The Confederate Powder Works was a gunpowder factory during the war between the states. Colonel G.W. Rains chose the old United States Arsenal site between the Augusta Canal and Savannah River in Augusta, GA, with construction beginning in 1861, as the site for the Powder Works because of access to rail, river and canal transportation. Seven months later in 1862 it began producing gunpowder and was the second largest gunpowder factory in the world at that time. More than 3 million pounds of first quality gunpowder was produced here before its closure in April 1865. It has been said the Confederacy never lost a battle for lack of powder.