Tom Hughes
Sergeant Major
- Joined
- May 27, 2019
- Location
- Mississippi
When I first dug up this artifact at an old plantation in central Mississippi last month, I felt sure that it was some type of unusual bayonet.
Probably rare.
Probably of Confederate use.
And definitely worthy of bragging rights on the many civil war forums that exist in our cyber world.
Although soldiers did camp around the house during the war on their way to Vicksburg, it was not the type of artifact I would have guessed it to be.
It turns out that this is a turpentine hack.
And yes, I was a little disappointed that this wasn't some rare war relic.
Some of you are probably thinking the same thing I was thinking when I learned this.
What the heck is a hack?!
Here's what I discovered:
This hack would've been used to scrape bark off pine trees to extract turpentine. This one certainly dates to the 19th century and is blacksmith forged.
The turpentine industry expanded quickly across GA, AL and MS in the 19th century. Turpentine was used as a solvent and for lamp fuel (certainly cheaper than whale oil). The resin was also used in soap and varnish.
Naval stores used turpentine to keep ships afloat.
It was hard work and slaves were often used to extract the resin from the trees.
It's unknown if this planter family was engaged in commercial turpentining at some point or if they used the resin strictly for their personal use on the plantation. Regardless, it's an interesting relic that sheds light on an industry that was flourishing in the deep south in the antebellum years, yet doesn't get much attention.