,,history ,,of ,,the ,,confederate      
,,powder ,,works  ,by ,,col4 7,,general7
 ,,geo4 ,w4 ,,rains4  ,late of the      
,confederate ,army4   ,an ,address      
,delivered by ,invitation ,before the   
,confederate ,survivors' ,association1  
at its ,fourth ,annual ,meeting1 on     
,memorial ,day1 ,april #bfth1 #ahhb4    
,,the ,,newburgh ,,daily ,,news ,,print1
 ,,newburgh1 ,n4 ,y4     ,,address4     
,fellow ,confederate ,survivors3  ,in   
accepting your invitation to address you
 on the general history of the          
,confederate ,powder ,works1 ,i do so   
with some hesitation1 on account of my  
close personal connection with a subject
 which absorbed my thought1 time and    
energies4  ,in the history of a war we  
find1 generally1 but little reference to
 the manufactories engaged in the       
preparation of material2 they had been  
previously established1 and were in     
active operation before its             
commencement1 their products being      
immediately available for active        

operations4 ,an instance can scarcely be
 found in modern warfare where previous 
preparations had not been made1 and     
where the necessary manufacturing works 
did not already exist4  ,the late war   
was entered upon unexpectedly4          
,throughout the ,southern country it was
 supposed that the ,north would not     
seriously oppose a secession of the     
,states from the ,federal compact1 hence
 no previous provision had been made for
 such contingency1 and no material of   
war gathered4  ,manufactories existed on
 a very limited scale1 and none for war 
purposes1 hence their speedy erection   
was of extreme importance1 and had to be
 accomplished under the most unfavorable
 conditions4  ,the entire supply of     
gunpowder in the ,confederacy at the    
beginning of the conflict1 was scarcely 
sufficient for one month of active      
operations1 and not a pound was being   
made throughout its limits4 ,to enter   
upon a great war without a supply of    
this essential material1 and without    

effective means of procuring it from    
abroad1 or of manufacturing it at home1 
was appalling4  ,no one was so well     
aware of this condition of things as the
 ,president of the ,confederate ,states1
 who1 being an educated soldier1 was    
fully alive to the requirements of war1 
and at once took active measures for the
 creation of war material4 ,among these1
 was the erection of a great gunpowder  
manufactory4  ,it is the custom of the  
different nations1 in addition to the   
private factories of gunpowder1 to have 
erected at different points national    
works to supply the demand for war4 ,the
 very limited resources of the          
,confederacy not admitting of division1 
had to be accumulated at one point4 ,mr4
 ,davis was necessarily acquainted with 
most of the officers of the old army1 as
 he was graduated at ,west ,point1      
served with great distinction in the war
 with ,mexico1 and had been ,secretary  
of ,war under the ,federal ,government2 
he was thus enabled to select his agents

 for the different services required4   
,thus that very competent officer1      
,general ,gorgas1 was placed at the head
 of the ,ordnance ,department2 ,i had   
the honor of being appointed to take    
charge of the manufactory of gunpowder1 
a carte blanche being given4 ,the       
necessary works were to be erected as   
nearly central as practical2 to be      
permanent structures1 and of sufficient 
magnitude to supply the armies in the   
field and the artillery of the forts and
 defences4  ,on the #ajth ,july1 #ahfa1 
,i left ,richmond to enter upon this    
duty4 ,making a rapid tour through the  
,south to find a suitable site1 ,augusta
 was selected1 for several reasons3 for 
its central position2 for its canal     
transportation and water-power2 for its 
railroad facilities2 and for its        
security from attack--since the loss of 
the works would have been followed by   
disastrous consequences4  ,the small    
amount1 comparatively1 of gunpowder     
captured with the ,navy ,yard at        

,norfolk1 with that on hand from other  
sources1 had been distributed to the    
army gathering on the ,potomac1 to      
,richmond1 ,yorktown1 ,pensacola1       
,mobile1 ,new ,orleans1 and other       
places2 scarcely any being left for the 
force assembling under the command of   
,general ,albert ,sidney ,johnson1 in   
,kentucky4 ,the ,federal forces1 having 
the requisite advantages for equipment  
and transportation1 were assembling in  
large bodies1 and the utmost energy was 
required to prevent the loss of a battle
 by failure in ammunition4 ,general     
,johnson's command was the most urgent  
in its wants1 hence required the first  
attention4  ,the ,state of ,tennessee1  
through the energy of ,governor ,harris1
 and its ,military ,committee consisting
 of ,general ,harding and ,colonel      
,bailey1 had at the earliest moment     
taken measures to supply his army by    
making contracts for saltpetre1 to be   
supplied from the limestone caves1 and  
with the ,sycamore ,powder ,mill1 not   

far from ,nashville1 which was to be    
enlarged and put into immediate         
operation4 ,these contracts were turned 
over to the ,confederate ,government on 
my arrival in that city1 and every      
assistance possible given by the ,state 
authorities4 ,mr4 ,s4 ,d4 ,morgan1 a    
private citizen of ,nashville1 but a    
gentleman of great energy and influence1
 rendered essential service to the      
officers of the ,confederacy4 ,the      
,sycamore ,stamping ,mill was soon put  
into operation1 but its limited         
arrangements1 particularly for preparing
 the saltpetre1 caused the product to be
 small4 ,notwithstanding the rapid      
construction of new stampers1 and other 
parts1 it was only in the latter part of
 ,september that five hundred pounds of 
powder daily were produced4  ,it was    
soon perceived that to increase the     
supply1 a special refinery for saltpetre
 would have to be erected2 works        
accordingly were projected1 commenced1  
and mainly completed1 at ,nashville1 by 

the #ith ,october1 on which day #a1ejj  
lbs4 were refined1 and this amount was  
gradually increased to #c1jjj lbs4      
daily4 ,experts were not to be found1   
and for some days every part of the     
operations were carried on under my     
personal instruction4  ,gunpowder       
contains three-fourths of its weight of 
saltpetre1 and to have its proper and   
enduring strength1 this constituent must
 be refined to almost chemical purity4  
,thus the obtaining of this material and
 its preparation1 became matters of the 
highest consideration4  ,the ,governor  
of ,georgia1 at the suggestion of       
,lieutenant ,boggs1 late of the         
,ordnance ,department of the old army1  
had purchased a small cargo of saltpetre
 and sulphur in ,philadelphia1 which    
fortunately arrived safely at ,savannah 
just before that port was blockaded4    
,this store of material1 although       
comparatively small1 was of             
extraordinary value1 as from it mainly  
the gunpowder for ,general ,a4 ,s4      

,johnson's army was supplied1 as well as
 the ,batteries at ,fort ,pillow1       
,island ,number #aj1 and ,memphis1 on   
the ,mississippi river4  ,the earth of  
the limestone caves of ,tennessee1      
,alabama1 ,georgia1 ,arkansas1 and other
 ,states1 was rich in nitrate of lime1  
and this salt was convertible into      
saltpetre by lixiviation and saturating 
with the lye of wood ashes4 ,some of    
these caves were personally visited1 and
 great efforts made to have them worked 
to full capacity4 ,agents were sent out 
to investigate their capabilities with  
authority to make contracts1 and supply 
the necessary information for their     
working2 the last was accomplished by   
means of a pamphlet which ,i published  
in ,nashville giving detailed           
instructions1 and which was distributed 
throughout the country2 it was          
republished in ,richmond1 ,new ,orleans 
and other places4 ,as rapidly as the    
crude saltpetre was received from the   
caves it was refined and sent to the    

powder mills1 and the products mostly   
sent to ,general ,a4 ,s4 ,johnson's     
command4 ,about #ajj1jjj pounds of      
gunpowder were thus supplied before the 
fall of ,nashville1 besides a           
considerable amount sent to ,new        
,orleans and other places4  ,the caves  
of ,arkansas were rich in nitrous earth1
 and those of ,texas still more so1 and 
these supplied the armies west of the   
,mississippi river with material for    
gunpowder4 ,as early as practicable ,i  
sent out instructed powder-makers to    
both those ,states1 who under the       
directions of the military authorities1 
assisted to put up the necessary powder 
mills for the ,trans-,mississippi       
department1 which after the fall of     
,nashville was left necessarily to its  
own resources4  ,in the early part of   
,november my time had become so much    
occupied that it was no longer          
practicable to attend to the production 
of saltpetre1 and ,mr4 ,f4 ,h4 ,smith   
was sent from ,richmond by the ,chief of

