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.