Early Madison County, Alabama, Saltpeter references

D/I64

EARLY MADISON COUNTY, ALABAMA, SALTPETER REFERENCES
Marion 0. Smith
Just before the War of 1812, John Brahan (1774-1834), a native Virginian
and commissioner of public lands in Mississippi Territory (Alabama), wrote the

following letter to Return Jonathan Meigs (1740-1823), the Cherokee Indian

agent, soliciting his influence in obtaining permission to work a saltpeter

cave near Huntsville:

Huntsville
Dear Sir Madison County M. T.
24th pecember 1811
I have had built on Flint River about seven miles Fast
of this place a grist mill and saw mill both now going in
Complete repair. I have lately had two powder mills erect-
ed at the same place, but for want of salt petre cannot
keep the two going, and from the approaching aspect of our
affairs it is very probable that powder will be essential
with us, and it is my wish to render my pursuits as useful
to our country as I can: The object of this communication
is to request through you a favor from the Cherokees: there
is a salt petre cave about Eight miles be low my milis, &
one & a half miles East of flint River and about one mile
within the Indian line, on the South west Spurr of a moun-
tain. It is believed that salt petre may be made from the
dirt in this cave, although the cave is small & the dirt
in it not very strong of nitre. I wish to get from the
Cherokees permission to make salt petre at this cave, and
should be glad to have it for five years, and if the dirt
proves good would allow a liberal Rent payable in powder or
money. I will thank you to communicate my wishes to the
Cherokee Chiefs, and if it is possible should be glad to
Rent the cave for five years, and would have no objection
to give them fifty dollars per year for that time, or as
long as the dirt was worth working. The water is at least
a mile from the cave which will make it inconvenient to
work. all these matters considered and the dirt not very
strong I think my offer a good one: But perhaps as I ama
favorite with the Cherokees from my having command ed at
the garrison High wassee, it is probable they may permit me
to make salt petre at this cave free of Rent for a year or
two. I suppose many of the Chiefs remember Tutaluyah which
is my Indian name. I shall be glad to hear from you on
this subject & beg your friendly aid in getting the exclu-
sive right of working the cave before named-- I hope you
have recovered your health before this, was sorry to hear
of your in dis position when at Huntsville. - Capt Levies
is progressing in cutting the road.
IT am D® Sir with Esteem

yl Ob $
bs 1

John Brahan

Di6e

On February 18, 1812, Meigs replied that he had taken "friendly steps"
for permission from the Cherokees for Brahan "to work the Salt petre Cave near
their line." Brahan responded on March 4 that he had "discovered that the
Cave is not as valuable" as he expected, but nevertheless "it will be very use-
ful to me if it can only supply the mills with Salt petre, I should therefore
be extremely glad for per mission to work it." More months passed, and on

August 14, 1812, Brahan again inquired about permission; "I find that sait

petre is in great demand, if the Indians have consented to my working the lit-

tle Cave near my mill, should be glad to be informed." Ultimately, the records
do not reveal if Brahan ever acquired authorization to work the cave. Brahan

later served in the army under Andrew Jackson at New Orleans, 1814-15, and in

1832 he moved to Florence, Alabama. 2

What cave did Brahan want to mine? His location description, according
to Bill Torode, fits exactly ACS 123, Candlestand Cave, at the tip of a south-
western spur of Keel Mountain on the Moontown Quadrangle. Candlestand Cave is
747 feet long, and Bill reports that the area between entrances one and two

has so much daylight that a lamp is not needed. Here "a bit of digging is

t

evident, but most of it appears to have been done by pot hunters," who may

have destroyed any saltpeter mining evidence.”

NOTES

lRecords of the Cherokee Indian Agency in Tennessee, 1801-1835, Record
Group 75 (Microcopy 208, Roll 5): Correspondence and Miscellaneous Records,
1810-1812.

2Brahan to Meigs, March 4, August 14, 1812, ibid.;. Thomas McA. Owen,
History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography (4 vols., Chicago:
The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1921), III, 205.

3Letter from William W. Torode, November 19, 1986; Alabama Cave Survey.