 ,ordnance to relieve me from its       
duties4 ,at a later day a separate      
department was established1 called the  
,nitre and ,mining ,bureau1 which then  
had the entire charge of its production4
  ,in the latter part of ,november1 by  
the desire of ,general ,lovell--the able
 officer in command at ,new ,orleans--,i
 proceeded to that city and examined the
 temporary arrangements for making      
gunpowder1 and also conferred with him  
relative to procuring a supply of       
saltpetre from abroad4 ,he suggested the
 chartering of the steamship ,tennessee1
 then lying idle in the river near the  
city1 to proceed at once to ,liverpool  
and take in a cargo of saltpetre and    
return to ,new ,orleans1 or1 in case of 
necessity1 to put in at ,charleston or  
,wilmington4 ,the suggestion met my     
views1 and was approved by ,mr4         
,benjamin1 then ,secretary of ,war1 but 
was not carried out on account of the   
effective blockade of the mouth of the  
,mississippi4  ,the ,confederate        

,government1 however1 by its agents in  
,europe1 purchased saltpetre which was  
shipped on swift blockade runners which 
arrived from time to time at ,charleston
 and ,wilmington4 ,this proved to be    
adequate to our wants1 and about two    
millions1 seven hundred thousand pounds 
were thus received during the war and   
sent to the ,confederate ,powder ,works4
 ,the amount obtained from the caves    
amounted to about three hundred thousand
 pounds for the same period4 ,thus the  
total amount received at the works      
amounted to about #a1ejj tons4  ,the    
,governor and ,military ,committee of   
,tennessee1 in making the contracts for 
war material1 had engaged ,mr4          
,whiteman1 of ,nashville1 an energetic  
citizen1 to construct a ,powder ,mill at
 ,manchester1 who at my suggestion      
adopted the incorporating process of    
heavy rollers on an iron circular bed1  
such as ,i had proposed to employ at the
 ,confederate ,powder ,works erected at 
,augusta4 ,the construction of this mill

 was urged on so successfully1 that by  
the middle of ,october one set of       
rollers was in operation1 and a second  
set in course of erection2 a month      
later1 by supplying saltpetre and       
charcoal from the refinery at           
,nashville1 #a1ejj pounds of gunpowder  
were daily produced4  ,i had proposed at
 an early period to make this ,powder   
,mill a school of instruction for a few 
selected men1 so as to have them ready  
for service at the ,augusta ,powder     
,works when they should commence        
operations--similarly to what had been  
done at the ,refinery at ,nashville1    
where men were being taught to refine   
saltpetre and distill charcoal4 ,before 
the occupation of ,nashville by the     
,federal forces1 these men1 together    
with the machinery and articles of the  
,refinery in that city1 were removed to 
the ,augusta ,works2 thus they were     
supplied at the commencement with the   
necessary means of operation1 which     
could not have been otherwise           

accomplished4 ,but one                  
man--,wright--could be found in the     
,southern ,states who had seen gunpowder
 made by the incorporating mill--the    
only kind that can make it of the first 
quality2 he had been a workman at the   
,waltham ,abbey ,government ,gunpowder  
,works1 in ,england4 ,he was made       
available in the operation of the       
,manchester ,mill1 and afterwards for a 
short time at the ,augusta ,confederate 
,works1 and although sadly defective in 
a certain way1 ,i was much indebted to  
his knowledge and experience4  ,a       
singular good fortune happened at the   
commencement of my labors4 ,i came into 
possession of an invaluable pamphlet by 
,major ,bradley1 the ,superintendent of 
the ,waltham ,abbey ,works2 in this the 
entire process and machinery employed at
 that ,factory--the best existing in any
 country--was succinctly stated2        
drawings1 or working plans1 or details  
of the buildings1 or apparatus1 however1
 were not given4  ,nowhere could be     

found a publication in which this was   
done of any powder factory1 hence in the
 projection of the ,confederate ,powder 
,works1 ,i was thrown upon my own       
resources to supply these deficiencies4 
,during the many hours spent in railroad
 cars1 these matters were thought over  
and planned separately as necessity     
required4 ,a rough sketch was made1     
dimensions given1 and location          
designated2 this data was placed in the 
hands of capable men to carry out4 ,in  
my young ,architect and ,civil          
,engineer1 ,c4 ,shaler ,smith1          
recommended by the proprietors of the   
,richmond ,tredegar ,iron ,works1 ,i at 
once recognised genius of a high order1 
and placed in his hands my rough        
sketches of buildings to elaborate and  
give architectural finish4 ,all know    
with what result1 the fine taste        
exhibited in the massive and beautiful  
structures which ornamented the banks of
 the ,augusta ,canal1 for two miles1    
bore witness of his success4  ,good     

fortune also brought to my notice1 by a 
casual encounter with ,general          
,pendleton1 ,chief of ,artillery at     
,richmond1 a skilled machinist1 who had 
served his time at the ,tredegar ,works1
 and was then a ,sergeant in the        
,confederate army4 ,he1 ,william        
,pendleton1 was applied for1 and in his 
acquisition1 was gained a man of        
capability and integrity1 into whose    
hands could be confidently placed the   
erection of all the extensive machinery 
then in process of construction4 ,the   
responsible duties of ,superintendent of
 the ,works were also committed to his  
charge4  ,the ,tredegar ,iron and       
,machine ,works1 at ,richmond1 were the 
only ones throughout the ,south1 having 
adequate capabilities for the           
construction of the heavy and extensive 
machinery required in the projected     
,confederate ,powder ,works4 ,they were 
only partially available for the        
purpose1 however1 as the demands made   
upon them for heavy artillery1 and for  

all kinds of urgent work required by the
 ,government1 absorbed their resources1 
nevertheless1 ,i was compelled to call  
upon them for most of the twelve        
circular iron beds1 and twenty-four     
ponderous five ton iron rollers1 with   
other work required for the             
incorporating ,mills1 which1 together1  
weighed #bdj tons2 two of the rollers   
were made in ,macon and two in          
,chattanooga4  ,the immense iron shaft1 
nearly three hundred feet long1 varying 
from twelve inches in diameter at the   
central portions1 to ten inches and     
eight inches1 toward the extremities1   
was cast and completed in sections1     
mainly1 at the ,webster ,foundry and    
,machine ,works at the latter city2     
here1 also1 were made the twelve heavy  
spur wheels1 and twelve powerful        
friction arrangements to start and stop 
gradually each set of rollers           
separately1 as the main shaft1 working  
in the extensive subterranean archway1  
which extended below the line of mills1 

continued its incessant revolutions4    
,the great gear-wheel1 sixteen feet in  
diameter1 attached to the centre of this
 shaft1 giving it motion1 with its      
corresponding massive pinion on the     
engine shaft1 were cast and accurately  
finished at ,atlanta4  ,the fine steam  
engine of #acj-;horse power1 having two 
cylinders and a fly wheel of fourteen   
tons weight1 and five boilers was made  
at the ,north just before the war1 and  
brought to that city to be used in a    
flouring mill4 ,this was purchased as   
being exactly the motive power required4
  ,it was designed to make use of the   
water power of the canal for all        
purposes1 but its available capacities  
at that time would not permit this1 for 
the large amount required by the        
incorporating mills2 it was employed at 
the other and more dangerous buildings1 
which required a smaller amount of      
power4 ,two smaller steam engines--one  
procured at ,macon and the other at     
,selma--were employed in the ,refining  

