George Washington Rains

[confederatepodcaster]

I'm doing some research on Rains and I'd like to know if anyone has heard of any good books either regarding him or the work he did for the south. He was basically in charge of manufacturing almost all of the gunpowder for the south during the war (mainly from his factory in Augusta, Georgia) and one could argue was as important to the cause as anyone. Thanks for any help!

 

[jessgettysburg1863]

Try these links.

http://maic.jmu.edu/journal/6.1/notes/robbins/robbins.htm
http://www.answers.com/topic/george-washington-rains
http://www.lib.unc.edu/mss/inv/r/Rains,George_Washington.html
http://www.researchonline.net/tour/site34.htm
http://www.natemaas.com/2011/08/george-washington-rains.html

 

[deanbramell]

I have not heard of a good book on him but you should use a search engien to find one. I will try to find one.

 

[confederatepodcaster]

Thanks Jess I've been to a few of those but not all. Hes an amazing guy. Someone so important to the South that almost no one knows about.

 

[jessgettysburg1863]

Thanks Jess I've been to a few of those but not all. Hes an amazing guy. Someone so important to the South that almost no one knows about.

My pleasure mate, l had never heard of him either until now.

 

[damYankee]

Look up "bed pans" and chamber pots!

 

[confederatepodcaster]

Why?

 

[CSA Today]

Look up "bed pans" and chamber pots!

"John Harrelson, John Harrelson, you are a wretched creature,
You've added to this war a new and awful feature,
You'd have us think while every man is bound to be a fighter,
The ladies, bless their pretty dears, should save their p** for nitre,
John Harrelson, John Harrelson, where did you get this notion,
To send your barrel around the town to gather up this lotion,
We thought the girls had work enough in making shirts and kissing,
But you have put the pretty dears to patriotic p*ssing,
John Harrelson, John Harrelson, do pray invent a neater
And somewhat less immodest mode of making your saltpeter,
For "tis an awful idea, John, gunpowdery and cranky,
That when a lady lifts her skirt, she's killing off a Yankee."

John Harrelson, an agent in Selma, Alabama of the Confederate Nitre and Mining Bureau

 

[donna]

There are two articles in my United Daughters of the Confederacy Magazines you maybe be interested in.
One is in the October 2011 issue titled "The Rains Brothers", and the other is in the Jan. 2012 issue titled "The Confederate Powder Works". I would be happy to make copies of the articles and send to you. PM me and give me your address and will mail to you.

Donna

 

[damYankee]

Why?

The south had little in the way of nitrate, so under to make gunpowder they collected urine from the citisens to be used in the making of gunpowder.

 

[ole]

Did almost the same thing during WWII, although then it was horses. The bureau in charge of the collection changed it's name after the war to Budweiser.

 

[confederatepodcaster]

I should have guessed. Thanks everyone for all the info. Now I wish I could find a book.

 

[donna]

Did you know George Rains wrote "History of the Confederate States Powder Works". There is also article, "The Confederacy's Bomb Brothers" by Peggy Robbins in "National Mine Action Centers", Issue 6.1 April 2002.

You also might want to check out: "Never for Want of Powder: The Confederate Powder Works in Augusta, Georgia", by C.L. Bragg ,Charles D. Ross, Gordon A. Blaker, Stephanie A. T. Jacobs and Theodore P. Savas, University of South Carolina Press, 2007.

From 1867 to 1884, George Rains was professor of chemistry and pharmacy at the Medical College of Georgia (later the University of Georgia). I don't know if they would have any material on or by him. It be worth a check.

 

[ErnieMac]

Did you know George Rains wrote "History of the Confederate States Powder Works". There is also article, "The Confederacy's Bomb Brothers" by Peggy Robbins in "National Mine Action Centers", Issue 6.1 April 2002.

The subject has popped up on another thread, so I thought I'd bump this one. Rains' publication is online through Project Gutenberg. The link follows: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/24537/24537-h/24537-h.htm

 

[Specster]

The issue has been brought up before, but not for some years. "Nitre" aka Potasium Nitrate, Sodium Nitrate, salt petre. During the ACW a valuable commodity - percussion caps and powder. It seems that the North had plenty but the South had to resort, in some instances, to collecting urine for conversion into Nitre.

Any experts out there on taking a powder and then making a powder?

 

[Specster]

"John Harrelson, John Harrelson, you are a wretched creature,
You've added to this war a new and awful feature,
You'd have us think while every man is bound to be a fighter,
The ladies, bless their pretty dears, should save their p** for nitre,
John Harrelson, John Harrelson, where did you get this notion,
To send your barrel around the town to gather up this lotion,
We thought the girls had work enough in making shirts and kissing,
But you have put the pretty dears to patriotic p*ssing,
John Harrelson, John Harrelson, do pray invent a neater
And somewhat less immodest mode of making your saltpeter,
For "tis an awful idea, John, gunpowdery and cranky,
That when a lady lifts her skirt, she's killing off a Yankee."

John Harrelson, an agent in Selma, Alabama of the Confederate Nitre and Mining Bureau

Bottom line, was there a concerted and organized effort in the South to acquire urine? I understand the animal urine was often collected - large animals like horses and steer. Urine has been basically a commodity through the millinia. The Romans used it as a fabric cleaner. Im sure there were many other uses.

 

[CSA Today]

Bottom line, was there a concerted and organized effort in the South to acquire urine? I understand the animal urine was often collected - large animals like horses and steer. Urine has been basically a commodity through the millinia. The Romans used it as a fabric cleaner. Im sure there were many other uses.

I don't know how extensive the collection of human urine was to extract niter {saltpeter], but I have read that that critical ingredient for gun powder was in short supply in the South from the more usual places.

 

[Mdiesel]

Did almost the same thing during WWII, although then it was horses. The bureau in charge of the collection changed it's name after the war to Budweiser.

Wow I just had a moment of clarity....no wonder I got into so much mischief as a young fella! I was drinking horse **** & acting like a horses donkey! Oh the shame....