The Lost Sea: How an Underground Lake Helped with Civil War Ammunition Efforts

THE LOST SEA: HOW AN UNDERGROUND LAKE HELPED WITH CIVIL WAR AMMUNITION EFFORTS

By akirschbaum

During the most horrific war on American soil, Soldiers needed to improvise everything to survive, as they lacked resources. That goes in terms of food, clothing, war paraphernalia, and hygiene kits. On occasion, they even used America's largest underground lake, known as the Lost Sea, to create gunpowder. With its wide variety of minerals, this was the saving grace for the Confederate Soldiers, since they lacked most of the aid needed to win the war. This underground lake is still a hidden gem today. Aside from the natural water and breathtaking views, there's more that it offers: its rich history and significant involvement in gunpowder production during the Civil War.

Gunpowder Production During the Civil War

When the war broke out in April of 1861, both parties needed to produce military goods such as munitions, uniforms, weapons, etc. Even gunpowder production boomed during its height; thus, the Gambo Powder Mills was established along the sides of the Presumpscot River. They aimed to produce as much as they could for the Union soldiers. One of the most notable producers was the Oriental Powder Company, which is known for its quality products.

This black powder made at the Mill was a mixture of sulfur, charcoal, and saltpeter. The saltpeter was not native to the U.S.; it was exclusively potassium nitrate that was imported from India. The sulfur was from Sicily, and the charcoal came from area land owners from various species of wood.

In order to make this scarce powder, a professional gunpowder maker will need to combine the specific portions of sulfur, saltpeter, and charcoal. Then, they press the mixture into mill cakes.

After that, they crumb the cakes to create various sizes mechanically. This process is usually done in a series of water-powered mills in small wooden buildings, unlike the Confederate Soldiers who used the cave at the Lost Sea for their gunpowder production.

This was a dangerous job since the slightest spark could cause a horrible explosion that could demolish a building or kill the workers. However, in order to avoid such incidents, the buildings should be separated from each other just in case an accident occurs; the other gunpowder mills should be safe.

The Lost Sea Was a Storage and Gunpowder Production Area

This wonder is located about 50 miles south of Knoxville, around 140 feet below ground, behind the narrow and dark tunnels that lead to an elaborate cave system that is a part of American history. During the Civil War, Confederate Soldiers used the caverns as their hideout, as one would suspect that it would be used as such.

Aside from being convenient as a hideout, the Lost Sea was also used as a mine for saltpeter, which is one of the main ingredients used to produce gunpowder.

An account also revealed that a Union Soldier successfully entered the guarded cave and almost blew it up; however, he was captured.

This was not the first time that humans used the cave. When the first settlers arrived in Tennessee Valley around the 1820s, they also discovered the cave and decided to use it as storage. Due to its constant 58° temperature, the Lost Sea was used for storing vegetables.

Other Uses of the Cave From Past to Present

Aside from being a mine for the main ingredient in gunpowder making, the Lost Sea cave had other uses.

The Cherokee Indians used it as a council room. This is because many artifacts were found, such as arrowheads, weapons, jewelry, and pottery, testifying to the presence of Cherokees in the area.

Humans weren't the only ones to exist in the cave. It it believed that one of its earliest visitors was a giant Pleistocene jaguar, since its tracks were found in the cave.

According to experts, this happened around 20,000 years ago when the jaguar lost its way in the cave and wandered for days before finding a crack as an escape route. There were also bones found in the Lost Sea cave in 1939, which are now displayed in the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

Today, this area is open for tourists who want to admire and know more about its history. There are paid tours that will allow you to admire the lake's depths or opt for cave walks, in which you will learn more about its historical and geological significance. However, if you're the type of person who always seeks adrenaline, then you can explore the less accessible areas of the Lost Sea cave. This will allow you to crawl through narrow passages and discover various chambers.

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Image Source: Nick See, Flickr