Broun, William Le Roy. "Confederate Ordnance During the
War." CV 12, p. 20; reprint from Journal of the United States Artillery.
Confederate Ordnance During the War. THE DIFFICULTY OF OBTAINING IT.
Plan Proposed to Increase Accuracy and Range of Smooth-Bore Muskets by Firing and
Elongated Projectile Made of Lead and Hard Wood.
William Le Roy Broun, President Alabama Polytechnic Institute, Auburn, formerly
lieutenant-colonel of ordnance of the Confederate army, commanding the Richmond Arsenal,
contributes the following article to the Journal of the United States Artillery of April,
1898:
In complying with your request to write an article for your Journal, giving experiences
and difficulties in obtaining ordnance during the war, I will endeavor, relying on my
memory and some available memoranda preserved, to give you a statement of the collection
and manufacture of ordnance stores for the use of the Confederate armies, so far as such
manufacture was under my observation and control. After a year's service in the field as an
artillery officer, I was ordered to Richmond and made Superintendent of Armories, with the
rank of major in the regular army, a new officer in the Confederate States Army, and sent
to various points in North Carolina and Georgia to inspect and report on the facilities
possessed by different manufactories for making arms, swords, sulphuric acid, etc.
Page 366 Southern Historical Society Papers.
As a general rule the facilities for manufacturing were meagre and crude, giving little
prospect for an early serviceable product.
Early in the spring of 1862 I was ordered to report at Holly Springs, Miss., and take
charge of a factory just purchased by the Confederacy, and designed for the manufacture of
small arms. It was not many months before the defeat of the Confederate army under
General Albert Sydney Johnston, at Shiloh, Tenn., cause a hurried removal of all
the
machinery to Meridian, Miss. Having reported to the chief of ordnance at Richmond, Va., I
was assigned to duty connected with the Ordinance Department.
The Confederate Congress had authorized the appointment of fifty new ordnance officers,
and the applications to the War Department became so numerous and persistent for these
appointments that the Secretary of War, Colonel Randolph, ordered that all applicants
should submit to an examination, and that appointments would be made in order of merit, as
reported by the Board of Examiners. Thus, what we are now familiar with as civil-service
examinations, were introduced by the Confederate War Department in 1862, in the
appointment of ordnance officers.
I was made Lieutenant-Colonel of Ordnance, and as President of the Board, with two other
officers, constituted the Board of Examiners. By direction of General J. Gorgas, the Chief
of Ordnance, I prepared a Field Ordnance Manual by abridging the old United States Manual
and adapting it to our service when necessary. This was published and distributed in the
army.
The examination embraced the Field Ordnance Manual, as contained in this abridged edition,
the elements of algebra, chemistry and physics, with some knowledge of trigonometry. The
first examinations were held in Richmond. Of course, the fact of the examinations greatly
diminished the number of applicants. Of those recommended by the Board, so many were from
Virginia that the President declined to appoint them until an equal opportunity was given
to the young men of the differend armies of the Confederacy in other States.
Hence, I was directed to report to and conduct examinations in the armies of Generals Lee
and Jackson in Virginia, General Bragg in Tennessee, and General Pemberton in Mississippi.
Under other officers, examinations were conducted in Alabama and Florida.
The result of this sifting process was that the army was supplied with capable and
efficient ordnance officers.
Early in 1863 I was appointed commandant of the Richmond Arse-
Page367 Confederate Ordnance During the War.
nal. Here the greater part of the ordnance and ordnance stores wered prepared for the use
of the Confederate armies.
The arsenal occupies a number of tobacco-factories at the foot of Seventh street, near
the Tredegar Iron Works, between Cary street and James river. It included all the
machine-shops for working wood and iron, organized into different departments, each under
subordinated officers, arranged to manufacture ordnance stores for the use of the
Confederate army.
Cannon were made at the Tredegar Iron Works, including siege and field guns. Napoleons,
howitzers and banded cast-iron guns. Steel guns were not made. We had no facilities for
making steel, and no time to experiment.