building4 ,two ,hydraulic ,presses were 
procured at ,richmond2 the twelve iron  
evaporating pans1 each holding five     
hundred gallons1 were cast at the large 
,iron ,works on the ,cumberland ,river1 
in ,tennessee4 ,the extensive copper    
drying pans for the powdered saltpetre1 
being together forty feet long by nine  
feet broad1 were made at ,nashville2 the
 four cast iron ,retorts1 four feet long
 by three feet in diameter1 with eight  
cast iron coolers1 and twelve sheet iron
 slip cylinders of nearly the same      
dimensions1 were made at the ,augusta   
,confederate ,foundry and ,machine      
,works1 where also all the smaller      
machinery required was constructed4     
,copper boilers were procured from      
,wilmington1 ,n4 ,c41 being made of     
large turpentine stills2 pumps1 pipe and
 cement from ,charleston2 sheet copper  
from ,savannah and ,nashville2 tin and  
zinc for roofing from ,mobile2 the      
larger steam pipes from ,hight's        
,foundry1 in ,augusta1 and the smaller  

from ,new ,orleans2 iron and coal for   
castings were had from ,north ,georgia  
and ,alabama1 and copper from ,ducktown1
 in ,tennessee4  ,thus material was     
gathered from all the ,southern ,states 
to unite with the resources of the ,city
 of ,augusta1 to construct the largest  
and finest ,gunpowder ,factory to be    
found in any country4  ,on the #bjth of 
,july1 #ahfa1 ,i examined the ,augusta  
,canal and resources of the city1 and   
later selected the location of the      
,powder ,works1 beginning at the site of
 the ,united ,states old ,magazine1 half
 a mile from the western city limit4    
,land adjacent was purchased1 and also  
that between the canal and the river for
 a distance of two miles1 so that the   
different buildings required1 might be  
separated by intervals of at least one  
thousand feet for safety in case any one
 of them should have an explosion4  ,it 
was remarkable that the most favorable  
conditions required in the erection of  
an extensive ,powder manufactory1 were  

all met at this location1 and nowhere   
else attainable4 ,these are3  #a4 ,a    
central point of the country1 for       
obvious reasons4  #b4 ,on a main line of
 railroad communication1 to distribute  
the products to all parts of the        
country4  #c4 ,on a canal or river1     
which could afford a safe and economical
 means of transportation of the         
pulverized materials in process of      
manufacture1 at the same time affording 
the necessary water-power to the        
different buildings4  #d4 ,in the       
neighborhood of a town or city1 from    
which mechanics and employees1 as well  
as necessary articles1 could be         
obtained4  #e4 ,a location near which   
the best building materials could be    
procured for permanent structures4  #f4 
,a temperate climate1 where operations  
could be continued throughout the year  
without obstructions from ice1 and to   
avoid the hazard and expense of warming 
the building4  #g4 ,a district of       
country free from lime and earthy salts1

 so that the large amount of water      
required in the operations of the       
,saltpetre ,refinery should be as nearly
 pure as possible4  #h4 ,a location     
which would insure an abundant and cheap
 supply of the proper kind of wood      
required in the making of gunpowder4    
#i4 ,a situation which1 whilst          
sufficiently near a town to procure     
readily supplies and workmen1 should1 at
 the same time1 be removed so far off   
that the dangerous structures1 should an
 explosion occur1 would cause no damage 
to the nearest inhabitant4  #aj4 ,hence1
 also1 the canal or stream on which the 
works exist1 should have but little     
traffic or commerce1 and1 in the        
vicinity of the works1 should pass      
through a sparsely inhabited district4  
,the ,augusta ,canal1 having been       
selected for the site of the            
,confederate ,powder ,works1 contracts  
were immediately entered into for the   
brick1 stone and carpenter's work1 on   
very favorable terms4  ,at the beginning

 of the war1 business was more or less  
paralyzed1 so that the manufacturers and
 builders were1 to a considerable       
extent1 thrown out of employment1 which 
enabled contracts to be made            
advantageously at the usual prices4     
,thus1 the total cost of the entire     
works did not exceed three hundred and  
eighty-five thousand dollars4  ,the     
erection of these works on the ground of
 economy alone1 was of great service to 
the ,confederate ,government4 ,the      
extreme hazard of importing gunpowder   
through the blockade1 raised its average
 price1 the first year of the war1 to   
three dollars per pound4 ,there were    
made one million pounds at the works in 
that period1 at a total cost1 including 
the materials1 of one million and eighty
 thousand dollars2 thus saving to the   
,government in one year1 one million1   
nine hundred and twenty thousand        
dollars4  ,the requisite land having    
been purchased1 and contracts made for  
building materials1 the site of the main

 buildings were located by myself1 and  
construction commenced on the #acth of  
,september1 #ahfa1 under the immediate  
supervision of ,mr4 ---- ,grant1 a young
 civil engineer from ,savannah4 ,these  
buildings were erected of the excellent 
bricks supplied by the ,augusta and     
,hamburg yards1 which were worked to    
their full capacity1 and above five     
millions were supplied4 ,the handsome   
granite of ,stone ,mountain1 on the     
,georgia ,railroad1 was employed for the
 sills1 lintels1 copings1 and foundation
 stones4 ,the whole of the buildings    
were erected by ,messrs4 ,denning and   
,bowe1 of ,augusta1 the former having   
immediate charge1 and could not be      
surpassed for excellence of workmanship4
  ,the first structure--or the one      
nearest the city--was called the        
,refinery building1 because the central 
portion was used for such purposes1 but 
it included a saltpetre and sulphur     
warehouse1 of a capacity of fifteen     
hundred tons1 on the east end1 and a    

charcoal department and machine shop    
with a steam engine on the west end4    
,rifle and ballistic pendulums on the   
northeast1 and the steam boiler house on
 the northwest portions4 ,there were    
four square towers at the corners1 used 
as offices2 the entire structure forming
 three sides of a square1 fronting two  
hundred and fifty feet along the canal1 
and extending back two hundred and      
seventy-five feet4 ,the north side was  
mostly a brick enclosure with high      
walls1 but having no roof1 and          
temporarily used for storing wood--its  
ultimate destination was for workshops4 
,within the square were located the     
kilns for drying the wood to be         
distilled in the charcoal retorts2 the  
copper boilers and other apparatus for  
the extraction of the saltpetre from    
damaged powder2 as also the arrangement 
for the final extraction of the         
saltpetre from the refuse of the        
,refinery2 lastly1 the great chimney1   
into which all the smoke flues of the   

entire structure terminated4  ,in the   
projection of this part of the ,powder  
,works1 ,i conceived the design of      
making the central portion present the  
appearance of a grand monumental        
structure4 ,for this purpose the chimney
 was placed centrally1 and its exterior 
dimensions considerably enlarged2 in    
fact1 it is composed of two distinct    
parts1 the chimney and outside obelisk2 
the former being enclosed at its base by
 a square tower1 nineteen by thirty-five
 feet in height1 whose battlements arose
 to view above the front walls4 ,from   
the top of this tower the enveloping    
obelisk commenced1 and ascended one     
hundred and fifteen feet1 making the    
complete structure one hundred and fifty
 feet from the ground to the coping4    
,the interior chimney flue is five feet 
square from bottom to top4 ,the corner  
stone1 or rather the box1 containing the
 usual documents1 was1 by a fancy of the
 architect1 placed in one of the corners
 of the top coping of the obelisk4  ,the

