Southern Genius. 289
scale, throughout the Confederacy, artificial nitre beds were early formed, and an abundant supply was furnished with which to manu- facture gunpowder.
The large arsenal at Augusta, Georgia, under the management of Colonel Rains, was especially devoted to the manufacture of powder. Towards the close of the war it was making an abundant supply of very superior character, equal and superior to the best importation from foreign sources. In the explosion of the magazine by my order, on the morning of the surrender of Richmond probably the last official act of the Confederacy in Richmond a large amount of this superior powder was destroyed, and its force manifested by a de- struction not contemplated.
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 wonderful energy and resources and ability of its people to overcome difficulties.
The success of the Ordnance Department was, in a large measure, due to the intelligence and devotion of its officers, selected by the sifting process of special examinations.
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 of sending a train-load of ammunition to Petersburg after the order was received for the evacuation of Richmond. Very respectfully yours, etc.,
WM. LERov BROUN.
I shall not apologize for quoting this letter at length, because it is full of interesting information, and I thank the author for his prompt response to my request, and for the valuable contribution he makes to the subject I am discussing. His letter tells, in a brief and concise form, the story of difficulties, and the ability with which they were overcome by a devoted people. It discloses how full of expedients the Southern people were and with what singular inge- nuity and energy they put them in practice.
It would be highly instructive and interesting if I could procure, in this connection, statements in regard to the other great bureaus of the Confederate Government the quartermaster, subsistence and medical and lay before you what was accomplished by them, and enumerate some of the disadvantages under which the distinguished
