Encyclopedia Virginia Webinar: Chiswell's Lead Mines in the American Revolution
[A couple quick comments from OSFP below after watching the video]
1. The question of enslaved child labor at lead mines was brought up. David Allen's series from Leadhills includes an image of Scottish children at work in his 1780 painting Pounding the ore shown below:
2. Chiswell's lead mines, although regionally important, were certainly not the Continental Army's main source of lead as attested to by Brigadier Genera Henry Knox's statement in 1777 "I am informed there are Lead Mines in Virginia; if so, they are well-worthy the attention of the Public." Thousands of pounds of powder and lead were being imported from France by 1777, and other domestic sources were being developed, such as those near Fort Roberdeau in Pennsylvania.
3. The topic of the number of backcountry patriots (vs. Tories or neutral Americans) was brought up, but little thought as to how many of the western Virginia men who were Revolutionary or patriot inclined had been enlisted and were at that time serving in the northern states (and later captured at Charleston) were considered.
4. The clothing issued to enslaved miners at Chiswell's mines appears to have met or exceeded the allotment available to Virginia's soldiery at the time. In some instances these clothes appear to have been drawn from the same supply.
5. History is not black and white, although the labor experience of men like Bristol and the White convicts who were sent to the mines had similarities with men like the enslaved man named Aberdeen, the eventual outcomes (and Aberdeen's manumission via legislation) were quite different.
