Alabama Blast Furnaces

Civil War Era - 1861-1865

.." .•.:\ , ./.....,~.. THE CIVIL WAR ERA 1861-1865 OVER the peaceful scene in Alabama, long-hovering war clouds broke in 1861. One by one the Southern States seceded, the Confederacy was formed, the tragic Civil War ensued. At the outset both the Union and Confederacy anticipated a brief war and a decisive victory. During the first year of hostilities, importations from abroad provided a large part of the' Confederate army ordnance. But when the war entered its second year, the military needs of the South became increasingly apparent as the Union blockade grew more effective. Soon the South realized that immediate development of its manufacturing facilities was imperative. As the conflict wore on, "iron and more iron" became the pressing cry of the Confederacy. On April 11, 1862, the Confederate Government established the Nitre and Mining Bureau to foster the production of raw materials for its various arsenals. At the commencement of the Civil War there were six, or possibly seven blast furnaces operating in Alabama. The total daily capacity of all these furnaces could not have exceeded 40 tons and was probably less. As the war dragged on, the armies in the field demanded more and more supplies of shot and shell. More and more iron became an absolute necessity and the Nitre and Mining Bureau put forth increasing effort to supply the deficiency. Finally the shortage of materials became so acute that the Confederate Congress, on June 16, 1863, passed an act empowering the Nitre and Mining Bureau to impress all manufacturing. Nitre ud lining Bureau,} SELlJIA OFFICE. In accordance with General Orders, No. 30 and 32, A. &. J. G. om~, the following regulations will be observed by Contractors with this Bureau~ I. AU detailed men and conscripts leaving their work or r{'fusing to work, will at once be turncd o~'er to the nearest. Enrolling Officer to be tI'ied and punished as Deserters. n. Any Contractor hiring the operatives of another Contractor, without his written con 'ent, will be immediately reported tQ this office; and if the operath-c so cmplo,l"cd, is not at oncc tlischarged' or reulI'ncd to his employer. all detailed men and conscl'ipts will be at once I'emo"ed li'om the works oCthe offcnd.ing partl' and !'iillch other action taken as will effectually prevent a Itractice so de~tructh'c to tbe interes.t of all. In. 0 SUbSe4jOent emplo,l'ment of the opel'ath'e,!'io discbarged will he permitted without the consent of the ori~inal emilloyel' be til'st obtain d. IV. 0 transfer of detailed men or conscripts li'om one Contl'actOt" to another will he permitted, even with the consent of all pal,ties, until such transfer is tirst approved bv tbe Officer iu chal'ge. ' The 1\'lujol' in command will usc all th(> power with which he is dotbed to In'cvent intt~I'ferenee with the cmplolces ofone Contl'uctol' by another, either b~- the OtlCl' of higher wage or otherwise. It is a practice 'min ntly culculated to destroy the whole 11'018 intel'est, ami it is hoped It'on Masters will not I'esol't to such d >,'ices. WM. RICH \RDSON HU T, M ~ior &c. on OIU. })uty. in 'haJ"g of hon and Mining of Ala.. On. &: 'felll). Confederate Nitre and Mining Bureau bulletin issued to Alabama Iron Masters in 1863. THE CIVIL WAR ERA Between 1862 and 1865 thirteen new blast furnaces were built in Alabama. The Confederate government advanced either all or part of the funds necessary for these projects. Amounts up to $100,000 were provided and, in return, the operators were required to furnish definite percentages of the furnace output to the arsenals and shipbuilding yards. Under the stress of war conditions, the Nitre and Mining Bureau dictated the operating policies of the blast furnace industry. Owners, operators, labor-both skilled and unskilled-were pressed into service. Governmental regulations multiplied and became most stringent. Reports of every kind had to be filled in and filed; the detailed information required was almost endless. Added to these difficulties was the continued scarcity of operating essentials such as labor. The Confederate government pressed thousands of slaves into service to dig trenches and perform similar tasks in the combat areas. Union raids freed thousands more. The labor shortage became acute. Horses, mules and oxen could be obtained only through government orders. Staple food...