Armistead M. Ball, the master
armorer. Of the machinery so saved, that for making rifle-muskets was
transported to Richmond, and that for rifles with sword-bayonets to
Fayetteville, North Carolina. In addition to the injuries suffered by
the machinery, the lack of skilled workmen caused much embarrassment. In
the mean time the manufacture of small-arms was undertaken at New
Orleans and prosecuted with energy, though with limited success.
In field-artillery the manufacture was confined almost entirely to the
Tredegar Works in Richmond. Some castings were made in New Orleans, and
attention was turned to the manufacture of field and siege artillery at
Nashville. A small foundry at Rome, Georgia, was induced to undertake
the casting of the three-inch iron rifle, but the progress was very
slow. The State of Virginia possessed a number of old four-pounder iron
guns which were reamed out to get a good bore, and rifled with three
grooves, after the manner of Parrott. The army at Harper's Ferry and
that at Manassas were supplied with old batteries of six-pounder guns
and twelve-pounder howitzers. A few Parrott guns, purchased by the State
of Virginia, were with General Magruder at Big Bethel.
For the ammunition and equipment required for the infantry and
artillery, a good laboratory and workshop had been established at
Richmond. The arsenals were making preparations for furnishing
ammunition and knapsacks; but generally, what little was done in this
regard was for local purposes.
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