 saltpetre refinery occupied the right  
central portion of the front1 being     
sixty-five feet long1 fifty-five feet   
broad and thirty feet high1 open from   
the floor to the ventilated roof4 ,at   
the east end were four of the large     
evaporating iron pans1 placed side by   
side1 and elevated three feet above the 
floor by the brick work which surrounded
 them2 five similar pans were in a      
corresponding position at the west end1 
and the large copper drying pans        
occupied forty feet along the north side
 at the same height4 ,each evaporating  
pan had a separate furnace1 and the     
heated air from the whole passed        
beneath1 and in contact with the bottoms
 of the drying pans on its way to the   
great chimney2 the furnaces opened into 
side rooms communicating with the       
outside open space in the rear of the   
building4 ,thus the refining room was   
entirely free from ashes1 dust and      
smoke4  ,the centre space of the floor1 
about thirty-six feet square1 was sunk  

four feet to allow water from the canal 
to pass around the bottoms of two of the
 large evaporating pans1 which were     
placed therein near the centre of this  
area1 and nine feet apart2 these were   
used for a special purpose4  ,the best  
quality of gunpowder can only be made   
from the purest saltpetre2 the          
impurities of the crude material are    
mainly deliquescent salts1 which rapidly
 deteriorate the strength of the powder 
by the moisture absorbed4 ,to refine    
more or less the rough saltpetre of     
commerce is then a necessity even in    
producing an inferior article4  ,to     
carry the refining process to the extent
 of nearly absolute purity1 required    
several successive crystallizations and 
washings1 involving a large amount of   
manual labor in the manipulation1 and   
consuming much time4 ,this was          
particularly the case in the very large 
amount of saltpetre1 eight to ten       
thousand pounds per day1 used by the    
,works1 the refining of which would     

demand extended buildings and apparatus1
 as well as requiring a large number of 
operatives4 ,hence1 it became desirable 
to devise methods by which hand labor   
could be superseded by motive power and 
machinery2 in this ,i was entirely      
successful4 ,thus1 in the operations of 
filling the various boiling pans with   
water or mother-liquor2 the transference
 of the boiling solution of saltpetre to
 the draining trough1 and thence to the 
crystallizing machines2 the cooling down
 of the solutions1 and their constant   
agitation to break up the forming       
crystals into fine particles1 and       
transferring of these to an adjoining   
tank2 the washing of the crystallized   
mass1 and the subsequent removal of the 
mother-liquor and wash-waters1 were all 
accomplished by machinery1 with the     
assistance of two or three workmen only4
  ,the saving of time and labor was thus
 manifest1 and the rapidity with which  
these operations were performed1        
permitted a double and triple process in

 a single day2 thus allowing a degree of
 purity in the product of refined       
saltpetre not attained in any other     
refinery4 ,its purity was such          
generally1 that there was not the       
one-hundred-thousandth part of chlorides
 left in the salt4  ,of the machinery   
used1 the most important was a bronze   
revolving wheel with buckets attached to
 the periphery1 which worked into an    
iron pan or kettle1 whose section was an
 arc of a circle2 the buckets grazed the
 surface of the bottom and sides of this
 kettle1 the bottom of the latter being 
immersed in a current of cold water4    
,the hot filtered solution of the crude 
saltpetre was received into this kettle1
 and thus kept into a state of rapid    
agitation1 the effect being to produce a
 wet mass of minute crystals1 which1 as 
fast as formed1 were taken up by the    
sharp edged buckets1 and lifted         
sufficiently high to pour into a        
receiving vat2 this permitted the liquid
 part to flow back into the kettle4 ,by 

this means in a short time the entire   
mass of fine deposited crystals from the
 rapidly cooled liquid1 were removed to 
the vat4 ,when the operation was        
completed the remaining liquid in the   
kettle was by the revolutions of the    
bronze wheel1 discharged into one of the
 eight capacious cisterns below the     
floor2 there were two of these machines 
employed4  ,the facility for work which 
this apparatus1 with the other          
mechanical appliances afforded1 enabled 
the refinery to carry the purification  
of the saltpetre beyond that of the most
 celebrated powder factories4           
,adjoining this part of the ,works was  
the ,sulphur ,refinery1 where this      
material was prepared from the crude    
stock1 and made ready for the           
incorporating process4 ,about one       
hundred and thirty tons of very impure  
sulphur had been received from          
,louisiana1 for the use of the ,powder  
,works2 it had been purchased before the
 war by the planters for use in the     

making of sugar1 and was bought up by   
the ,confederate officers4 ,the best    
quality of gunpowder has its sulphur    
chemically pure1 which could be         
demonstrated by showing no trace of acid
 when powdered and boiled in water1 and 
should entirely evaporate on a piece of 
glass when heated1 leaving no stain4    
,this can only be accomplished          
practically by distillation4 ,the crude 
article was melted and poured into      
upright1 thick wooden boxes five feet   
high and ten inches square at the       
bottom1 tapering upwards2 when cold the 
earthy matters would be found in the    
lower portion by subsidence1 leaving    
about three feet apparently pure4 ,this 
was broken off and placed into two      
kettles of suitable form and dimensions1
 having furnaces2 the tops of these     
kettles were connected by a bent iron   
pipe to an enlarged portion1 which was  
surrounded with water4 ,on the          
application of heat the sulphur         
vaporized1 and passing over through the 

pipe was condensed in the cooled        
portion1 whence it trickled in a thick  
stream into a receiving vessel below2   
the first portions being rejected1 the  
remainder was of a beautiful citron     
yellow when cold1 and entirely pure4    
,unlike the refined saltpetre1 the      
purified sulphur had to be pulverized   
and bolted like flour before being used4
 ,the former was done by two iron wheels
 of twelve inches face and five feet    
diameter1 weighing six hundred pounds   
each1 revolving on a bed circle of iron 
like the incorporating rollers2 the     
later was accomplished by bolters1 but  
when these were worn out and could not  
be replaced1 for want of the silk cloth1
 which was not to be found in the       
,south1 necessity compelled me to devise
 a different1 and as it proved1 a       
superior method4  ,the pulverized       
sulphur was placed in barrels or        
cylinders1 with hollow axles1 which were
 made to revolve slowly by machinery2   
there were ledges on the interior which 

caused the sulphur to be lifted and     
poured over as the cylinders revolved2 a
 light current of air was blown through 
each1 entering the hollow axle at one   
end1 and passing out through the axle at
 the other end1 which led into an       
adjoining room2 there the impalpable    
sulphur dust was deposited1 much finer  
than by the usual bolting process4      
,adjoining this ,refinery was the       
department in which charcoal was made   
and pulverized4 ,charcoal for gunpowder 
has to be made of a porous fine-grained 
wood1 having very little ashes when     
burned2 willow is generally preferred1  
and was used at first in the ,powder    
,works1 but the exigencies of the war   
taking away those who would ordinarily  
have supplied it1 rendered it           
impracticable to procure a sufficient   
quantity4 ,recourse was had to the      
cotton wood1 which was abundant2 on     
trial its charcoal was found fully equal
 to that of the willow for the purpose1 
and was1 thereafter always used4        

