 During the war the British blockade of American ports severely limited the supply of British bituminous fuel reaching the US, and there was also a shortage in Virginia's supply resulting in a fuel crisis (Adams, “Warming the Poor,” 76).Before the war citizens did not like to use anthracite coal because it was difficult to ignite and maintain, but the wartime shortage forced them to start using anthracite.Jacob Cist of Wilkes-Barre promoted the use of anthracite during and after the War of 1812.