Good Morning: Hopeing someone out there can give me some clues. In my line is a John Lowder/Louder who delivered a load of salt to Fort Chiswell in Virginai during the Rev War coming from Williamsburg II presume Virginia but could be Williamsburg, North Carolina.) My questions are: 1. Where is he likely to have gotten the salt? Are there salt mines somewhere in Virginia or North Carolina. This was probably supplies sent there by the military - could there have been a central place where they were obtained. 2. Were those who brought supplies usually in the same area? or did they travel through the colonies (say from New Jersey to Virginia?) as there is a John and William Lowder/Louder who served as wagoneers listed in New Jersey Rev War records. I know no one can tell me definitely anything--but hope some buff out there can give me some probabilities. Thanks Eleen eleen@netutah.com

Here is a very interesting site regarding salt. Regards, Margaret

http://www.ccmnh.org/NatureNews/Default.asp?ID=20 Might help if I included the URL...Sorry friends. Margaret

Saltville, Virginia Saltville, Virginia is located in Southwest Virginia, on the border of Smyth and Washington counties. Saltville is known as the "Salt Capital of the Confederacy," because it was the Confederate States' main source of salt during the Civil War. Saltville's history is closely tied to its abundant natural resources, especially salt. Ice Age animals and people were drawn to its salt springs. Today, scientists from the Virginia Museum of Natural History and other organizations are excavating the remains of Ice Age animals, including mammoth, mastodon, musk ox, ground sloth, and others, as well as evidence of ancient Native Americans who lived in Saltville 11,000 years ago. During the Colonial Period, colonists opened the first salt mines of the Virginia frontier at Saltville. During the Civil War, Union and Confederate forces fought battles over the saltworks. In the 20th century, Saltville was the home of a flourishing chemical industry. As we approach the 21st century, Saltvillians are working hard to preserve their heritage. Today you can visit the Salt Park, home of the first salt well, or tour the battlefields where North and South fought for control of the town's saltworks. You can see a reconstruction of the Madam Russell house, where Madam Russell, Patrick Henry's sister lived. During the summer, you can visit the extensive archeological excavations underway in the town. The most ambitious undertaking involving Saltville's history is the Museum of the Middle Appalachians.