Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1861-10-24
Sulphur.

We are not of those who are apt to regard every
natural occurrence special interpretation, yet VIC
must confess that there have been circumstances con-
nected with the existing struggle upon this continent
that might well justify the least visionary in attbutng
them supernatural guidance and awaken feelings of
humble gratitude in the bos0ms Of the least devotional
In the single item of powder, apparently acciden-
tai or at least contingent circumstance places the Con-
federacy in possession of large supply of essential
an indispensable ingredient, which could not be obtained
from abroad without great risk if at ALL made at
home without enormously heavy expenditure of time
and money We mean sulphur.
1t appears that by a comparatively modern, We might
say recently introduced process large quantities of sui
phur are used in the refining of sugar. and OF course
sugar is great interest in louisiana and is also in
teest of some Importance in other Gulf States trading
to New Orleans, that city had become quite depot for
the article and several hundreds of tons were stored
there at the time of the secession of Louisiana. We
recoect Gen. Twggs seizng for the of the govern
ment, at appraised value something three hun
dred tons of this article and suppose that by
meaus the whole stock while the amount in the hands
of the planters in Louisiana, Texas Alabama Florida
and Mississippi must have been fully as large that in
the hands of factors in n Orleans certainly if we in
cude the stock at other minor depots All this is avala
bic for the purposes of the government showing total
ofprobaby not less and most probably far than six
hundred tons of sulphur dervabe from this single
stock which but for the recent improvements in the
making OF sugar would not have been in the country at
ALL Six hundred tons of sulphur would be sufficient,
allowing ten per cent Of phur to make six thousand
tons of POWDER allowing twelve per cent, to make
five hundred tons being at the former calculation thr-
teen mou four hundred and forty thousand pounds of
powder and at the latter eleven million, two hundred
thousand pounds.
But making all deductions and allowances We may
assert with confidence that the presence in the Con-
federacy of amount of sulphur necessary and sui-
Gent to enter into the composition of at least ten mil
lion pounds Of gunpowder is due to the of that
tice on sugar plantations and although We do not
knew how recent its introduction into the refining pro-
may be- we do know that it lie comparatively re-
cent and that now by return to the old process it
can be dispensed With, and indeed, as we understand
will be- and the whole smount-more no doubt than we
have stated-bs made available for defence
This is only one resource. In the production of iron
copper from pyres, much birthstone may be obtain
ed incideny and at very large expense to say moth
ing of the amount of this article in store in all the towns
and cities OF the Conederacy. If properly attended to-
there enough sulphur on hand and obtainabe oenabe
the Confederacy to fight Manassas fight every other
day for three years, or longer, if necessary
We refer particularly 10 sulphur because the other
ingredients of gunpowder to wit sapetre and char
COAL are said to be produceabe to any amount in the
Confederate States. Charcoal of course can be GOT
Willow is the best In the caves Of North Carolina,
Tennessee, Alabama ArkarsaS and Kentucky, there ID