Selma Naval Foundry

Selma Naval Foundry. It was a major industrial complex established by the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War to produce heavy naval artillery, munitions, and other critical war materiel. Located on the Alabama River in Selma, Alabama, it became one of the most significant and technologically advanced manufacturing centers in the Confederacy. The foundry's output was vital for arming the Confederate States Navy and coastal fortifications, playing a crucial role in the Confederate war effort until its destruction by Union forces in 1865.

History

The establishment of the Selma Naval Foundry was authorized in 1862 by the Confederate Congress and Confederate States Secretary of the Navy Stephen Mallory, responding to the dire need for domestic heavy industry. Strategic location selection leveraged Selma's position on a navigable river and its relative distance from the primary theaters of the Eastern Theater. Construction was overseen by prominent Confederate industrialist and naval officer Catesby ap Roger Jones, who had previously been involved with the CSS Virginia. The facility expanded rapidly throughout 1863, drawing skilled labor and machinery from across the Deep South and even importing specialized equipment through the Union blockade. Its development was part of a broader Confederate effort to create an inland manufacturing corridor, which also included the nearby Selma Arsenal and the Columbus ironworks.

Operations and production

The foundry's primary output was large-caliber naval and coastal artillery, including the famed Brooke rifle designed by John Mercer Brooke. It manufactured weapons in various calibers, such as 7-inch and 11-inch smoothbores and rifles, which armed ironclads like the CSS Tennessee and fortified positions such as Fort Morgan. Beyond cannon, the complex produced a wide array of munitions, including shells, solid shot, and percussion caps. The operation integrated multiple industrial processes, featuring a rolling mill, machine shops, and a boiler works capable of producing marine engines. Production was hampered by chronic shortages of high-quality pig iron and copper, leading to reliance on sources like the Brierfield Furnace and the recasting of captured Union cannon.

Facilities and infrastructure

The sprawling complex occupied over 50 acres along the Alabama River, connected to the Mobile and Ohio Railroad and the Alabama and Tennessee Rivers Railroad. Key structures included the massive gun foundry building, a separate rifle finishing shop, a large rolling mill for producing armor plate, and numerous forges and carpenter shops. The site was defended by a series of earthworks and batteries, forming part of the Defenses of Selma. A critical component was the Naval Gun Foundry and Ordnance Works, which housed the specialized machinery for boring and rifling heavy cannon. Labor was provided by a mix of skilled white artisans, enslaved African Americans, and detailed soldiers from the Confederate Army.

Role in the Confederate States Navy

The Selma Naval Foundry was indispensable to the Confederate States Navy's ability to outfit its fleet, particularly its ironclad program. Its guns were installed on virtually every major Confederate warship constructed in the Gulf Coast and Mississippi River regions after 1863, including vessels built at the Selma Shipyard. This supply allowed the navy to contest control of key waterways like the Mississippi River and Mobile Bay. The foundry's output also strengthened the defenses of major ports such as Mobile, Charleston, and Wilmington, directly impacting campaigns like the Battle of Mobile Bay and the Siege of Charleston Harbor.

Post-war history and preservation

The foundry was largely destroyed on April 2, 1865, during the Battle of Selma by troops under Union General James H. Wilson in Wilson's Raid. Post-war, the site was scavenged for scrap, and much of the land was repurposed for other industrial uses. In the 20th century, archaeological interest grew, and the location was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce and historical groups like the United Daughters of the Confederacy have placed interpretive markers. Today, remnants of the foundry's foundations and some machinery are preserved within the Selma Naval Foundry and Park memorial site, with ongoing efforts led by the Alabama Historical Commission to study and commemorate its role.

Category:American Civil War industrial sites Category:Confederate States Navy Category:Buildings and structures in Selma, Alabama Category:Foundries in the United States Category:American Civil War on the National Register of Historic Places