The steel guns used by the Confederates were highly valued, and with the exception of a
few purchases abroad, were all captured from the Federals.
At the beginning of the war the machinery belonging to the armory at Harper's Ferry was
removed to Richmond, and there established. This armory manufactured Enfield rifles, and
the product was very small, not exceeding 500 per month.
With the exception of a few thousand rifles, the soldiers, at the beginning of the war,
were armed with the old smooth-bore muskets, and with old Austrian and Belgian rifles
imported. These they exchanged for Enfield rifles, as they were favored by the fortunes of
war.
In the summer of 1862, after the Seven Days' battles around Richmond, between General Lee
and General McClellan, men were detailed to collect arms from the field, which were
carried to the Richmond Arsenal, and then, as quickly as possible, repaired and reissued
to the army. Subsequently, through the blockaded runners, a large importation of excellent
rifles was received and distributed.
When the men detailed for this purpose were collecting the thousands of Enfield
rifles left by the Federals on the battle-fields around Richmond, I remembered seeing a few steel
breast-plates that had been worn by the Federal soldiers who were killed in battle. They
were solid steel, in two parts, shaped to fit the chest, and were worn under the coast.
These were brought as curiosities to the Arsenal, and had been pierced by bullets. I
remember this as a fact of my own knowledge. Some years ago the charge that some of the
Federal soldiers wore breast-plates was denied and decried as a gross slander, and in
reply thereto I published in the Nation the statement here made. These, no
doubt, represented a few sporadic cases, worn without the
Page 368 Southern Historical Society Papers.
knowledge of others. The Confederate soldiers had to rely for improved arms on captures on
the battle-field, and no importation, when the blockade could be avoided, having available
no large armory.
The Tredegar Iron-Works at Richmond, Va., was the chief manufactory of seige and
field-guns, all cast iron and smooth bore. The large Columbiads were made there, also the
howitzers, 12-inch bronze Napoleons, etc. But the highly-valued banded Parrot 3-inch
rifles, with which the army was well supplies, were, as a rule, captured on the
battle-field.
As the war continued great difficulties were experiences in obtaining the needful
ordnance supplies, and many devices were resorted to. After the battles about Chattanooga,
Tenn., when the Confederacy lost possession of the copper mines, no more bronze Napoleons
could be made; but, instead thereof, a light cast-iron 12-pounder, well banded after the
manner of the Parrot guns, was made, and found to be equally as effective as the Napoleon.
At the beginning of the war it must be remembered the Confederacy had no improved arms, no
powder-mills, no arsenals, no armories, no cap machines, and no improved cannon. All
supplies at first, were obtained by importation, though the blockade subsequently cut off
this foreign supply. All arms were percussion-cap lock, and issued to the troops.
To keep a supply of percussion-caps was a difficult and very serious problem, as the
demand for caps was about twice as great as it was for cartridges.
The machines made after the United States pattern did not yield a large supply, and
simpler and much more efficient machines for making, fitting, pressing, and varnishing
caps were invented and made by Southern mechanics.
After the Federals obtained possession of the copper-mines of Tennessee great anxiety was
excited as to the future store of copper, from which to manufacture percussion-caps.
The casting of bronze field-guns was immediately suspended, and all available copper was
carefully hoarded for the manufacture of caps. It soon became apparent that the supply
would be exhausted, and the armies rendered useless unless other sources of supply could
be obtained. No reliance could be placed on the supply from abroad, though large orders
were forwarded, so stringent was the blockade; of course, the knowledge of this scarcity
of copper was not made public.
Page 369 Confederate Ordnance During the War.
In this emergency, it was concluded to render available, if possible, some of the copper,
turpentine and apple-brandy stills which still existed in North Carolina in large
numbers.
