Gorgas Advises Breckinridge That He Can Supply Ordnance - March 1865

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Josiah Gorgas (July 1, 1818 - May 15, 1883) was one of the few Northern-born Confederate generals and was later president of the University of Alabama. As chief of ordnance during the American Civil War, Gorgas managed to keep the Confederate armies well supplied with weapons and ammunition, despite the Union blockade, and even though the South had hardly any munitions industry before the war began. In this effort he also worked closely with the Fraser, Trenholm shipping company that brought in shipments of ordnance by means of blockade runners.Letter Signed "J. Gorgas", datelined Ordinance Bureau, Richmond March 11, 1865 to J.C. Breckinridge, Secretary of War. In part, "In reply to your confidential note of yesterday, I beg leave to say in general I have no doubt that moderate supplies of ordnance can be furnished, so long as the Wytheville lead mines ... is left open for us. ..."

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