Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-02-04
Southern Powder Mills.

We find in the New York Journal of Commerce oil
the 25th of December the following extract from let
ter Of Southern correspondent OF the London Times
There is no date to it. Some months ago we published
a part Of the letter alluded to. Wis little strange
that have had homo account of the powder work
ct Augusta, although from what have heard, the
English writer does not over value them:
A long conversation with Colonel Rains the Super.
interdent of the Government Powder Mills in Augusta
and also the manager OF the Arsenal of Construction
and of the cannon foundry in this city, has taught me
more than ever to admire the ingenuity and energy
which the Cenfederates have brought to bear upon
their struggle. Starting without any powder mill in
the Southern States, except small one at Nashville
which soon passed out of their hands-without any
large establishments for making machinery, and with
out o single trip hammer between the Chesapeake and
the Bio Grande-de6icent in iron, Head, copper, tin,
saltpetre, cannon. email arms everything save food
they have taught the world lesson 10 regard to the
inpossihty of subjugatngsa brave people, which will
point a historical moral for ages to come.
There are two men whose names seldom heard in
connection with the history of this war; but who have
probably contributed more to the Confederate
than any other persons, with the exception of Lee,
jackson and Lorgsreet-I mean Colonel Rains and
Captain Brooke. Both of them modest and uuobtru-
sve meu absorbed in scientific researches nexhausti
BILE in the fertility of their resources iDdefatigabe ia
energy they have presented during the last thirty
months record for the study of their countrymen,
which will everywhere be read with profit whenever the
history OF this great revolution is fairly told. have
seldom had the advantage of encountering any man
whose conversation so nstructing and interesting
az that of Colonel Rains. His recapitulation OF the
difficulties which he has had to encounter of the def
ciences which he has every day to supplement and cir
cumvent by ingenuity, and the results of bis work. as
evidenced by his contributions to the Confederate ar
miles, is such as to awaken anazement.
In former letter, written some months ago from
this town, gave short sketch of the Augusta gun
powder mill. From that time up to the present hour
Ito efficiency has beeh constantly the increase and
a. evidence of it's prolific working, may menton that
since its opening the 9th of April, 1882, Colonel
Rains has sent million and half pounds of powder
to Richmond alone exclusive of his contributions to
Vicksburg Charest Mobile and the armies OF Gems
Bragg and Johnston From his Arsenal of Construc.
ton be has sent out 5000 900 cartridges for small
arms and b0eCO round shot and SHE'LL to say nothing
Of caps hand grenades and torpedoes From his can.
DON foundry he In continually turning out Il pound
Napoeons 20 podnaef PARROTS and howitzers: but
the wealth Of artillery already possessed by the Con-
tderates la snch that he hes ceased to produce Napo
leon guns with the rapdity which at one time cbarac
Ter zed his proceedings, his rate of production having
been one Napoleon gun per diem. The daily yield of
che powder mill ia at the rate Of 3 400 pounds
day, which might, If occasion required it. be indtf
nitely increased.
Bat with every important station in the Confedera-
In the hands Of Generals Beauregsrd, Bragg Johnston
and nc Mobile and Wilmington. (Gen Lee of course,
draws his supplies from Richmond and With other
powder mills In active operation, 1t il Of little mpos-
lance that even this rate of production should be main
tained. The Ordinary consumption of powder in the
Confedefacy Is rated at 1000 lbs. day but is OF
coarse greatly increased by such seges as those of
Vcksburg and Charleston, which bring up the average
70 10000 bs. day, eeeasioned BY the large demands