Fort McRee, Pensacola Harbor, Fla.-A strong and efficient battery; prepared for its new armament on both casemate tiers and its old and light armament on the barbette tier; ready for occupation by troops. Fort Morgan, Mobile Harbor, Ala.-A strong work, essentially complete. Fort Gaines, Dauphin Island, entrance to Mobile Harbor, Ala.—Is not yet prepared for much defense. Fort on Ship Island, coast of Mississippi.-Not prepared for much defense. Military defenses at Proctor's Landing, La.-Not complete, but may receive a garrison and armament and make a good defense. Fort Saint Philip, Mississippi River, La.-Not complete, but may receive a garrison and armament and make a good defense. Fort Jackson, Mississippi River, La.-Defensible; but requiring repairs and enlargement of the citadel. Fort Pike, Rigolets, La.-Defensible. Fort Macomb, Chef Menteur, La.-Defensible. Tower Dupré, Bayou Dupré, La.-Defensible. Fort Livingston, Barrataria Bay, La.-Defensible. Fortifications at Galveston Harbor, Tex.-Hardly commenced. Fort at Alcatraz Island, San Francisco Harbor, Cal.-In a very efficient condition, already partly armed. Fort at Fort Point, entrance of San Francisco Harbor, Cal.-A strong and defensible work. The body of the place is so far advanced as to be ready to receive all its guns. For more particular information relative to works now under construction or repairs, I respectfully invite your attention to the annual report from this Department, dated November 14, 1860.* Very, &c., JOS. G. TOTTEN, Brevet Brigadier-General and Colonel of Engineers. Hon. JOSEPH HOLT, [Inclosure No. 3.] Secretary of War: ORDNANCE OFFICE, Washington, D. C., January 21, 1861. SIR: In reply to that portion of the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 31st ultimo communicated in the letter of Hon. B. Stanton, of the 8th instant, which relates to the distribution of arms from January 1, 1860, to January 1, 1861, I transmit herewith a statement giving the information desired, so far as it is understood to call for. I have not embraced the arms which were sold under the act of March 3, 1825, after regular condemnation, by public auction, under the supposition that this was not required. It may be proper, also, to state that on November 2, last, a proposition was made to the Secretary of War by A. A. Belknap for the purchase of from "100,000 to 250,000 of the U. S. flint-lock and altered percussion muskets, and to have the same delivered to me or my agent in the city of New York. I respectfully ask the privilege of taking the whole or any part thereof within the next sixty-five days upon the payment of $2.15 per gun on delivery as aforesaid," which proposition was accepted by the Secretary of War on November 22, in these words: The within proposition is accepted to the extent of 100,000 muskets, and as many more, up to the maximum number, as the service will spare. * See Ex. Doc. No. 1, Senate, 36th Congress, 2d Session, p. 253. This accepted proposition was subsequently modified by the Secretary of War on December 26, as follows: The acceptance of the within proposition of A. A. Belknap was made under the belief that the price offered was $2.50 per gun. That was the price which I distinctly understood was to be paid, as it is the least I will consent to sell the muskets for. This decision on the proposition will supersede the indorsement of November 22, 1860, which was signed under an erroneous impression as to the proposition then before me. All further action in relation to this sale has, however, been arrested by your approval of my proposition of the 8th instant, to the effect that no more arms be disposed of under the orders given and that “ no more muskets be sold." Very respectfully, &c., [Sub-inclosure.] H. K. CRAIG, Statement of arms distributed by sale, by order of the Secretary of War, from January 1, 1860, to January 1, 1861, showing to whom, how, the number, kind, price, and date when sold, and place of delivery. SIR: On yesterday afternoon I was informed of the shipment of a number of boxes, which had the usual appearance of those in which muskets, &c., were packed. I directed a portion of my force to take possession of any such packages as had the appearance of containing arms when on board of, or about to be placed on board of, any vessel destined for a port in any of the seceded States. In conformity with this order, thirty-eight cases of muskets were taken in charge at Pier No. 12, North River, a part of which were found on board of, and the remainder were on the wharf in the process of being placed on board of, the steamer Monticello, bound to Savannah, Ga. The cases were directed to Montgomery, Ala., by railroad from Savannah. After taking these arms in charge I had them placed for safety in the New York State Arsenal, at the corner of Seventh avenue and Thirty-fifth street, in this city, where they remain at the disposal of the U. S. authorities. This morning I called personally on Mr. Roosevelt, the district attorney, and informed him of my procedure, and requested him to take such action as under the charge of Judge Smalley seemed proper. He, however, declined to direct me in the premises, but kindly suggested to me to confer with you. Having received information of a much larger number of arms being in a similar situation with those I now hold, I deemed it proper for me to write to Mr. Roosevelt, repeating to him the substance of the information I had given him orally and the further information I had received. A copy of that letter is herewith inclosed. After writing the above, I learned that several large cases of cartridges were being placed on board of the Charleston steamer at Pier No. 4, North River, a notice of which I immediately transmitted to the district attorney. You will very much oblige by making such suggestions as it would be proper for a local officer to comply with who is anxious to lend the aid of his force in support of the Government and the preservation of the Union. I do not desire to interfere in the least with the duties of the U. S. officers in this city; but when arms and other munitions of war are being passed through it, in the face of day, to be used for the subjugation of the constituted authorities of the country, and it was in my power to stay their progress, I felt it my duty to do so. It is for you, sir, to determine whether I shall continue this course, or to deliver up the arms I already hold into the hands of traitors. Your early reply will very much oblige your obedient servant, [Inclosure.] Superintendent. OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, Hon. JAMES