Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1863-05-07
(From the Cincinnati Enquirer
The Pow der Mills in the Confedsr-
ate States.

The London Times Of March 18th
has another direct correspondence
from the Rebel States, dated, Angus
ia, January 26th.. 1t is written il
the usual style of the Coriederat
correspondence of. The Times, NOR
eulogistic of the Rebels than evel
the rebel papers are themselves. :
The following account of the powde
mills established by the Confederate
government contains some valuable
information:
When, upon the l5th Of April
1861, Fort Sumter surrendered to
General Deauregard and the Confed-
crates, not single pound of gunpow.
der was anywhere manufactured in
The Confederacy. a rigorous block
ade of the seaports Of the South WAS
Immediately commenced, through
which the principal ingredient of
gunpowder (saltpetre) had TO be
largely sucked in. At this junciure
it seemed advisable 10 President Da-
Wis to intrust to Col Rains, formerly
an officer Of the United States army.
the responsibility Of planning and
building a large Government mill for
the manufacture Of guopowder.-
For this post Col. Raius posses ed
eminent qualifications. He had been
Professor of Chemistry. at West Point,
and for some years since leaving the
army, be had been at the head of
Some large iron works al Fawburg.
on the Hudson. Augusta, in Gtur-
gia, WAS selected as the site OF the
mill, and never, both AS re-
CARDS the person and the situation
pitched upon, was happier sagacity
svinced by the President. Follow
ng, so far as he was acquainted with
il, The plan upon which the pow Ier
mill was built at WaItham Abbey, be.
ouging to the English Government,
Col. Rains proceeded 10 construct the
works necessary for its purpose; and
he success which has attended his
Efforts has been such as could never
nave been believed before the press. |
ire Of war had awakened Southern
ingenuity and enterprise.
The result is that, al the cost of |
bout 100000. one Of the most pei
ect guupowder mills IN the world has
'een produced, which turns out o.
700 lbs. Of powder per day, and could
'roduce double that amount if worked |
lay aud night, and much more if
worked under the exigeney Of a pres
ing demand.
The cost Of this powder in spite
{ the costliness OF the saltpetre
which has been introduced through
he blockade, is about four Gems pc,
'ohnd, which is about the same as
costs in England. The mill ha,
ow been constantly running for MIA.
y months, and, consequently. more
owder than is likely to require for
ears TO come has been produced. =
there is another government pow
er mill at Columbia, 10 South Caro-
ina, working, ! believe TO supply the
'anls (not very large as yet) of ;l,e
Confederate navy. But all The gun
owder issued for the service Of the
confederate armies in Virginia and
be West, and also for the defence
Charleston aud Vicksburg, has
ONE out of the mill al Augusta; ;and
was stated 10 me by an ordnance
lficeri in Charleston, that the powder
hich had been recently received
,ere ard tested, was very nearly. il
Of entirely, up TO the standard OF
le finest English manufacture.
The extreme deiiberaIion with
bich the Confederate Government
IS engaged in many large and cost
undertakings, requiring lcng time |;
T their completion and much inge- 3
,ity in their design, is the best !,
Inest of the quietness and conf |
.nce With which they have fi'm III /
,ry commencement looked at lh,ir a
dependence as a thing they could !,
It fail to obtain These govern !.
ent powder mills at Columbia and :.
ugusia are by no means the sole !,
hie,ements Of the Coaieeier,trs AZ
me IN support Of their soldiers in
e field. 1t may be noticed IL the i
orih, although the necessfs fsr :
Q erection Of . government pow p