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Re: Mississippi Confederate raids Maine

Confederate Greek Fire, according to an 1863 Mobile Register article, was made and tested in Mobile, Ala. A half pint of the fluid, once exposed to the air, ignites into a flame so hot "resembiling that of liquid metal in the smelting process". The fluid was thrown onto a pile of green wood which ignited immediately like tinder. Several buckets of water were thrown upon the flames quenching the fire...for a moment then "the burning fluid licked up the water, destroying its oxygen, and the flame arose again defiantly, unquenchable." The fire burned for over a quarter of an hour. It was called "Travis' Greek Fire". One Union version was called "Short's Greek Fire". The effects of the Confederate "Greek Fire" follow exactly was discribed being used by the ancient Romans. A mixture of naptha, sulpher and bitumen.

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David Upton

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Mississippi Confederate raids Maine
Re: Mississippi Confederate raids Maine
Re: Mississippi Confederate raids Maine
Re: Mississippi Confederate raids Maine
Re: Mississippi Confederate raids Maine