The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-31

acy.. Harper's Ferry, Va. had $1,000
muskets, but these wcr, destroyed, to-
sether with the machinery. in April,
1861, to save the munitions from falling
into the hands of the Confcderacy
when Jackson marched against the
arsenal.
Tho largest and practically tho only
arinory that could produce any large
quantity Of guns was at Springfield,
Mass. Before the war its capacity was
$4,000 muBkcts annually. Tho build
lngs were enlarged until 100000 guns
were being manufactured every year
Later the plant again was Increased,
until nearly 100000 guns was Its rec
ords.
The Tremendous Task of wHGinr War.
AT the beginning of the war th.re
were In the United States only 23l
field cannon, 100000 firearms for in
fantry. 10000 for the cavalry, and H.
QUO snbres for the troopers. The total
number of pounds OF gunpowder was
100000; 100000 pounds OF lead and
lead bullets, 100000 percussion caps
and 100000 cartridges for small
arms.
The artillery. both field and Eea-
coast. had 100000 cannon balls and
SiiciiS' of,ovV friction primers, and 2S,-
600 cartridges. There were loss than
coo harnesses for tho artillery horses.
and about tina Same num0er for the
horses OF the cavalry.
1t cost the United States during the
year from June. 1862, to July. 1868:
s42.313,65o for arms and munitions OF
war for Its soldiers. 1t bought near
~ 100000. 900 percussion caps to bs
used on the muskets: 2so,0oo."'o cart.
ridges for small erms-muskotB, rifles.
pistols and revolvers-more than l.
100000 muskets and rifles for foot SOL
diers, and neatly 100000 pounds OF
gunpowder and 5o.O0O.0Oo pounds Of
lead and bullets For the cavalry SER
vice 1t purchased nearly 100000 car
bines and pistols. The artillery was
supplied with 1877 cannon, 1860
cannon balls and shells. 100000 cart
ridges, 100000 friction prim,rs.
Men Still Living Who Know the
Secrets.
The records OF the Confederate
ordinances department were Destroyed
when Richmond was abandoned. and
therefore accurate statements OF sup
plies and purchases are difficult to Sc
cure. There are but one or two men
living on this semi cen tennial who can
give any information regarding 1T
Professor ]. w. Mallett, who was In
charge OF the ordnance laboratories for
the Confederacy. Is still living at
Charlottesville, and Is ono OF the great
chemists OF the day. Members OF the
family Of General Gorgas. who was
+ the chief OF ordnance for the Confcd-
erato government are still living in
Alabama, and hts son. DR.. NJ. c. Gorgas,
Is now chief sanitary officer in the
building OF the Panama Canal. This
private records held by these persons
are about the only sources for anthem
tic Information on THIS anniversary.
When General Gorgas became the
chief OF ordnance, he found In the ar
mories In the South $4,000 rifles and
10000 inferior muskets. some OF which
dated back TO the War OF 1912: many
of them had served In the war with
Mexico. There was q very small sup
ply OF powder at Baton Rouge and
Mt. vsrnon. which had remained from
the campaign In Mexico. There were
no cavalry arms at all.
Before tho naval Blockade became
stringent the Confederacy obtained
guns and powder from Europa. but this
source of supply was soon clused, and
then the ordnance officers found 1t nee
essary to turn to homo products. The
story OF the arTning of the Confederate
armies is one of tremendous difficulty
which was overcome by marvellous
courage and ability.
The government sent broadcast
throughout the South Tor arhs-any-
thing In the opinion OF the owner that
looked II 1t could be made to
shoot" They stripped bare their
homes. sending to the arIuofer at Rich
mond wonderful appearing weapons
pepper-boS revolvers. single and dou-
BILE barreled; self-cocklng revolvers,
some with n hidden trigger that snap
ped into sight as the weapon was
cooked. One of the most curious was
a -barreled gun, two barrels mad
for shot and the third rihed for bull
rsts.
Swords and bullets for Warfare.
When the armorer. Joel B. suther-
land, received q consignment OF old
Kentucky rifles he was greatly pleas.
ed-for these same rifles were the onea
he had made years before. They were
between five and ak feet long, but
made of the bsst metal. These were
remodeled and only supplied to sharp
shooters.
John Brown designed a pike for the
use OF his followers In their raids. and
many of these came to ths armorer to
be made into weapons Of war. They
were double edged blades about eigh-
teen inches long and three wide.
ground TO mo point. Inc plaoe wa"
fastened to the end OF n six-foot pole.
Later in the war the hundreds OF pixies
turned out by tina armorer were con-
verted into sword bayonets to BIO at
tached TO the short German rifle
The Confederncy had no bullets and
very little available lead with which
to mako them. Its supply of powder
would last through only single large
battle. The emergency was urgent.
The government sent squads OF men
through the South to gather whatever
material they could and wherever they
could. Country stores and village gro