In OTL, Thaddeus Lowe was a civilian balloon pilot that was hand selected by President Abraham Lincoln to work for the Union in directing artillary fire by telegraph. In August of 1861, a Confederate battery fired on him and he escaped unharmed. This was considered the first baby step for the United States development of the use of aircraft in warfare. It should be noted that Lowe was not the only one being sought by the United States, John La Mountain was the first to use balloons for reconnaissance in July of the same year.
However, WI is Thaddeus Lowe (this first person to use balloons in combat) was killed? Would the U.S. Army believe the use of balloons in combat were too dangerous and forget the whole idea? Would they keep pressing on? What are your opinions on this?