Confederate Nitre Bureau Operations in AL

[saltpeter]

Byron's Printing Inc. has completed the limited printing of a124 page book, "Confederate Nitre Bureau Operations in Alabama" by Marion O. Smith.

Speleo-historian, Marion O. Smith has researched saltpeter production in the Southern States as well as during the American Civil War for numerous years and he is a well published author - which leaves little doubt this book will be a top of the line publication.

[Brian Roebuck]

Knowing Marion's attention to detail and years of research this should be a great reference for anyone interested in Saltpetre mining, the Civil War, or use of caves. Marion is likely the most qualified person to write this book in the world. He has been to most of the caves and spent a lifetime researching this subject. A must have book for cavers!

[kenredux]

Marion's book sounds nifty.

Where is it available and how much does the wee 124 page book cost?

Here comes Santa Claus, you know.

[L Roebuck]

An announcement was on Tag-Net several days ago - as I recall Marion's book was about $18 or $19. I'm not sure where to order the book but maybe from Byron's Printing.

[madratdan]

kenredux said:

Marion's book sounds nifty.

Where is it available and how much does the wee 124 page book cost?

Here comes Santa Claus, you know.

My guess would be the NSS bookstore.

[L Roebuck]

Contact Marion - you can get the book from him.

[madratdan]

Hey Lynn,
Is that your copy he's signing??

[Brian Roebuck]

Yep!

He signed it for both of us at Bill Walter's house during our Spencer Mountain Grotto meeting / Christmas party. He didn't like his picture being made though he he..

[Azurerana]

I passed this along to an NPS interpretive ranger I know. While on a show cave tour with him last summer in a former gray bat cave (they tour one arm of the cave, leaving the other to critters) with huge guano piles, he incorporated information on how knowledge of and control of bat caves was crucial to the outcome of the Civil War in the South. Apparently, by that time, the north had figured out how to manufacture saltpeter, while the south was still using traditional cave leach methods.

That factoid had never crossed my radar screen before.

[Brian Roebuck]

I read somewhere in my military ordnance references that the best saltpetre was from europe due to the heavier nitration of the soils there. Therefore imported european gunpowder had more kick to it. Chemically produced saltpetre was more expensive though but the quality could be maintained better. I'll have to read Marions book to see what he says before I say too much more here!

[Sharon Faulkner]

There is a limited printing of only 350 copies of this 124 page book. This new book is a compilation of over 20 years Marion spent researching Saltpeter production in the Southern States during the Civil War.

I had the opportunity to transcribe pages from Marion's original handwritten draft copy for this book during the early production phase. For speleo-historians, this will be an excellent addition to their library. This book can be purchased for I believe $17 a copy including shipping, less if picked up in person, tho Marion is out of the country at the present time.

All of Marion's previous publications are now out of print and have become collectors items. One of his most sought after publications, Letters from TAG, is one I don't have and would still like to find. The most fascinating book I've read on big cave discoveries happening in TAG and the personalities of TAG cavers during the early 60s.