Secretly, with the approval of the Chief of Ordnance, an officer was dispatched with the
necessary authority to purchase or impress all copper stills found available, and ship the
same, cut into strips, to the Richmond Arsenal. By extraordinary energy, he was
enabled to
forward the amount necessary for our use. The strips of copper of these old stills were
rerolled and handed over to the cap manufacturer. And thus were all the caps issued from
the arsenal and used by the armies of the Confederate States, during the last twelve
months of the war, manufactured from the copper stills of North Carolina.
After the completion of the cap-machines, which were an improvements on the old United
States machine, eight hands only, two being men, the others boys and girls, frequently
manufactured from the strip copper over 300,000 caps, within eight hours, stamping,
filling, preparing and varnishing them.
These cap machines thus had a capacity of producing a million a day.
These caps made at the arsenal were frequently tested, and pronounced to be superior in
resisting of moisture and in general efficiency.
For the completion of these machines, the Confederate Government awarded the inventor-an
employee of the arsenal-the sum of $125,000, being an equal to $2,00 in gold.
To manufactures the fulminate of mercury, we needed nitric acid and mercury.
A quantity of mercury was obtained early in the war from Mexico. To make nitric acid we
required nitre and suphuric acid. The sulphuric acid we manufactured in North Carolina,
after many failures and difficulties, especially in obtaining the lead to line the chambers.
Nitre was made by the Nitre and Mining Bureau, especially organized for that purpose.
Everywhere about the environs of Richmond could be seen large earthen ricks and heaps
which contained dead horses and others animals, designed for use in the manufacture of
nitre. The available earth from caves was also made to yield its quota of nitre. With this
suplhuric acid and nitre, on the banks of the James river, we manufactured the nitric
acid required in the manufacture of fulminate.
Page 370 Southern Historical Society Papers.
Near the close of the war the supply of mercury became exhausted. Here was a most serious
difficulty. We had not, and could not obtain, the mercury, and essential material with
which to manufacture fulminate of mercury, and without caps the army could not fight, and
must be disbanded. This was an extremely serious situation, as no mercury could be
obtained in the limits of the Confederacy. We began to experiment on substitutes, and
fortunately found in Richmond two substitutes-chloride of potash and sulphuret of
antimony-which, when properly combined, answered the purpose safisfactorily. And the
battles around Petersburg during the last few months of the war, were fought with caps
filled with this novel substitute. Our lead was obtained chiefly, and in the last
years of
the war, entirely, from the lead-mine near Wytheville, Va.
The mines were worked night and day, and the lead converted into bullets as fast as
received.
The old regulation shrapnel shells were filled with leaden balls and sulphur. The
Confederacy had neither lead nor sulphur to spare, and used instead small iron balls, and
filled with asphalt.
We had no private manufactories established, which could furnish the appliances needed,
and frequently everything had to be done from the very beginning by the ordnance
department, and the army in the field. For instance, to run the forges to make the irons
for the artillery carriages, we needed charcoal. To obtain this, I purchases the timber of
a number of acres of woodland of the south side of the James river, and secured a detail
of men to burn the charcoal for the use of our forge department.
During the winter men from General Lee's army cut the timber and shipped it to Richmond,
with which artillery carriages were made on which to mount the guns to fight the battles
in the spring. Men appointed for that purpose followed the army and collected the hides
of the slaughtered animals that were used to cover the saddle-trees made of timber, cut by
temporary details of men from the army in the field.
As the war continued, efforts were made to build permanent and well appointed arsenals, as
at Macon and Augusta, Ga.
The large arsenal at Augusta, under the management of Colonel Rains, was especially
devoted to the manufacture of powder. Toward the close of the war it was making an
abundant supply of very superior character, equal and in some respects superior to that
imported from foreign countries.
Under the demands of necessity, in many instances, cotton con-
Page 371 Confederate Ordnance During the War.
verted into rubber cloth was used in the manufactured of infantry accoutrements, and was
found especially useful in making belts for machinery. Models of inventions were
frequently sent to the arsenal, of which large numbers were valueless, and those good in
theory could not be tried for want of skilled machinists and ordnance supplies. I
remember on one occasion-the last year of the war-that a large number of Spencer
breech-loading rifles, the result of a capture, were turned over to the arsenal, and though
greatly desired by the troops, could not be issued for want of ammunition. In the effort
to make the cartridges for the Spencer rifles, in the first place tools had to be devised,
with which to make the tools used for making the cartridges. Hence the surrender of
Richmond came before the cartridges were made.
