Ashevlle – In downtown Asheville on College Street, near the City/County Buildings, you’ll find this historical marker – “Confederate Armory – Manufactured Enfield-type rifles. In 1863 plant moved to Columbia, S.C. Building was located 1/4 mi. SE. Burned in 1865.”
Nestled within the panoramic landscapes of Asheville, North Carolina, lies a lesser-known but historically significant chapter—the manufacturing of Enfield-style rifles. This pivotal industrial endeavor played a vital role in the city’s growth and contributed to the Confederate arsenal during the mid-19th century.
During the Civil War era, as the demand for firearms surged, Asheville emerged as an unexpected hub for the production of Enfield-style rifles. The Confederate government, faced with the need to arm its troops, sought locations outside traditional industrial centers to establish armories. Asheville, with its strategic location and access to resources, became an ideal site for rifle production.
In Asheville, a venture led by Col. Ephraim Clayton, Col. R. W. Pulliam, and Dr. G. W. Whitson undertook the manufacturing of Enfield-style rifles. Their factory, positioned at the intersection of Valley and Eagle Streets, became a focal point for arms production in the area. Initial endeavors, however, stumbled as the Confederate government deemed their early output inadequate, leading to the government’s intervention and takeover of the facility in the autumn of 1862.
The substandard product pivoted with the arrival of Major Benjamin Sloan, a distinguished West Point graduate and former inspector of ordnance at Richmond’s Tredegar Ironworks. Tasked with revamping operations, Sloan’s leadership ignited a transformation, resulting in the production of exceptional weaponry.
Between employing skilled artisans at the armory and Sloan’s leadership, they demonstrated excellent craftsmanship, meticulously assembling rifles that adhered to the Enfield design—known for its reliability and accuracy. The manufacturing process involved intricate steps, from forging rifle components to making the finished product. Asheville’s workers showcased their dedication and ingenuity, refining techniques to produce quality arms for the Confederate forces.
Though smaller in scale compared to the previous U.S. Arsenal in Fayetteville, the Asheville armory operated with resourcefulness, compensating for limited machinery and equipment. Crucial raw materials streamed in from the iron mines located in Cranberry, an unincorporated community in Avery County, North Carolina, near the Tennessee border. By the spring of 1863, the armory had surged, yielding approximately 300 highly efficient muzzle-loading rifles each month.
Nevertheless, the armory’s path was fraught with challenges. Threats loomed from organized bands of discontented mountaineers, instigated and supported by dissidents from East Tennessee. Additionally, the specter of raids by federal troops from the same region cast a shadow over operations. In response, the armory personnel underwent rigorous infantry and artillery drills, fortifying their defenses by installing two Napoleon fieldpieces and constructing an earthwork battery overseeing a crucial approach along the French Broad River.
As the conflict wore on, the armory’s fate turned. Plant equipment was relocated to Columbia, South Carolina, and continued operations until the Union forces, led by Gen. William T. Sherman, seized the city in February 1865. Simultaneously, the Asheville armory met its demise as Federal troops entered the city, resulting in the burning of the armory building in 1865.
After the war, Benjamin Sloan redirected his career trajectory, becoming a revered professor of mathematics and physics at the University of South Carolina contributing to academia in his native state.
The narrative of Asheville’s armory during the Civil War encapsulates the resilience, ingenuity, and challenges faced by a critical industrial endeavor in the midst of a nation torn asunder by conflict. It stands as a testament to the convergence of war, industry, and perseverance etched into the annals of Asheville’s storied past.
Manufacturing Enfield-style rifles in Asheville had a lasting impact on the city’s industrial landscape. The industry provided employment opportunities, driving economic growth, and supporting the local community. Beyond its immediate economic significance, the rifles produced in Asheville played a role in shaping the outcome of the Civil War, contributing to the weaponry used by Confederate soldiers during this tumultuous period in American history.