Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-01-28
sOUTBERN POWDER MILLS.

We find in the New York JoursAl If Commerce OF
the 25th of December the following extract from alet-
ter of Southern correspondent Of the London mes.
There is no date to it. Some months ago we Published
part Of the letter alluded to- Il is little strange
that we have had no home account Of the powder works
at Augusta, although from what We have heard, the
English writer does not overvalue them:
A long conversation with Colonel Rains, the Super
in epde1t of the Government Powder Mills 10 Augusta,
and also the manager OF TIE Arsenal OF Construction
and of the cannon foundry in this CT has taught
more than ever 10 admire the ingenuity aud energy
which the Confederaes have brought to bear upon cir
struggle Starting without any powder mill 10 the S1ut l.
ern States except small one at Nashville, which soon
passed out of their bauds-Withou any large establish
meuts for making machinery, and without single trip
hammer between the Chesapeake and the Ro Grande-
deficient ia iEon, ad, c'ppr tin satpetre, cannon,
small arms everything food they have taught the
world lesson in regard to the mpossibilty OF subu-
eating brave people, which will point historical
moral for ages to come.
There are two men whose names are seldom heard in
With he history Of this war, but who have
probably contributed moe to the O5nederate success
than any other persons, with the exception OF Lee,
jack N and Longstreet-I mean Colonel Rains and
Captain Brooke Both Of them modest and unobtru-
siye men, absorbed in scientific les neXhaust-
bic in the fertility of their resources, indef4tg,bs in
energy, they pr scented du iDg the last thirty
months a record for the ttu5y Of their couutrymen,
which will every where be read with profit whenever
the history Of this great revolution Is fairly told.
have S. liom had the advantage Of encountering any
man whose conversation so il sruc ing and inter
estpg as tina. of Colonel Rims His capituation of
the difficulties which he has had to encounter, Of the
deficiencies which he has every day TO supplement and
crcumvent by ingenuity and the results OF his work. ss
evidenced by bis contributions TO the Confederate ar
mics is such as 10 awaken amaZement.
d. 1.tfar a an
town gave a short sketch Of tho AuSusa gunpowder
mill From that aime up to the pres mt hour its eff
cheney has been constantly on the increase, and, as
evidences Of its prolific working, l may mention that
since It's opening the 27ta Of April, 1862 Colonel
Rains has sent million and q half pounds OF powder
70 Richmond alone, exclusive Of his contribute to
Vcksburg Charleston Mobile and the armies OF Gems.
Bragg az Johnston From bis Arsenal OF Construct on
he has SCI GU 900 900 cartridges Tor small and
so 900 round shot and she'll, 70 say nothing OF c,pe,
hand grenades aud orpedoes. From his cannon ioun-
dry he il continually III ming ouG IL FOUNDER Napo-
leous, 2O-pouuder PARROTS and howitz:r; but the
wealth CT artillery already possessed BY the Confederate
il Iush that he has ceased TO produce Napoleon guns
with the rapidy VIII ch a. tins Characterized bis
proceedings his rate of production having beel one
Napoleon gun per diem TIE daily yield oil the powder
mill is now at the rate Of 400 pounds day, whicl
might if occasion required it, be Indefinitely Increased.
But with every imp mt sta ion IN he Oonfederacy
ALREADY sureited with powder, with large supplies IN
the hands Of G nerals BeAuregard, Bragg, Johnston,
aud at Mob s aud Wilmington, Ger. Lee OF course,
draws is supplies from Richmond) asd with two other
powder.mni in active operation it is of little i'm
por auce that this rate OF production should be
maintained The ordinary consumption of powder IN
the Cont, deracy is rated at 1000 lbs day but is Of
course greatly Increased by such si'ges as those Of
Vcks and Charleston which bring up the average
TO 10 900 los day. occasioned by the large deG an Is
of the heavy artillery employed l. is singular com
mentary upon this war, thlI nation viii h. two years
ago, proddeed not pound o powder, should now
ink moth ng OF daily consumption Of 10000 lbs
M, dueai ptlrely from their own resources