Miller, you are right about the origin of the name of the books, Foxfire. Foxfire is a phenomenon I have seen myself at night in swampy areas of Georgia. It amounts to an eerie glow, a light of sorts that moves around in the darkness over mucky, swampy areas when conditions are right. I have never researched it, but I think I remember reading that it is actually a phosphorescent gas that emanates from rotting organic matter in wet places. I'm sure there are a many conditions that have to be right for it to occur, but it is an amazing thing to behold. Have seen it while frog gigging and bass fishing at night. OBTW, the name "foxfire" is derived from "phosphorous". Say it with a backwoods southern slur and you can see how phosphorous was mispronounced foxfire.
Black powder will keep for amazingly long periods if sealed from the environment. A friend who has been an avid WBTS artifact collector once found an unexploded shell, left over form the "former unpleasantness" of 1861-1865. He opened it and it contained a grey powder which he assumed to be some sort of black powder. He loaded a modest amount in his flintlock, and FIRED IT!! He allowed as how it was pahrful weak, though.
Stan
