Battle Branch Mine, Auraria, Dahlonega, Lumpkin County, Georgia, USAi

Regional Level Types
Battle Branch Mine	Mine
Auraria	Village
Dahlonega	Town
Lumpkin County	County
Georgia	State
USA	Country

This mine is located on the west side of the Etowah river, one mile west of Auraria, on lots 457 and 524, 12th district. The principal work has been done along a small branch, known as The Battle Branch. This property was among those, that were mined, between 1840 and 1850, though placer work was begun on it, in 1831. The branch received its name from the fact, that, in May, 1831, a number of North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia miners were engaged, in mining the deposits on these lots, when a dispute arose, between the Georgia and Tennessee miners, as to the possession of the property. A bloody battle followed, in which a large number of men were seriously hurt. Since that time, the branch has been known as the Battle branch, and the mine, most of the time, as the Battle Branch mine.

This mine, with others around Dahlonega, was deserted by the miners, who left for California, during the excitement, following the gold discoveries in that State. In 1843, an Englishman, known as Major John Hockenhull, began to work the mine with a dozen men. They worked vigorously, buoyed with hope, for two months, the only result being an immense open cut. Major Hockenhull's enthusiasm began to wane, and his means was rapidly decreasing; while his credit, used to obtain supplies, had been drawn on, to an extent, that was becoming embarrassing. His men, too, had begun to show dissatisfaction, because of arrearage in wages. With these facts staring him in the face, the Major called his men around him, one day, and candidly told them his condition, leaving it with them, as to whether or not they would continue the search for the gold, which he still confidently expected to find. After a conference among themselves, only one man, John Pasco, thought it worth while, to continue longer such unprofitable labor. Major Hockenhull thus parted with his employees, promising to pay them, as soon as he could; and, with his lone companion, he resumed work in the cut, that afternoon. It is said, that, within five minutes after he had begun work, a beautiful pocket of gold was struck, with nuggets in the white quartz, varying in size from a pea to an acorn. By night, fully 2,200 dwts. of gold had been taken from this pocket. Another pocket was found, soon afterwards, which yielded 9,000 dwts. of gold, and a third, it is said, yielded 4,000. Other pockets were found, in course of time; and it is reported, that Major Hockenhull retired, finally, with about $80,000 worth of gold. His work consisted in hunting out, and working the rich shoots of ore, which was sluiced, by water from the branch.

After the war, about 1878, this mine was worked by Messrs. Thomas R. Lombard, Frank Imboden and J. P. Imboden, the last being the Superintendent of the mine. It was then known as THE DAHLONEGA MINE. Other rich pockets of gold were discovered by them; and I am informed that they secured $3,000, as a result of their work. In 1875, Mr. W. G. McNelley, Capt. John W. Weaver and one or two others worked the property, and they came across a pocket, which afforded beautiful specimens of gold with galena in quartz, the gold being largely included in the galena. Two handsome specimens of this rich ore are on exhibition, in the Georgia State Museum in Atlanta. Since the work, done by Messrs. McNelley, Weaver and others, the property has remained idle. At present, it shows a large cut, made by Messrs. Lombard & Imboden, who began mining about 1878, hydraulicking the saprolite belts, with water from the Mill Creek ditch. The ore from the cut was sluiced to a 10-stamp mill, which was located on the river, at the mouth of Battle branch. A lawsuit, between the owners of the Betz mine and these gentlemen, as to the ownership of the Mill Creek ditch, was begun, and bitterly waged, even muskets and shotguns being resorted to, by the employees of the parties-at-law. This brought the work on the Dahlonega mine to an end, about 1882. Besides the open cut, there is a long tunnel, parallel with the cut, in which, it is said, rich shoots of ore have been found. These shoots dip with the schists, which themselves are also auriferous. The country-rock is mica-schist, containing numerous garnets. It strikes northeast, and has a dip of 35° to the southeast. A pile of ore, near the mouth of the tunnel, consists of white quartz containing some pyrite, galena and garnets; it is frequently cellular, especially when taken from near the schist walls. This mine has always been regarded, as a very rich "pocket mine."