In Macon, Cuyler leased the foundry of Robert Findlay & Sons, which was the largest manufacturing complex in the Deep South. He acquired additional machinery from Huntsville, New Orleans, Pensacola, and Knoxville before those cities fell to advancing Union armies. More equipment arrived from England and Massachusetts.
For what became the Macon Arsenal, Cuyler secured iron from Alabama, scrap metal from Mississippi, charcoal, copper, and coal from Tennessee, as well as wood and firebrick from South Georgia. Iron was also imported from Great Britain, while bronze was repurposed from church bells. A traveling agent procured railroad cars, coal, iron, leather, copper, and tin.
After significantly expanding the arsenal—eventually building housing and renting a farm for his workers—Cuyler made full use of Macon’s resources. He leased the city's 12 largest warehouses and secured contracts for arms and munitions. He also established a harness shop, while Griswold's cotton gin factory was converted to produce revolvers.
Eventually promoted to colonel, Cuyler oversaw Macon’s army, arsenal, armory, ordnance laboratory, medical laboratory, and civilian contractors. He employed Black and white men, women, and children, both enslaved and free. Together, they produced enough ammunition, hats, haversacks, matches, pants, pistols, rifles, shoes, and shot to supply an entire army throughout the war.
The arsenal successfully manufactured complete artillery batteries, including wagons and traveling forges. Macon’s most famous contributions to the war effort were its 12-pounder bronze Napoleon cannons and its 10- to 30-pounder iron Parrott rifled artillery.
On April 18, 1865, Cuyler rode out to meet the approaching Union cavalry under Gen. James Wilson and informed them that a nationwide armistice had been declared—the war was over. In an ironic twist, the federal troopers dismantled the foundry's flagpole from Cuyler's Macon Arsenal and repurposed it to fly the United States flag at Wilson's headquarters.
Macon Arsenal cannon captured at Battle of Chattanooga
courtesy of author
