The Bellona Arsenal and the separate Bellona Foundry were established after the War of 1812 as a direct response to it and were placed where they were due to British depredations by water to Washington, D.C. with disastrous results to the White House and other such minor domestic US structures. Bellona was placed west of Richmond for that reason and to provide protection against a possible slave uprising for those working in the adjacent Richmond Basin coal mines.

Fine Creek Foundry was also a post-War of 1812 facility born out of the post-war fervor of "never again". This one had a far sadder ending, however.

The good news was that the Third System forts along the entire East Coast resulted from the apparently unimpeded British incursions.

Lyle Browning


On Apr 20, 2011, at 9:01 AM, Craig Kilby wrote:

> Hello all,
> 
> I recently received this query from Ralph Eshelhon, one of the authors of *The War of 1812 in the Chesapeake. He is now working on new project, and could use some help. Here is the scope:
> 
> "May I inquire about military war suppliers in Virginia during the War of 1812.  I am working on a map showing gunpowder mills, iron furnaces that supplied cannons, balls, kettles, etc., copper works for sheet metal for ship hulls, arsenals and gun manufactories, ropewalks, shipyards, salt petre caves, etc.  I know of Gosport Naval Yard, Tarr Iron Furnace (today WV), Organ Cave (today WV), Harpers Ferry Federal Arsenal, Virginia Manufactory of Arms (Richmond), and Armistead Rope Walk (Norfolk).  Apparently Maj. John Clarke and noted Richmond lawyer, William Wirt, established a weapons factory in 1810 at what later became the Bellona Arsenal site just west of Richmond. Do you know anything more about it or others such sites?"
> 
> This is certainly above my capabilities, but I'm confident that more than a few you will have some good ideas. I will pass them along to him.
> 
> Craig
> 
> 
> ______________________________________
> To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at
> http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html

______________________________________
To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at
http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html