Leaksville Cotton Mill Civil War Trail Marker
In 1839, former Governor John Motley Morehead built the Leaksville cotton factory, powered by the rapids of the Smith River. During the early months of the Civil War, the mill produced 1,700 yards of osnaburg cloth for Confederate uniforms and 500 “bell” tents for troops. When asked for more supplies, Morehead refused, prioritizing profitable civilian sales—even under threat of seizure. As young men were conscripted, he relied on older men, women, children, and enslaved laborers to keep production going. After his death in 1866, his son ran the factory. Though the original burned in 1893, its stone foundation remains as a lasting legacy.
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