,charcoal for gunpowder must be made by 
what is termed the distilling process2  
that is1 the wood must be heated in iron
 retorts to the proper degree1 to have  
it of the best quality and free from    
sand or grit4 ,for this purpose cast    
iron cylinders1 or retorts1 six feet    
long and four feet in diameter were     
used1 placed over furnaces1 each having 
one end solid and the other with a      
movable cover2 into these were run the  
slip cylinders1 which contained the kiln
 dried cotton wood1 split up into sticks
 about one and a half inches in         
diameter1 and entirely filling it4  ,the
 slip cylinders were charged with the   
wood in an outside apartment1 their     
covers put on1 then readily moved by    
cranes to the retorts1 into which they  
were pushed2 the covers of which were   
then luted with clay and closely        
applied4 ,the bottoms of the retorts    
being perforated1 permitted the escape  
of the vapors and gases into the        
furnaces beneath1 where inflaming1 they 

supplied mainly the heat required in the
 operation4 ,in about two hours the slip
 cylinders were withdrawn from the      
retorts and moved by the cranes over1   
and lowered into the cast iron coolers  
beneath the floor2 these had water from 
the canal circulating around them2 the  
covers being then put on to exclude the 
air1 the mass of charcoal was rapidly   
cooled4 ,as soon as a slip cylinder was 
removed from a retort a freshly charged 
one would take its place1 and thus the  
process was continued4 ,the slip        
cylinders were taken out of the coolers 
in succession by the cranes1 and swung  
over a long and broad table upon which  
their contents were dropped2 here the   
sticks of charcoal were separately      
examined and the imperfect rejected4    
,the charcoal was then placed in        
pulverizing barrels with bronze balls1  
which revolving by machinery1 soon      
reduced it more or less to a fine       
powder2 it was then bolted1 and with the
 sulphur and saltpetre taken to the     

weighing house4 ,here the three         
materials were arranged into sixty      
pounds charges1 by mingling forty-five  
pounds of saltpetre1 nine pounds of     
charcoal and six pounds of sulphur1     
which was then moistened and ready for  
incorporation4  ,reflecting over the    
processes for making gunpowder1 it      
suggested itself that the chemical      
reactions would necessarily have the    
most favorable conditions1 when there   
should be the most intimate             
approximation of the component          
molecules4 ,that1 as the charcoal by its
 combustion with the oxygen of the      
saltpetre1 supplied the expanded gases  
which produced the explosive force1 it  
was of the first consideration that     
there should be the most perfect mixture
 practicable between these two          
ingredients4 ,under the microscope a    
fine particle of charcoal was seen to be
 a mass of carbon penetrated by numerous
 pores1 hence it became necessary to    
completely fill these minute pores with 

the saltpetre to have the best          
condition4 ,this might be accomplished  
by the usual processes1 as the charge is
 kept moistened when stamped or rolled1 
but as it will not answer to have the   
mass wet during the incorporating       
operation1 only moist or damp1 the      
completion of the process was           
necessarily delayed4 ,if this mass of   
material could be made into a           
semi-liquid condition by the action of  
steam1 the hot solution of saltpetre    
would speedily penetrate the minute     
pores of the charcoal1 and thus the     
desired end would be rapidly attained4  
,accordingly1 the following process was 
devised3 ,the moistened sixty pounds    
charges1 roughly mixed and moistened    
with water1 were introduced into        
horizontal cylinders of sheet copper    
thirty inches long by eighteen inches in
 diameter4 ,these cylinders revolved    
slowly on a common axis1 consisting of a
 heavy brass tube three inches in       
diameter1 perforated with holes4 ,high  

pressure steam was introduced through   
the tube raising the temperature to the 
boiling point while the water produced  
by condensation1 added to that          
originally used to moisten the          
materials1 reduced them to a semi-liquid
 slush1 which was run out of the        
cylinders after about eight minutes     
rotation4 ,on cooling1 this mud became a
 damp solid cake1 the saltpetre which in
 the state of boiling hot saturated     
solution had entered the minutest pores 
of the charcoal1 now crystallizing4 ,the
 cake as produced was transferred to the
 incorporating mills1 and under the five
 ton rollers was in an hour brought to  
the condition of finished mill cake1    
ready to be cooled and granulated1 while
 without the steaming process1 four     
hours incorporation in the mills had    
previously been necessary to produce    
powder of the same first-class          
character4 ,the capacity of the work of 
the mills was thus practically          
quadrupled1 the thorough saturation of  

the charcoal with saltpetre being       
accomplished by the steaming1 while it  
remained for the rollers merely to      
complete the incorporation of the whole 
mass and give the required density to   
the mill cake4  ,the ,incorporating     
,mills1 twelve in number1 extended along
 the canal beyond the ,refinery building
 and further back from its bank1 having 
the ,laboratory between the two2 they   
were two hundred and ninety-six feet    
long4 ,this separation was for safety1  
as they worked explosive material4 ,the 
walls were massive1 being four to ten   
feet thick1 the horizontal section of   
each being that of a huge mortar of     
seventeen feet wide by twenty-four feet 
long2 the height of the walls was       
twenty-eight feet2 they faced           
alternately in opposite directions1 so  
that an explosion of one would not be   
communicated to those adjoining4  ,the  
fronts were constructed of light wood   
and glass1 and the roofs of sheet zinc1 
so that but slight resistance would be  

offered1 upwards and outwards1 to the   
explosive force4 ,a wing wall1 nearly as
 high as the main walls1 and three feet 
thick1 extended outwards from the centre
 of the exterior back wall of each mill 
twenty feet1 to guard still further     
against the effects of an explosion4    
,behind these the powder-makers stood1  
for safety1 while starting or stopping  
the motion of the ponderous rollers4    
,this was done by means of a long lever1
 which threw in or out of gear the      
friction arrangement1 which worked each 
set beneath the floor1 in the thick     
archway which extended from end to end  
beneath the mills4 ,it has already been 
stated that this archway contained the  
great iron shaft which imparted motion  
to all the mills1 and which derived its 
own from the large steam engine1 which  
was located above1 in the centre        
apartments separating the mills into two
 divisions4  ,in addition to the above  
precautions to prevent the explosion of 
a mill from extending to the others1    

above each set of rollers was balanced a
 vessel containing about thirty gallons 
of water4 ,this was connected by means  
of a small iron shaft with a similar    
vessel to each mill of the division4    
,thus1 on an explosion in one mill1 its 
bed-plate was instantly drenched with   
water1 and this caused the same to take 
place at the same moment with all the   
others4  ,these precautions were        
rendered the more necessary by the      
carelessness of the powder-makers1 who  
might not remove the broke up powder    
cake from the mill enclosure before     
placing a new charge under the rollers1 
thus having one hundred and twenty      
pounds of material to take fire at the  
same time--as once happened--producing a
 powerful explosion4 ,there occurred    
only three explosions at these          
mills--all before the steaming process  
was adopted--and in the first only was  
any one injured4 ,in that one no        
material harm was done1 as the two      
powder-makers--exposed by their own     

carelessness--were at work again in a   
few days4 ,this explosion completely    
destroyed the slight roof1 as well as   
the wood and glass front1 but did       
scarcely any other damage to the mill1  
and had no action on the other mills    
further than drenching their beds with  
water4 ,the other two explosions were   
insignificant4  ,these incorporating    
mills consisted1 each1 of an iron       
circular flat bed of seven feet         
diameter1 fixed in a mass of masonry    
built up above the brick archway1       
through the center of the floor1 to a   
convenient height4 ,on this bed two     
massive iron rollers1 six feet in       
diameter and fifteen inches face1       
revolved4 ,each weighed five tons4 ,they
 had a common axle of wrought iron1 of  
five inches diameter1 and a vertical    
shaft of cast iron passing through the  
centre of the bed1 having a rectangular 
cross-head through which the axle       
worked4 ,this shaft connected below with
 the machinery which gave it motion from

