cannon make it obsolete. This is what, I think, makes this challenge more realistic, have airships as an aggressive weapon of war, but not for ever.
What can you think of?