Dickson, Nelson & Co.

Name	Street	Town	State	From	To
Dickson, Nelson & Co.		Adairsville	Alabama	1862

Patent	Date	Remarks

Contract	for
State of Alabama, January 22, 1862	5,000 good army guns, of the value and description of the Mississippi or Enfield rifle, with sabre bayonets attached, at $33,00, to be delivered in lots of one hundred by March 1, 1863. The delivery date was later extended to May 1st.

Product
The Shakanoosa Arms Co. in Dickson, Alabama, known as the Dickson, Nelson Company, was founded by William Dickson (1798-1880), planter, Owen O. Nelson (1823-1892), attorney and state legislator and Dr. Lewis H. Sadler(1818-1892), physician. On December 7, 1861, the Alabama Legislature enacted a bill entitled, "An Act to Encourage the Manufacture of Fire Arms and Munitions of War in this State." Alabama's first war-time contract was with these three men. Investing their financial resources and physical energy in an enterprise whose work force and machinery moved ahead of Union armies from Alabama to three different localities in Georgia before the war was over. Although plagued by the press of Union armies, fire, bankruptcy and the lack of materials and skilled labor, these men struggled to honor their obligation to the state which was the seat of the first Confederate government. .58 Cal single shot percussion rifle, 34" barrel, full stock, two barrel bands, iron loading rod, marked "Dickson/Nelson & Co./C.S." as well as "Ala" and date of manufacture. It is believed that only 645 rifles were made for the State of Alabama. Dickson/Nelson & Co./C.S. left side Dickson/Nelson & Co./C.S. right side The entreprise moved to Rome, Georgio and in operation for several months until it was destroyed by a fire. The armory was moved to Adairsville, Georgia. and finally settled in Dawson, Georgia. around March of 1864 and remained in operation until the end of the war. The Shelby Works supplied the iron for the arms made at Dickson, Nelson & Co.

Product

The Shakanoosa Arms Co. in Dickson, Alabama, known as the Dickson, Nelson Company, was founded by William Dickson (1798-1880), planter, Owen O. Nelson (1823-1892), attorney and state legislator and Dr. Lewis H. Sadler(1818-1892), physician.

On December 7, 1861, the Alabama Legislature enacted a bill entitled, "An Act to Encourage the Manufacture of Fire Arms and Munitions of War in this State." Alabama's first war-time contract was with these three men. Investing their financial resources and physical energy in an enterprise whose work force and machinery moved ahead of Union armies from Alabama to three different localities in Georgia before the war was over. Although plagued by the press of Union armies, fire, bankruptcy and the lack of materials and skilled labor, these men struggled to honor their obligation to the state which was the seat of the first Confederate government.

.58 Cal single shot percussion rifle, 34" barrel, full stock, two barrel bands, iron loading rod, marked "Dickson/Nelson & Co./C.S." as well as "Ala" and date of manufacture. It is believed that only 645 rifles were made for the State of Alabama.

Dickson/Nelson & Co./C.S. left side
Dickson/Nelson & Co./C.S. right side

The entreprise moved to Rome, Georgio and in operation for several months until it was destroyed by a fire. The armory was moved to Adairsville, Georgia. and finally settled in Dawson, Georgia. around March of 1864 and remained in operation until the end of the war. The Shelby Works supplied the iron for the arms made at Dickson, Nelson & Co.