 the main shaft4  ,these rollers were   
not equi-distant from the centre of     
revolution1 by which arrangement every  
part of the charge of materials on the  
bed was subjected to their action--which
 was crushing1 grinding1 mixing and     
compressing2 grinding and mixing from   
the twisting motion which followed from 
so large a diameter revolving in so     
small a circle1 and crushing and        
compressing from the weight of the      
rollers4  ,to keep the powder on the    
bed1 a wooden curb1 funnel-shaped1 two  
feet high was placed around the         
circumference1 fitting closely1         
extending outwards at an angle of       
forty-five degrees4 ,in the centre of   
the bed was a short cylinder of metal1  
two feet in diameter and six inches     
high1 through the top of which the      
vertical shaft passed4 ,this prevented  
the powder working inwards4 ,it also    
acted as a steam-chamber to keep the    
bed-plate warm2 but this was not used   
for the purpose1 since the steaming     

process rendered it unnecessary4 ,a     
scraper1 or plow1 followed each roller1 
which continually broke up the          
powder-cake1 mixed its fragments1 and   
kept them in the path of the rollers4   
,at the commencement of the operation   
the charge of sixty pounds of steamed   
materials was uniformly distributed over
 the bed2 the rollers were then set into
 motion1 revolving about ten times each 
minute1 which continued for an hour2 the
 broken up powder1 or mill cake1 which  
was about five-eighths of an inch thick1
 was then removed from the bed1 having a
 blackish grey color and taken to the   
cooling magazines4 ,these were excavated
 in the clay and rock on the other side 
of the canal1 about one hundred yards   
distant2 were four in number and        
separated from each other2 here the mill
 cake became cold and hard1 and was     
ready for the next operation1 that of   
granulation4  ,the permanent building in
 which this was done was about fifteen  
hundred feet distant from the ,powder   

,mills1 on the same side1 further up the
 canal2 this1 as well as each of the    
other permanent structures1 was made of 
brick1 having thin walls and light      
roofs4 ,wood in the damp atmosphere of  
the canal speedily decayed4  ,a natural 
growth of trees and brush-wood          
intervened between the buildings along  
the canal1 which were generally situated
 about one thousand feet apart2 thus the
 explosion of any one of them would be  
harmless to the remainder4 ,there was a 
temporary structure of wood used at     
first for granulation1 about one hundred
 yards distant from the permanent       
building1 on the opposite side of the   
canal2 this1 after a use of some months1
 exploded with about three tons of      
gunpowder4  ,the explosion was heavy1   
shaking the earth for some distance1 and
 throwing up a convolving column of     
flame and white smoke five hundred feet 
in height4 ,it was composed of a series 
of confused masses of smoke and heated  
air revolving in vertical planes with   

extraordinary velocity1 through which   
the flames flashed outwards in all      
directions2 this was followed by the    
thundering sound of the explosion1 which
 vibrated the air for a mile around1 and
 was heard within the limits of the     
city4  ,there were seven men within the 
structure1 a sentinel outside1 and a boy
 with a mule in a shed adjoining4 ,the  
bodies of the seven men and the boy1    
with the debris1 were carried up with   
the ascending column1 and by its        
revolving action1 reduced mainly to     
small fragments and dispersed2 the      
sentinel was killed by the shock1 but   
his body was not otherwise disturbed4 ,a
 growth of small pines surrounded the   
place1 which effectually intercepted the
 lateral flying fragments2 in fact the  
force of the explosion did not extend   
outside a diameter of one hundred feet1 
but within that area the trees were     
destroyed and the space where the       
structure stood was ploughed up and     
nothing remained4 ,at the time there was

 no work being done1 as the workmen were
 awaiting the arrival of the boat with  
the mill cake4 ,the careful foreman1    
,gibson1 had been called away1 and      
probably the accident happened from     
matches falling on the floor1 as it had 
been found impossible to prevent their  
use by the workmen1 for smoking1 when   
off duty4 ,this was the only explosion  
at the ,works during the war1 except the
 three at the ,mills1 already mentioned4
 ,it demonstrated the safety of the     
arrangements1 since there was no damage 
to any portion of the ,works except the 
destruction of the glass sashes1 and a  
slight movement of the roof of the      
permanent granulating building1 about   
one hundred yards distant4 ,this was    
about to be occupied1 having been       
completed4  ,in the granulating building
 the cold mill cake was broken up into  
fragments by bronze toothed cylinders of
 small diameter1 and then by smooth     
ones2 these worked in pairs1 and        
successively1 in connection with        

vibratory screens and sieving1 all in   
one machine4 ,by the action of this     
arrangement the powder cake was broken  
into fragments1 separated into different
 sizes of grain1 and each delivered into
 its proper receptacle4 ,a very large   
grained powder1 each grain being a cube 
of one inch in dimensions1 and weighing 
about one ounce1 was made by a separate 
manipulation of the powder cake1 and    
used for the very largest guns only4    
,from the granulating building the      
powder was taken to the drying1 dusting 
and glazing department1 #bejj feet      
further up the canal4 ,there was an     
intermediate building designed and used 
for several months1 as the dusting and  
glazing department1 the drying alone    
being done in the one above mentioned2  
afterwards the three processes were     
carried on together in one structure4   
,it was soon perceived that the drying  
process1 which was done by similar      
arrangements to those used at the       
government works at ,waltham ,abbey1    

,england1 that is1 by placing the powder
 in small quantities in shallow trays in
 a frame work1 over steam heated pipes1 
required considerable manual labor and  
occupied much time4 ,it occurred to me  
that the same could be accomplished more
 speedily and with far less labor1 by a 
single operation1 which would likewise  
perform the glazing and dusting4  ,to   
accomplish this the powder from the     
granulating house was placed in         
revolving cylinders having hollow axles1
 and a current of air warmed by passing 
through an arrangement of steam pipes   
was blown through1 carrying the dust    
into its receptacle1 leaving the grains 
clear4 ,this also dried and glazed them 
at the same time4 ,thus by one          
operation1 by machinery1 all three      
processes were accomplished1 resulting  
in a large saving of labor and time4 ,in
 addition1 a beautiful jet black glazing
 was given by admitting a small quantity
 of steam at the proper time to the     
current of air1 while the barrels       

revolved4 ,this was not generally done1 
however1 as it was regarded of but      
slight1 if any1 practical value1 the    
usual glazing answering all required    
purposes4  ,two hundred yards from this 
department was the boiler house         
supplying the steam required for the    
pipes used in the drying process4 ,its  
chimney was one hundred yards still     
further removed1 communicating with the 
furnace by a subterranean arched flue2  
thus sparks would have had to drift over
 three hundred yards to reach the clean 
metal roof of the drying building4  ,the
 finished gunpowder was taken to the    
next building1 one thousand five hundred
 feet beyond1 up the canal1 where it was
 weighed out and put into strong wood   
boxes about two and a half feet long1 by
 one foot square1 having the ends let   
into grooves2 one of the ends had a     
strong wood screw1 two inches diameter1 
with an octagonal head4 ,experience     
proved that these powder boxes1 a devise
 of my own from necessity1 were superior

 to barrels1 being stronger1 occupying  
less room1 standing transportation      
better1 and safer in use4 ,no explosion 
ever occurred in their transportation1  
notwithstanding the occasional ,railroad
 accidents1 and the many thousands that 
were sent from the ,powder ,works during
 the war4  ,the powder boxes being      
filled1 were then transported to the    
magazine1 three quarters of a mile still
 further up the canal4 ,this wood       
structure was on a rising ground one    
hundred yards from the canal1 enclosed  
by a high fence4 ,its capacity was about
 one hundred tons of gunpowder4  ,at    
this1 and every other separate building 
of the ,powder ,works1 a sentinel was   
stationed day and night1 and the utmost 
vigilance used4 ,also1 each of the      
separate buildings along the canal1     
except the magazine1 containing large   
amounts of gunpowder1 were enclosed with
 high brick walls1 having a single      
entrance4  ,at the ,waltham ,abbey      
,works1 in ,england1 the gunpowder cake 

after being crushed1 is subjected to    
compression by the hydraulic press to   
give it sufficient density4 ,i found    
that by using five ton rollers1 the     
proper compression could be given in the
 powder mills during the incorporation1 
thus saving much labor and time4 ,the   
hydraulic press1 consequently was only  
used to compress the powder dust into   
thin cakes1 which were sent to the      
granulating department to be used for   
fine grain powder only4  ,the press     
house was located between the ,cooling  
,magazines and the granulating building 
on the same side of the canal as the    
former4 ,it was a large brick structure 
provided with two hydraulic presses1    
cranes1 and other appliances1 with a    
turbine water wheel to supply the       
required motive power4 ,after the       
discovery that the proper density could 
be better given to the powder cake1 by  
using sufficiently heavy rollers during 
the incorporation1 this department was  
used only for the purpose above stated4 

