The cave along the trail under Natural Bridge was used as a saltpeter source, if my memory is correct. Other sources were in SW Va., I believe. Joan ----- Original Message ----- From: Sally Phillips To: [log in to unmask] Sent: Monday, May 16, 2011 4:37 PM Subject: [VA-ROOTS] Saltpeter in the Civil War Civil War Enthusiasts -- A man in Virginia's 21st Regiment of the Virginia Infantry "made saltpeter," according to his pension application filed in 1924. I'm finding lots on the internet about mining saltpeter and making gunpowder. Did Virginia have one or more sources of saltpeter or should I assume he went to Georgia to mine it? Can someone steer me to a book or a website that's reliable. There's a lot of fluff out there and saltpeter is far from my area of expertise! Thanks! Sally Phillips To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html