A plan was proposed at the arsenal to increase the accuracy and range and thus render
available and more efficient the smooth-bore muskets in possession of the Confederacy.
The plan proposed was theoretically correct, and is worth mentioning, inasmuch as very
late in the war the identical plan was sent to President Davis from Canada, as a
scientific gift of great value.
This was sent by him to the War Department, and hence found its way to the arsenal, where
the drawings were regarded with interest, since they corresponded exactly with those made
at the arsenal years previously.
The idea was to fire an elongated compound projectile, made of lead and hard wood, or
papier mache, with spear-point shaped head and shaft of lead-the shaft portion to be
enclosed in a hollow sabot of wood or hard papier mache.
On firing, the lighter material, moving first, would press outwards the arrow head, and
thus destroy windage, and the flight of the trajectory would be as an arrow, without
rotating on the shorter axis, inasmuch as the centre of inertia of the projectile would be
in advance of the centre of resistance of the air. At least that was the theory of the
compound projectile, devised for the old smooth-bore musket.
An attempt was made to use on the field round concussion shell from the howitzers as
mortars. In this concussion shell a friction primer, properly wrapped, acted as a fuse,
its head terminated in a bullet, which rested on the shoulder of the brass fuse that
screwed into the shell, leaving an unfilled hollow space about the bullet. When the round
shell struck any point, except that exactly in rear of the prolongation of the wire, put
in the axis of the bore by using a sabor, the momentum of the bullet would draw the
friction primer
Page 372 Southern Historical Society Papers.
and explode the shell, regardless of the point on which a round shell struck. A
gun-carriage was made for howitzers with a jointed trail, as thus they could be used a
mortars, and fired at a high angle.
These were rather experiments than instances of success, and are only mentioned now to
show that the ordnance officers did something more than simply attempt to imitate the
Federals.
They were prevented from accomplishing what they planned by reason of the want of
machinery to do the necessary work.
During the siege around Petersburg it was discovered that the shells used for the large
Parrot guns were very defective-that is, had but very short range. The shells would
start off and fly well and straight, revolving on the longer axis during the first half of
the trajectory, and then suddenly whirl on the shorter axis and drop almost vertically.
One can tell by the ear the instant the axis of revolution changes, if one gun is fired.
The action of the shell being observed, the cause was obvious and a remedy suggested
itself. The center of the resistance of the air at the summit of the trajectory was in
advance of the centre of inertia, and produced a couple that caused the rotation on the
shorter axis. The obvious remedy was to make the front of the shell hemispherical instead
of conoidal, and diminish its length, and thus put the centre of gravity forward of the
centre of resistance. With this change made, the maximum range was attained; and the
complaints of the artillerist ceased.
When we consider the absence of manufactories and machinery and of skilled mechanics in
the South at the beginning of the war, its successfully furnishing ordnance supplies for
so large an army, during the four eventful years, is a striking evidence of the energy and
resources and ability of its people.
The success of the Ordnance Department was due to its able chief, General J. Gorgas, and
in large measure to the intelligence and devotion of its officers, selected by the
sifting process of special examination.
I must add this, that never was an order received from General Lee's army for ammunition
that it was not immediately supplied, even to the last order to sent a train-load of
ammunition to Petersburg, after the order was received for the evacuation of Richmond.
As continuous work was necessary to keep a supply of ammunition at times serious
difficulties threatened the arsenal, not only from scarcity of supplies of material, but
also from depreciation of our currency.
Page 373 Confederate Ordnance During the War.
Food supplies were very scarce in Richmond, and became enormously high in Confederate
currency, and during the very severe last winter of the war all the female operatives who
filled cartridges with powder, left the arsenal and struck for higher wages. These
were
trained operatives, and the demand for ammunition was too great to afford time to train
others even if they could have been secured.
