The following letter by Thomas C. Lancaster reveals that he was a major supplier of salt pork to the Confederacy early in the Civil War. He wrote the letter to his brother-in-law Theodore Gannaway from his home in Goodson—a town in the Blue Ridge Mountains of southwest Virginia that straddled the Virginia-Tennessee border. His letter not only speaks of the difficulty in acquiring salt—a precious commodity necessary for food preservation, but of the large contract held with the government to supply salt pork to the troops. He also informs us of the tensions between secessionists in southwest Virginia and the Unionists of East Tennessee resulting in shootouts between civilian and militia bands along the Holston river.

For those unfamiliar with it, Saltville “was one of the Confederacy’s main saltworks. The saltworks were considered vital to the Confederate war effort because the salt was used in preserving meat for Confederate soldiers and civilians. Because of its importance, the town was attacked by Northern forces intent on destroying the saltworks. On October 2, 1864, the First Battle of Saltville was fought there. In the battle Union forces attacked Saltville but were defeated by Confederate troops. Following the battle a number of wounded black troops were murdered in what was dubbed the “Saltville Massacre.” (Shortly after the war Champ Ferguson was tried, convicted, and executed for war crimes for this and other killings.) Two months later General George Stoneman, a Union cavalry commander, led a second attack on the saltworks; the Second Battle of Saltville. This time the Confederates were defeated and the saltworks were destroyed by Union troops. The loss of the Saltville works was considered a major blow to the Confederacy’s dwindling resources.” [Source: Wikipedia]

T R A N S C R I P T I O N

Lancaster House, Goodson, Virginia
November 17th 1861

Mr. Theodore C. Gannaway

Dear brother, your letter of the 11th came to hand this morning Sunday and I hasten to answer it as I well know the difficulty of obtaining salt. The only way to get the salt at Saltville 27 miles east of us is to send your own sacks and someone with them and get them filled from the kettle and attend to the shipping. There is a train of cars running to Glade Spring intersecting the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad to Lynchburg 12 miles long. The branch road to Saltville they charge 75 cents per bushel so you can make your calculations as to the balance of difficulties. We have to wagon all the salt we get except for governmental purposes. He have a large government contract for packing pork at this place. We have some 12 or 15 thousand hogs engaged at from 8 to 9 dollars gross and still purchasing. R. T. L. is now in Lee County paying for hogs. Took with him some thirty thousand dollars & has written back for 10 thousand more which we will send him in a day or two.

Confederate money is as plenty out here as Pos____ in Old Virginia. We are Pock___ or rather killing 300 hogs per day. We have a large establishment, well fitted up. Jeans cloth is selling here at from $1 to $1.25 per yard. Sheet thread scarce. Leather is selling at 70 to 80 cents per pound. Everything scarce and high. Bacon none to be had 25 cents per pound. Lard 20 cents. Butter 40 cents. Flour 6. Corn 50 cents per bushel.

We have had very exciting times here for 7 or 8 days. All ready to fight except some that has run away. The Union men in East Tennessee made a rise up for Old Abe, burnt five bridges between here and Chattanooga. We had a fight with them. Our side came out victorious. Several of our men wounded slightly. Killed nine Union men. We had only 22 men against about 300—or supposed. Fought across the Holston River about 1 o’clock in the night. We now have 600 well armed men stationed 20 miles below here sent from Richmond. They taking a good many prisoners. I suppose we have at least 2,000 men between here and Knoxville. We are about to be attacked at Pound Gap about 140 miles from the Salt works. We have great fears of their getting over a pass from Kentucky. I have just learned that the Lincoln forces have advanced on our army at Manassas all in sight of each other.

I have no news to write. All join in love to you and all. With best wishes to you, [ ] & sister. I remain your brother, — Thos. C. Lancaster

The trains are coming in from Tennessee so I must close. No news by the train from the [ ]. Just heard from Guyandotte a fight there—our side victorious. The town burnt to ashes, it is said. Understand Gen. Floyd had to retreat from Cotton Hill losing one whole company taken prisoners. Hope it’s not so.