Confederate Copper

Ralph W. Donnelly is currently an office supervisor for the Southland Life Insurance Company in Washington , D.C. A graduate of the Catholic University of America, he is the Treasurer of the American Military Institute and Editorial Board member for the publication of "Military Affairs." Confederate Copper RALPH W. DONNELLY probably we have all read at some time in our youth the little jingle concerning the chain of events leading to a nation's downfall that originated with die loss of a horseshoe nail. The Confederate States of America 's bid for independence relied upon a number of "horseshoe nails," relatively unimportant items in themselves, yet all important in the munitions production pattern which made the conduct of die war possible . The Confederate Nitre and Mining Bureau devoted its entire activities toward securing the raw materials necessary for the production of munitions . One seldom-tiiought-of metal was of immense value to the South, and its production was a number one priority. This metal was copper. Today, with our concept of total war and die recognized value of copper for wiring, machinery and radio and electronic devices, die importance of copper is readily understood. During the American Civil War copper was no less important even though the electronics age was not yet with us. Its most specific use was in the manufacture of musket caps without which the soldiers could not fire their guns. The problem was just this simple: no caps, no guns fired. The other major use of copper during the Civil War was in the casting of bronze1 field pieces. This casting was suspended when copper became scarce, but no grave emergency was created since the casting of equally satisfactory banded iron field pieces continued unaffected. 1 At this time the terms "brass" and "bronze" had essentially the same meaning, a copper-tin alloy, and were used interchangeably. Gun metal was 10 parts pure tin to 90 parts of copper. See testimony of Lt. Beverly Kennon, Investigation of the C. S. Navy Department, Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion (Washington: 1894-1914), Series 2, Volume 1, page 523. This collection hereafter cited as N.O.R., followed by the series number, the volume number, and the page, as: N.O.R., 2, L p. 523. 355 356RALPH W. DONNELLY Copper mines were scarce in the Confederacy. There were workable mines in southern Virginia in Carroll and Grayson Counties, but the most productive were to be found in die extreme southeastern corner of Tennessee in the vicinity of Ducktown, Polk County. The Confederate Nitre and Mining Bureau decided to depend upon the Ducktown mines solely and treat the Carroll and Grayson County, Virginia, mines as a reserve.2 In the very beginning some hopes were expressed that the newly discovered copper mines of the Arizona Territory might be a source of supply to the Confederacy.3 The withdrawal of the Federal troops, however, did not of itself automatically deliver the mines to the Confederates. It was reported by Confederate Lt. Col. John R. Baylor to his superior that "The most important and available mines to die Confederacy are under the sway of the Indians."4 In the Pinos Altos region there was apparently one copper mine5 whereas the Pinos Altos mines proper were probably gold and silver.6 The inability of the Confederates to maintain control in the area, the difficulties of desert conditions, distance, and Indians, as well as die apparent sufficiency of the Ducktown mines, made the Southwestern copper mines of mere academic interest. Copper apparently was obtainable in die general area of South Arkansas , North Louisiana, and Texas, although the records as to the working of mines or production figures have not been located. In a report to the Headquarters of Department No. 2, dated at Little Rock, Ark., Col. Francis A. Shoup said, "There are in the County of Montgomery [Arkansas ?] rich Copper and Lead mines, which can be worked at a great advantage, yielding an ore of superior quality & in great abundance." Later in his report, when speaking of the foundry at Camden, Ouachita County, Arkansas, he stated, "There is an abundant supply of Bell Metal...