,the interval of ninety feet between the
 ,refinery building and the             
,incorporating ,mills1 was mainly       
occupied by a fine building called the  
,laboratory4 ,it had a projecting tower 
in the front centre1 twenty-five feet   
square at the lower stories1 which      
together were forty-five feet in        
elevation4 ,from this the upper portion 
fifteen feet square ascended to the     
height of thirty feet1 making           
seventy-five feet in all4 ,the upper    
part of this constituted the clock tower
 with its four large circular openings  
for dials4 ,these could be seen for a   
long distance4  ,this building which was
 very striking in its appearance1 was   
never completed in its interior1 as the 
different work to be here performed was 
being done at the ,arsenal sufficiently 
well1 in temporary structures4 ,awaiting
 the completion of the clock1 the time  
was struck by hand1 every half hour on  
the large bell suspended temporarily1 in
 the open building in rear of the       

,refinery4  ,the continual testing of   
the powder1 as it was being manufactured
 to insure its equality in strength1 and
 to ascertain its exact propelling      
force1 was done for the fine graded     
powders1 by excellent musket and        
ballistic pendulums constructed at the  
,confederate ,machine ,works in ,augusta
 under my direction4 ,for the cannon or 
large grain powders1 by the initial     
velocities given to the proper          
projectiles in an eight inch ,columbiad4
 ,to determine these velocities an      
accurately made electro-ballistic       
machine1 such as was employed at the    
,west ,point ,military ,academy1 was    
constructed at the same works4 ,also    
,rodman's apparatus for determining the 
absolute pressure on each square inch of
 the bore of the gun1 exerted by the    
charge4 ,in addition to these           
instruments1 complete arrangements for  
determining the gravimetric densities   
and hygrometric properties of different 
samples of gunpowder were made4  ,the   

foregoing appliances enabled accurate   
comparisons to be made at all points    
between different gunpowders1 and to    
determine the various matters required  
in the manufacture of the first quality 
for the various arms of service4 ,that  
this was successfully done was certified
 to by ,boards of ,artillery and        
,infantry ,officers2 after the war the  
captured powder of these works was used 
in the ,school of ,artillery practice at
 ,fort ,monroe1 on account of its       
superiority4  ,mr4 ,davis1 whilst       
,president of the ,confederacy1 visited 
the works1 then in active operation1 and
 in his recent valuable book1 speaks in 
more than one place in flattering terms 
of their products4 ,articles published  
in the ,london ,times were highly       
commendatory of the ,works and their    
results1 which were copied in           
,continental papers4 ,they were visited 
by many distinguished civil and military
 gentlemen1 both native and foreign4    
,the great extent of the ,powder ,works 

and their immense capabilities1 were the
 admiration of all visitors4 ,this was  
mainly due to the foresight of the      
,president of the ,confederacy1 who1    
comprehending the requirements of a     
great war1 then scarcely commenced1     
strongly drew my attention to the       
probable necessity of very large        
supplies of gunpowder to meet the       
service of artillery of great calibre1  
which would probably be employed1 as    
well as the largely increased quantities
 necessary to meet the rapid firing of  
the improved small arms1 with which     
infantry and cavalry were now supplied4 
,the daily product of the ,works varied 
with the demand for gunpowder1 and with 
the amount of saltpetre on hand4 ,at no 
time after their completion were they   
worked to their full capacity2 indeed1  
were only worked during daylight4 ,even 
when supplying the urgent call of       
,general ,ripley at ,charleston for     
cannon powder1 to replace the twenty-two
 thousand pounds consumed during the    

action with the iron-clad fleet2 two    
days' work nearly supplied that amount4 
,notwithstanding the admirable serving  
of the heavy artillery at ,fort ,sumter 
during that engagement1 it would have   
fallen and ,charleston captured1 had any
 but the strongest gunpowder been used4 
,the armor of the iron-clads1 though    
constructed expressly to withstand the  
heaviest charges and projectiles1 gave  
way before its propelling force4 ,mr4   
,davis makes the statement that the     
engagement between the ,alabama and     
,kearsarge would have resulted in a     
victory for the former1 had ,admiral    
,semmes been supplied with the powder   
from these works4 ,any failure in their 
construction and products would have    
rested with myself4 ,a carte blanche had
 been given1 and there was no one to    
share the appalling responsibility4     
,there were made at the ,confederate    
,powder ,works at ,augusta1 commencing  
,april #aj1 #ahfb1 and terminating      
,april #ah1 #ahfe1 #b1gej1jjj pounds1 or

 one thousand1 three hundred and        
seventy-five tons of gunpowder4 ,this   
was distributed throughout the          
,confederacy1 mostly east of the        
,mississippi river4 ,there remained on  
hand1 at the ,magazine1 at the end of   
operations1 about seventy thousand      
pounds1 besides considerable amounts of 
saltpetre and other material4  ,the     
,navy ,department during the war        
established a manufactory of gunpowder  
at ,petersburg1 ,virginia1 which was    
afterwards removed to ,charlotte1 ,north
 ,carolina1 and then to ,columbia1      
,south ,carolina4 ,a powder mill was put
 into operation at ,richmond1 ,virginia1
 also1 at ,raleigh1 ,north ,carolina1   
but the extent of their operations is   
unknown4 ,two small stamping mills in   
the northwestern portion of ,south      
,carolina1 near the mountains1 which    
were erected to make blasting powder for
 the neighboring tunnel1 were visited1  
but ,i found that they could be made    
available only to a very limited extent4

  ,the ,confederate ,powder ,works were 
so constructed that the rough materials 
were received at the building nearest   
the city2 thence successively passed up 
the canal from building to building in  
the progressive stages of manufacture1  
until it arrived finished and ready for 
shipping at the ,magazine4  ,to         
facilitate the transportation1 a short  
branch of railroad was constructed      
connecting the canal basin with the     
,georgia ,railroad4 ,the safe1          
economical1 and ready means of          
transportation by the canal were        
invaluable2 no accident ever happened1  
notwithstanding the immense amount of   
combustible material--over two thousand 
five hundred tons--which had passed to  
and fro over it during the three years  
of operations4 ,from the canal bank to  
the entrance of each building1 the walks
 were covered with compressed sawdust1  
and rubber shoes were worn by all       
operatives in the departments containing
 gunpowder4  ,it is an interesting fact 

that ,augusta was the only city of note 
in the ,south1 which was not occupied at
 some time by the ,federal forces during
 the war2 here the flag of the          
,confederacy floated undisturbed to the 
end4  ,the extensive ,sibley ,cotton    
,factory has been erected on a portion  
of the site of the ,refinery1           
,laboratory and ,incorporating ,mills1  
and so arranged that the ,confederate   
obelisk stands conspicuously in front of
 the centre2 the battlemented and       
ornamental architecture of the ,powder  
,works was adopted in the construction  
of the ,factory buildings1 which give   
them a fine and noble appearance4  ,here
 was once heard the noise of the        
clanking wheels and muffled sounds of   
the ponderous rollers of war1 as they   
slowly concentrated into black masses   
the enormous energies which were to     
shake the earth and air1 with the roar  
and deafening explosions of the battle  
field4 ,now the air is again filled with
 the sounds of moving machinery1 but it 

