e and experience.

A singular good fortune happened at the commencement of my labors. I
came into possession of an invaluable pamphlet by Major Bradley, the
Superintendent of the Waltham Abbey Works; in this the entire process
and machinery employed at that Factory--the best existing in any
country--was succinctly stated; drawings, or working plans, or details
of the buildings, or apparatus, however, were not given.

Nowhere could be found a publication in which this was done of any
powder factory, hence in the projection of the Confederate Powder Works,
I was thrown upon my own resources to supply these deficiencies.

During the many hours spent in railroad cars, these matters were thought
over and planned separately as necessity required. A rough sketch was
made, dimensions given, and location designated; this data was placed in
the hands of capable men to carry out. In my young Architect and Civil
Engineer, C. Shaler Smith, recommended by the proprietors of the
Richmond Tredegar Iron Works, I at once recognised genius of a high
order, and placed in his hands my rough sketches of buildings to
elaborate and give architectural finish. All know with what result, the
fine taste exhibited in the massive and beautiful structures which
ornamented the banks of the Augusta Canal, for two miles, bore witness
of his success.

Good fortune also brought to my notice, by a casual encounter with
General Pendleton, Chief of Artillery at Richmond, a skilled machinist,
who had served his time at the Tredegar Works, and was then a Sergeant
in the Confederate army. He, William Pendleton, was applied for, and in
his acquisition, was gained a man of capability and integrity, into
whose hands could be confidently placed the erection of all the
extensive machinery then in process of construction. The responsible
duties of Superintendent of the Works were also committed to his charge.

The Tredegar Iron and Machine Works, at Richmond, were the only ones
throughout the South, having adequate capabilities for the construction
of the heavy and extensive machinery required in the projected
Confederate Powder Works. They were only partially available for the
purpose, however, as the demands made upon them for heavy artillery, and
for all kinds of urgent work required by the Government, absorbed their
resources, nevertheless, I was compelled to call upon them for most of
the twelve circular iron beds, and twenty-four ponderous five ton iron
ro