Thanks Dave. It may be then that they rolled the plates for the Charleston Squadron, I wondered if Easons actually did that from iron supplied. There are still unanswered questions about the armour of these three.
Mark Anthony Cooper, The Iron Man of Georgia, by Mark Cooper Pope III, 2000, Graphic Publishing Co., Atlanta.
The above book includes the following information on our topic:
p. 180 QMG Myers reported to Davis that Cooper had been approached about supplying sheet iron for the department, but he declined because "his opportunities in the manufacture of bar iron and nails were too profitable to justify a change in his present machinery."
p. 181-3 After the Andrews Raid on the line of the Western & Atlantic RR, Cooper pushed for better security for the coal traffic through Chattanooga to all of Georgia and South Carolina. "Halt that coal and you stop all things, mills, shops, armories & foundries." (Cooper ltr to Sec War Randolph, 5/10/62)
The start of conscription caused a major departure of skilled men from his works, men who would rather volunteer than wait on the conscription system. May of these men were not particularly skilled (tree cutters and wood haulers, general labor), though many, including miners, were. Cooper wrote numerous letters to Richmond to get his valuable men released so operations could continue. Some of the men were detailed, but on occasion it was to other furnace operations.
p. 183 A Navy officer visited the Rolling Mills under orders to make a contract for materials needed in constructing an unfinished gunboat at Charleston. "I find one half of the furnaces idle for want of their men, as named in the enclosed list. ... I respectfully inform the Dept. that government officers find it difficult to complete their contracts in consequence of this deficiency. I therefore respectfully certify on honor that the men within named on list are absolutely necessary at these works to complete contracts with the government." (12 names on the list) (Ltr fm 1st Assistant Engineer, CSN, to A. J. Bledsoe (Asst Sec. of War), 6/4/62)
One officer at Camp Randolph in Calhoun decided that wood choppers and teamsters needed in the iron business could not be exempted. Cooper wrote Sec. War to intervene -- everything he was making was for government use! Gen. Cooper informed Cooper that the matter had been forwarded to Gen. Lee for decision.
p. 184 Sec of War received a letter from another contractor making it clear that the stakes were too great for the Government to not heed Cooper's pleas. The letter came from a contractor who was providing horse shoes and nails for the Army in East Tn. "The amount is enormous, requiring nearly a ton of iron per day." Sufficient iron could not be had -- his supply came from Cooper, who could not keep up with demand for lack of workers. "I must request in behalf of the Army of E. Tn. that you send some hands." (ltr C. A. Simmons to Sec War 8/19/62)
Cooper detailed his frustration in a letter to an Atlanta newspaper after the unfinished naval ram, the
Mississippi, had to be burned to save if from capture. Delay on the ship was attributed to the failure of the Etowah IW "to complete its contract for bolts in due season." (
Atlanta Intelligencer, date uncertain, clipping)
P. 185 Cooper said the order had been received on March 15 and he shipped "all the iron we had on hand or could make, to the exclusion of anybody's order." Again mentioned the lack of coal from Chattanooga and the loss of 70 men who had volunteered for the army.
The result was the government would not supply the men Cooper needed, but decided to buy the Works and had it run by Quimby & Robinson. Contract 7/19/65 That company began to report the exact labor and coal problems Cooper had identified only 5 days after the sale was made.
--- So you can see why I do not think Cooper rebuilt his works to make armor plate.
Bringing the