I. ROOSEVELT, U. S. District Attorney: DEAR SIR: I beg leave to inform you that I have caused to be seized thirty-eight cases, containing about 900 stand of arms, which were about to be shipped on board of the steamer Monticello, for Savannah, Ga., thence to be forwarded to Montgomery, Ala., to be treasonably used by parties who are making war upon, and armed resistance to the laws and authority of, the United States. I am prepared to furnish you with evidence that these arms are furnished and were being transported with the design and for the purpose stated. I have information of other large quantities of arms and munitions of war which are about to be forwarded with the same design. I desire your advice in relation to the proceedings to be taken in such cases, and especially whether parties who furnish and forward arms and munitions of war, with a knowledge that they are for the purpose of breaking up the Federal Government, are not liable to the penalties of treason. I may be able to furnish you from time to time information of the movement of other lots of similar property for the same treasonable purpose. I shall be happy to give you this information, and any aid in my power to enable you to perform your duty as law officer of the United States in preventing the accomplishment of treasonable acts and in punishing traitors against the Government. Very respectfully, I am, yours, &c., JOHN A. KENNEDY. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, January 23, 1861. General J. MEREDITH READ, Jr., Adjutant-General of New York, Albany: SIR: In answer to the inquiry contained in your letter of the 21st instant, relative to [whether in] the event of the passage of an appropriation therefor by her Legislature the State of New York can be permitted to purchase about 5,000 Minie muskets from the United States, I have the honor to inform you that the practice of disposing of the Government arms has been abandoned, and none are now for sale. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, His Excellency O. P. MORTON, J. HOLT, Secretary of War. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, January 24, 1861. Governor of Indiana, Indianapolis: SIR: In answer to your letter of the 17th instant I have the honor to inclose to you a report of the Chief of Ordnance, communicating the information desired by you touching the quantity and kind of arms due to Indiana and the mode of obtaining the same. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, [Inclosure.] J. HOLT, Secretary of War. Hon. JOSEPH HOLT, WAR DEPARTMENT, ORDNANCE OFFICE, Secretary of War: SIR: In answer to the letter of His Excellency O. P. Morton, Governor of Indiana, of the 17th instant, and referred to this office, I have the honor to report that, as stated in my letter to Governor Hammond, of the 9th instant, copy of which is herewith inclosed, the State of Indiana is entitled to 592 muskets for its quota for 1861; from which being deducted, for arms since issued upon Governor Hammond's requisition of the 14th instant, 104, muskets, there remains now a balance due to the State of 487 muskets. There are no arrearages due to the State for past years. The arms are distributed to the States according to the number of their Representatives and Senators in Congress, respectively, being in conformity with the seventh section of "An act making appropriations for the support of the Army for the year ending the 30th of June, 1856, and for other purposes," approved 3d of March, 1855. There is no particular form of application required. All that is necessary for the Governor to do is to designate in his letter to this office the particular kind of arms desired of those that are issuable, as per printed statement inclosed, when they will be promptly furnished. The letter of Governor Morton is herewith returned. H. K. CRAIG, Colonel of Ordnance. [Sub-inclosure.] ORDNANCE OFFICE, Washington, January 9, 1861. His Excellency the GOVERNOR OF INDIANA, Indianapolis: SIR: Your requisition of 17th ultimo for seventy-five rifle muskets, &c., on account of the quota of arms due to the State of Indiana for 1861, was referred to this office by the Secretary of War on the 21st of the same month, and as no issue can be made in advance without special directions, it was, on the same day, submitted to the Secretary with the remark that the issue could be made if so ordered. No action was taken on this suggestion, and on the application of Hon. A. G. Porter this day for information as to what had been done in the matter, the paper could not be found at the War Department. Your requisi tion can, however, now be complied with, as you will perceive by the inclosed letter, if you will state what you wish issued and to whom the same shall be sent. I remain, very respectfully, &c., H. K. CRAIG, Colonel of Ordnance. Hon. B. STANTON, WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, January 24, 1861. Chairman Committee on Military Affairs, House of Representatives: SIR: I have received your letter of the 22d instant respecting the necessity for calling into the service of the United States a volunteer force for local defense and the protection of the public property at certain points, and requesting me, if I concur with you, to prepare a bill giving the necessary authority to the President to meet the emergency. In reply I have the honor to say that in my opinion the force now at the command of this Department is sufficient for any contemplated contingency, and that I do not apprehend a necessity for making a requisition for the services of volunteers. I may add that the President, concurring I believe in these views, would not desire to have such a bill as you propose submitted to Congress. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. HOLT, Secretary of War. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, IOWA, Hon. JOSEPH HOLT, Secretary of War, Washington City, D. C.: SIR: I have the honor to inclose a letter tendering to the President the services of the Governor's Greys, a military company at Dubuque in this State. The services of other military companies have been tendered directly to me. Whilst I deeply regret that the perils to which the union of the States is exposed arise from domestic and not from foreign foes, I feel a great and I think an honest pride in the knowledge that the people of Iowa are possessed of an unyielding devotion to the Union and of a fixed determination that so far as depends on them it shall be preserved. Very respectfully, SAMUEL J. KIRKWOOD. |