Leeds Iron Foundry, New Orleans-- Part 1: Produced Supplies for Confederate Army and Navy

From the New Orleans Historical Organization by Paul Zachry & Kathryn O'Dwyer.

The Leeds Iron Foundry was  owned and operated by Charles Leeds and was located at DeLord and  Constance streets during the antebellum period of the 19th century.

The foundry was opened in 1824 and Leeds became a partner upon his father's death in 1844.  Before the Civil War, this foundry was the most prolific producer of "steel cotton bale presses" in the world and  was one of the most important foundries in the South.

It maintained several hundred employees for the production of various iron plantation equipment.  The Leeds Company was successful; enough that it actually issued its own banknotes, a common practice at the time.

The foundry produced supplies for the Confederate Army and Navy, including  two naval vessels and even an early submarine, the Pioneer 1.  In particular, the Leeds Foundry  built 3.3-inch Confederate bronze field  rifles and  6-pounder  bronze field guns.

--Old Secesh