An increase in money wages would not relieve the difficulty.
I remember once being, early in the morning, on the island in James river, with the ice
and frost everywhere, surrounded by a number of thinly-clad, shivering women, and,
mounting a flour barrel, I attempted to pursuade them by appeals to their
loyalty and
patriotism to continue at their work until better arrangements could be made.
But patriotic appeals had no effect on shivering, starving women. Very fortunately at this
juncture a vessel with a cargo for the Ordnance Department ran the blockade at
Wilmington, N. C., laden, no with rifles and powder, but with bacon and syrup and articles
for food and clothing, these being of extreme value. An ordinance store was immediately
established, and food and clothing sold to the employees of the arsenal at one-fourth the
market price. This fortunate cargo made all happy and relieved the impending difficulty.
I submit herewith a statement of the principal issues from the arsenal made up to January
1, 1865.
This can be relied on as accurate, having been copied from the official reports preserved
at the arsenal, consolidating all issues.
The report was prepared by my order, furnished the Richmond Enquirer, and published the
day of the evacuation of Richmond.
A copy was published in the New Eclectic Magazine, April, 1869, from which this extract is
taken.
STATEMENT OF PRINCIPAL ISSUES FROM THE ARSENAL.
Statement of principal issues from the Richmond Arsenal, from July 1, 1861, to January 1,
1865:
Artillery Equipments, etc.-341 Columbiads and seige-guns; 1,306 field pieces of all
descriptions; 1,375 field-gun carriages; 875 caissons; 152 forges; 6,825 sets artillery
harness; 921,441 rounds field, seige and sea-coast ammunition; 1,456,190
friction
primers; 1,110,966 fuses; 17,423 port-fires; 3,985 rockets.
Infantry and Cavalry Arms, Accoutrements, etc.-323,231 infantry arms; 34,067 cavalry
arms; 6,074 pistols; 44,877 swords and sabres;
Page 374 Southern Historical Society Papers.
375,510 sets of infantry and cavalry accoutrements; 188,181 knapsacks; 478,498
haversacks; 328,977 canteens and straps; 115,087 gun and carbine slings; 72,413,854 small
arm cartridges; 146,901,250 percussion caps; 69,418 cavalry saddles; 85,139 cavalry
bridles; 73,611 cavalry halters; 35,464 saddled-blankets; 59,624 pairs spurs; 42,285
horse-brushes; 56,903 curry-combs.
The enormous amount of "thirteen hundred field pieces of all descriptions,"
classed among the issues, does not signify that that number was manufactured at the
arsenal, but that number includes all those obtained by manufacture, by purchase, or by
capture, and afterwards issued therefrom. The writer in the Enguirer further says:
"Assuming that the issues from the Richmond Arsenal have been half of all the issues
to the Confederate armies, which may be approximately true, and that 100,000 of the enemy
were killed, not regarding the wounded and those who died of disease, it will appear from
the statement of issues that about 150 pounds of lead and 350 pounds of iron were fired
for every man killed, and if the proportion of killed and wounded be as one to six, it
would further appear that one man was disabled for every 200 rounds expended. In former
wars, with the old smooth-bore musket, it was generally said, 'his weight in lead is
required for every man who was killed.'"
And from the issues of the arsenal it does not appear that the improved rifle requires a
pound less.
It will appear to one fond of statistics, who may reduce the moving force of the
projectile to horse-power, that the force required to kill one man in battle will
be
represented by about one thousand horse-power.
Some general remarks in reference to the conclusion of the war and the destruction of the
arsenal may not be out of place.
There was a large number of Federal prisoners in and about the city. Libby prison was
filled with officers, and Bell Isle with many privates.
To release these was the object of cavalry raids against the city, when the main army was
absent.
All the operators of the arsenal, and the Tredegar Works, and employees of the departments
were organized in regiments, and were called to the field when a raid was expected.
