The Importance of Pine Tar

North Carolina is a state famous for its production of pine tar. This gave root to the famous name “tar heel”, which referred to the soldiers of the civil war and how they must have had tar on their heels due to their consistency during battle. North Carolina can produce such quantities of tar due to its vast forests, relatively flat terrain, and numerous rivers that lead to the coast, for easy lumber transportation. Tar was mostly used in maritime applications at the time. It acts to preserve the wood of a ship’s hull, and prevent significant wear from the exposure to water and salt. It also helps to keep ships water tight, by placing it between the planks of wood along with another materials, frequently flax fiber or another type of cloth. The state’s history of tar and pitch production began during its initial colonization, when the British Government actually passed acts to encourage its manufacturing and shipping. Although the business of tar production moved further south and east to the gulf states, most was still made in North Carolina, until the demand for it slowly decreased during the later nineteenth century. Uses, which still exist today, that are more domestic include its use for soaps and paintings. Even the restoration of artwork relies heavily on pine tar. For these many reasons, tar and pitch were vital commodities for the Confederate Army, making the state indispensable, and worth defending from Union advance. Although it may seem and unimportant topic, a brief description of the industry, I feel, is definitely necessary.