Griswoldville in Jones County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)
Confederate Pistol Factory
Photographed by David Seibert, November 7, 2009
1. Confederate Pistol Factory Marker
Inscription.
Confederate Pistol Factory. . In 1862, to meet the pressing need of the Confederate States Army for revolvers of the Colt pattern, the Griswold Cotton Gin Company’s plant, on this site, was converted to a pistol factory. In March, the production of cotton gin machinery was discontinued and the task of retooling was begun. In July, Griswold and Grier produced their first revolving pistols. , On Aug. 5th, the Macon TELEGRAPH announced that the “Colt’s Navy Repeater” made at the machine shops of Messers. Griswold at Griswoldville, had passed the Inspection of the Confederate Superintendent of Armories at Macon, and that a contract had been let for as many as could be produced. The peak output became five finished revolvers per day; the total produced was about 3,500., The Griswold and Grier revolver is known to collectors as the “brass-frame Confederate Colt”. It is the most common of all Confederate manufactured revolvers. It is a six-shot, .36 caliber weapon, with a 7 ½ inch barrel and rifled six grooves right. It cost about $50.00 to manufacture., On Nov. 20, 1864, during General Sherman’s destructive March to the Sea, the Griswold and Grier factory was burned by the 3rd Cavalry Division [US], Brig. Gen. J. L. Kilpatrick, USA, together with a valuable soap and candle factory, a train of cars loaded with locomotive parts, and other local facilities.
In 1862, to meet the pressing need of the Confederate States Army for revolvers of the Colt pattern, the Griswold Cotton Gin Company’s plant, on this site, was converted to a pistol factory. In March, the production of cotton gin machinery was discontinued and the task of retooling was begun. In July, Griswold and Grier produced their first revolving pistols.
On Aug. 5th, the Macon TELEGRAPH announced that the “Colt’s Navy Repeater” made at the machine shops of Messers. Griswold at Griswoldville, had passed the Inspection of the Confederate Superintendent of Armories at Macon, and that a contract had been let for as many as could be produced. The peak output became five finished revolvers per day; the total produced was about 3,500.
The Griswold and Grier revolver is known to collectors as the “brass-frame Confederate Colt”. It is the most common of all Confederate manufactured revolvers. It is a six-shot, .36 caliber weapon, with a 7 ½ inch barrel and rifled six grooves right. It cost about $50.00 to manufacture.
On Nov. 20, 1864, during General Sherman’s destructive March to the Sea, the Griswold and Grier factory was burned by the 3rd Cavalry Division [US], Brig. Gen. J. L. Kilpatrick, USA, together with a valuable soap and candle factory, a train of cars loaded with locomotive parts, and other local facilities.
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Erected 1996 by Georgia Department of Natural Resources. (Marker Number 084-13.)
Location. 32° 52.273′ N, 83° 29.323′ W. Marker is in Griswoldville, Georgia, in Jones County. It is at the intersection of Henderson Road and Griswoldville Road, on the right when traveling north on Henderson Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Macon GA 31217, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Georgia’s Antebellum Trail and in the Piedmont. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Deep South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
2. Marker was removed, new roadside pull-off created and marker reoriented parallel to road.
sectionhead>More about this marker. This marker replaced an earlier marker of the same title and text on this location, erected by the Georgia Historical Commission.
Photographed by Mark Hilton, April 29, 2017
3. Confederate Pistol Factory Marker is now 2nd from left.
A new roadside pull-off has been built to allow viewing of these 4 markers.
Photographed by David Seibert, November 7, 2009
4. Confederate Pistol Factory Marker
The markers at Griswoldville, looking north on Henderson Road; the Confederate Pistol Factory marker is the rear-most.
Photographed by David Seibert, November 7, 2009
5. Confederate Pistol Factory
The site of the Pistol Factory today. Virtually nothing is left of pre-War Griswoldville.
Photographed by Brandon D Cross, October 7, 2016
6. Confederate Pistol Factory Marker
Marker Missing from this location.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 30, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 6, 2009, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. This page has been viewed 3,474 times since then and 67 times this year. Last updated on October 12, 2016, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. Photos:1. submitted on December 6, 2009, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. 2, 3. submitted on May 1, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. 4, 5. submitted on December 6, 2009, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. 6. submitted on October 12, 2016, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