So they literally, worked with their muskets by their sides-and so valuable were the lives
of the skilled artisans, that is was said if three iron-workers in the regiment of the
arsenal were killed, the manufacture of cannon would stop.
Page 375 Confederate Ordnance During of War.
But the end was approaching. In the Confederate Senate I remember listening to an animated
discussion in regard to enlisting negro troops in the army.
It was urged by some of the senators that we should enlist and arm fifty thousand negroes,
of course with a pledge of freedom.
I knew we could not possibly arm five thousand. The Ordnance Department was
exhausted. One
company of negroes was formed, and I witnessed the drill in the Capitol Square, but I
understood as soon as they got their uniforms they vanished in one night.
As the spring of 1865 approached, the officers often discussed the situation. We
knew that Lee's lines were stretched to breaking, we knew the exhausted condition of every
department, and we knew the end was near.
Sunday, April 2d, was abright, beautiful spring day, and Richmond was assembled at church.
I was at St. Paul's church, about four pews in front of me sat President Davis, and in a
pew behind him General Gorgas, Chief of the Ordnance Department, and my chief. During
service and before the sermon, the sexton of the church, a well-known individual in the
city, stepped lightly forward, and touching Mr. Davis on the shoulder, whispered something
to him.
Mr. Davis immediately arose and walked out of the church with to calm expression, yet
causing some little excitement. In a moment the sexton came back and called out General
Gorgas, I confess I was made extremely uneasy, and was reflecting on the probable cause,
when, being touched on the shoulder, and looking around, the sexton whispered to me that a
messenger from the War Department awaited me at the door.
I instantly felt the end had come.
I was ordered to report to the War Department, where I soon learned General Lee had
telegraphed that his line was broken and could not be repaired, and that the city must be
evacuated at 12 o'clock that night.
I was ordered to remove the stores of the arsenal, as far as could be done, to Lynchburg,
and was informed that the President and chief officials would proceed to Danville, and
the line be re-established between Danville and Lynchburg.
I immediately had the canal-boats of the city taken possession of, and began to load them
as rapidly as possible with machinery, tools, stores, etc., to be carried to
Lynchburg.
As a large supply of prepared ammunition could not be taken, I
Page 376 Southern Historical Society Papers.
had a large force employed in destroying it by throwing it in the river.
Supplies of value to families were given away to those who applied. By midnight the boats
laden with stores were placed under charge of officers and started for their destination,
which they never reached. What became of them, I never knew.
About 2 o'clock in the morning General Gorgas, the Chief of Ordnance, came to the arsenal
to tell me that he was about to leave with the President for Danville, and to report to
him there. I never reported to him till fifteen years later, when I met him at Sewanee,
Tenn., the Vice-Chancellor of the University of the South.
Every possible effort was made to prevent the destruction of the arsenal.
I, as commanding officer, visited every building between 3 and 4 o'clock in the morning of
the 3rd of April, had the gas extinguished, and the guards instructed to shoot any man who
attempted to fire the buildings.
One hour afterwards (I was then four miles from the city) the rapid and terrible explosion
of shells heard in the distance proved that that part of the city occupied by
the arsenal
was being made desolate by the torch applied by the frantic mob. Shortly after the
President left the city the gunboats were blown up.
After witnessing the explosion from the steps of the arsenal, I sent for the keeper of the
magazine, and satisfying myself that life would not be endangered by its destruction,
wrote an order for him to explode the magazine at 5 in the morning, the last order of the
Ordnance Department, and among the last orders of the Confederate Government, given in the
city of Richmond.
As I rode out of the city in the early dawn I saw a dense cloud of smoke suddenly ascend
with a deafening report, that shook the city to its centre.
Thus ended the surrender of the city of Richmond.
The mob immediately took possession, looted the stores, and fired the city.
A large part of beautiful Richmond was burned to the ground.
The Federal troops marched into the burning city in splendid order, took possession,
dispersed the mob, and saved, by their energy and discipline, the city from total
destruction.
