Shawn,

I spent part of the day today going through the Saffold papers, which include some of Johnston's materials. Apparently there were two yards at Saffold and not just one.

The "upper" yard was operated under contract by William Saffold and the "lower" yard was Johnston's. They were inlaws and owned adjoining property.

They did a great deal of steamboat repair during the war and several building projects. Regarding Johnston, I find that he built the Chattahoochee, the large barge you mentioned for the Confederate army, and one other vessel that appears to have been a pretty standard river steamer. He also converted a river steamer into a gunboat. He clearly began work on two additional vessels, but there is no indication they were ever completed.

Regarding Saffold's adjoining yard, there is not a great deal in the files. A large quantity of railroad iron was in his inventory at the end of the war. I assume this could be an indication that he was working on or considering an ironclad project?

Dale