is the busy hum of peaceful occupations 
which assist to clothe the world from   
the white cotton fields of ,georgia4    
,the black material of war has given    
away to the white staple of peace4  ,of 
the extensive ,confederate ,powder      
,works nothing remains except the       
obelisk enclosing the great ,chimney4   
,its battlemented tower and lofty shaft1
 large proportions and beautiful        
workmanship1 will bear evidence of the  
magnitude and style of their            
construction to future generations4     
,,appendix4   ,to the special duties of 
the manufacture of gunpowder were added 
the command of the ,augusta ,arsenal1 on
 the #gth ,april1 #ahfb1 and at a later 
period that of the ,military ,district  
of ,augusta4 ,in the early part of      
,february1 #ahfc1 in connection with    
,captain ,fairfax1 of the ,confederate  
,navy1 the duties of getting into       
effective operation the extensive and   
unfinished ,foundry ,works constructed  
at ,selma1 ,alabama1 under contract with

 the ,war and ,navy ,departments1 were  
superadded4 ,when the communication with
 ,richmond was endangered1 in the latter
 part of the war1 all the ,arsenals     
south of ,virginia1 were committed to my
 charge4  ,it had been the design at an 
early period1 of the ,chief of          
,ordnance1 to convert the ,arsenal at   
,augusta into one of construction1 and  
,capt4 ,gill was placed in charge with  
that object in view4 ,on taking command1
 ,i found there were no existing        
facilities for large constructive works2
 thus the intention had to be for the   
time1 abandoned1 but it was found       
available1 by the erection of several   
wood structures1 for lighter work1 such 
as the preparation of cartridges1 fixed 
ammunition1 signal rockets1 fuses1      
primers1 grenades1 nitric acid1         
fulminates and percussion caps1 etc4    
,it was necessary for works of          
construction to make available the water
 power of the canal within the city2    
accordingly1 a ,machine and ,foundry    

establishment1 then lying idle1 was     
purchased4 ,air and cupola furnaces1    
etc41 were added to the ,foundry1 and   
lathes1 planers1 drills1 etc41 were     
purchased from ,holly ,springs1         
,mississippi1 and ,columbus1 ,georgia1  
and from ,selma1 ,alabama1 and other    
places1 and added to those already      
present in the ,machine ,works4 ,also an
 extensive and complete gun-carriage    
department was erected1 and a powder-box
 manufactory established1 together with 
several houses for the preparation of   
small arm cartridges1 and other         
purposes4 ,these structures were rapidly
 erected1 and machinists1 founders1     
blacksmiths1 tinners1 harness makers1   
armorers1 etc41 and the various material
 required1 were gathered from all       
available sources4 ,the large brick     
building erected by ,captain ,gill at   
the ,arsenal was converted into a       
harness and equipment department for    
field artillery2 also used for tin and  
blacksmith shops1 hospital and          

warehouse4  ,i was fortunate in         
obtaining skilled men for the heads of  
the several departments2 among these    
were1 at the ,arsenal1 ,professor       
,wilson1 ,chemist2 ,master ,armorer     
,oliver and ,f4 ,smyth2 the last had    
charge of the ,tinners' department1 and 
also was ,captain of the ,operatives'   
,military company4  ,at the ,city ,works
 were ,foundry ,superintendent ,van     
,buren1 of ,clarksville2 ,superintendent
 ,markey1 of the ,gun ,carriage         
,department2 ,superintendent ,walker1 of
 the ,machine ,works4 ,mr4 ,wyman had   
charge of the ,harness and ,saddle and  
,equipment ,department1 but the         
artillery harness was mostly            
manufactured in the city1 very          
satisfactorily1 by ,messrs4 ,jessup1    
,hatch and ,day4 ,there were several    
valuable foremen in the different shops1
 among them were ,jaillet1 ,sharky1     
,shehan1 ,barr1 and others1 whose names 
are not recalled4  ,i was also          
materially assisted by ,military        

,store-,keeper ,girardey and several    
young officers--,captain ,finney1 and   
,lieutenants ,waller1 ,collier1         
,sparrow1 ,hallam1 and ,cadet ,lewis1   
and towards the close of operations by  
,captain ,warren4  ,at the several works
 under my charge at ,augusta1 a large   
amount of war material was manufactured1
 in #ahfc1 #ahfd and part of #ahfe4 ,the
 record of the last year has been lost4 
,among the various articles of the two  
above years were the following1 copied  
from my official reports to the ,chief  
of ,ordnance3  #aaj ,field ,guns1 mostly
 bronze1 #ab-pounder ,napoleons4 ,these 
guns were cast1 turned1 bored and       
finished complete at all points4 ,four  
of them now ornament the principal      
entrance to ,washington's ,headquarters1
 at ,newburgh1 ,new ,york4      #agd    
,gun ,carriages4     #aae ,caissons4    
#cdc ,limbers to ,field ,artillery4     
#ba ,battery ,wagons4     #ca ,traveling
 ,forges4     #aj1ece ,powder ,boxes4   
#aa1haa boxes for ,small ,arm           

,ammunition4     #gc1eba ,horse ,shoes4 
#ab1fcj ,nitric ,acid1 pounds of4       
#b1bbg ounces of ,fulminate of ,mercury4
     #b1dee ,saddles1 complete4         
#b1ece ,artillery ,harness1 single sets 
of4     #b1dgg ,signal ,rockets4        
#he1hjj rounds of ,fixed ,ammunition4   
#acf1fdb ,artillery ,cartridge ,bags4   
#bjj1aac ,time ,fuses4     #dgf1bjg     
pounds of ,artillery ,projectiles4      
#d1ehj1jjj ,buckshot4     #d1fbf1jjj    
,lead ,balls4     #a1jjj1jjj ,percussion
 ,caps4     #aj1gfj1jjj ,cartridges for 
,small ,arms4  ,together with an immense
 amount of ,infantry1 ,artillery and    
,calvary equipments4  ,one hundred of   
the #ab-pounder ,napoleon guns were     
formed into complete ,batteries1 and    
sent to the ,army of ,tennessee and     
,north ,georgia2 the metal being        
received from ,ducktown1 ,tennessee1 and
 other places wherever it could be      
procured1 including ,church and other   
bells1 and captured #f-pounder bronze   
cannon4 ,the improved ,hand-,grenades   

with ,general ,g4 ,j4 ,raines' sensitive
 tubes were here manufactured1 and many 
thousand sent to the ,confederate       
armies4  ,the ,army of ,tennessee1      
before the fall of ,atlanta1 being at   
one period about to run short of small  
arm ammunition1 and finding it          
impracticable to procure sufficient     
additional labor in time1 a call was    
made on the ladies of ,summerville and  
,augusta1 to assist in making           
cartridges4 ,this call was answered with
 all the promptness which their devotion
 to the cause inspired1 and by their    
invaluable aid the danger was tided over
 by the production of #ge1jjj cartridges
 per day4                               
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,transcriber's notes3                   
,obvious spelling_/typographical and    
punctuation errors have been            
corrected after careful comparison with 
other occurrences within     the text   
and consultation of external sources4   

,in particular1        the word ordnance
 was consistently misspelled ordinance  
in       the original1 and has been     
corrected4                              
,the second line of the fourth paragraph
 on page #bc 7then in         active    
operation1 and in his recent valuable   
book1 speaks in7       was originally   
transposed to the end of the third      
paragraph4         ,this has been       
corrected to restore the sense of the   
text4                                   
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