There is an online pdf document from the VA Dept of Mines, Minerals and Energy titled "Geology and History of Confederate Saltpeter Cave Operations in Western Virginia"  just google the title.
 
Clay

From: Sally Phillips <[log in to unmask]>
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

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