April 17, 1863, Charleston Mercury
The Staunton Spectator describes the process of making shoe pegs at the factory in that town. A maple tree is felled in the forest one day–hauled to town–delivered at the peg manufactory–in less time than a stammering man can say “Jack Robinson,” it is manufactured into shoe pegs, and in a few more days some of the pegs are on the shoes of our soldiers, chasing fleeing Yankees. The proprietors are now furnishing the Government at the price of $10 per bushel, and sell to individuals at $16 per bushel.