with appendages; to Theo. Lewis, esq., military store-keeper, Baton Rouge Arsenal, 2,000 percussion rifles, caliber .54, and appendages. The within rifles will be held in readiness for issue at such time as you may be called upon by the Quartermaster's Department. Copy of a letter to that department from this office is inclosed herewith for your information and government.* H. K. CRAIG, Major-General JESUP, ORDNANCE OFFICE, WAR DEPARTMENT, Quartermaster-General U. S. Army: SIR: I have to request that transportation may be provided for the following number of boxes of muskets and rifles to be supplied to the arsenals at Fayetteville, N. C., Charleston, S. C., Augusta, Ga., Mount Vernon, Ala., and Baton Rouge, La., by direction of the Secretary of Each box contains 20 arms, weight about 300 pounds, and occupies about 10 cubic feet. The transfers of these arms may be made from time to time as may be most suitable for economy and convenience of transportation, and they will be held in readiness for delivery from Springfield Armory and Watervliet and Watertown Arsenals at such times and in such parcels as may best suit the arrangements which your department may make for their transfer. Respectfully, &c., Hon. JOSEPH HOLT, H. K. CRAIG, WASHINGTON, January 22, 1861. Secretary of War, Washington, D. C.: SIR: Information which comes to me in a shape which is entitled to great confidence and respect satisfies me that a military force beyond the amount in reach and available for immediate exigencies is necessary at some points for local defense and the protection of the public property. This is said to be especially the case for the protection of this District and the public property here, and also for the protection of the arsenal and custom-house and sub-treasury at Saint Louis, and perhaps at other points where the necessity may not be so great. If you concur with me in this opinion, you will oblige me by having a bill prepared authorizing the President, if he shall deem it necessary, *See next, post. to call for such number of volunteers and for such time and such description of force as he may think the exigencies of the service may demand. An early reply will much oblige your humble servant, Hon. B. STANTON, B. STANTON, Chairman Committee on Military Affairs. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, January 22, 1861. Chairman Committee on Military Affairs, House of Representatives: SIR: In reply to the resolution of the House of Representatives communicated with your letter of the 8th instant, I have the honor to inclose to you reports from the Adjutant-General, Chief Engineer, and Chief of Ordnance, containing the information called for touching the garrisons and defensive condition of our fortifications and the recent sales of the public arms. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. HOLT, Secretary of War ad interim. [Inclosure No. 1.] ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, Washington, January 18, 1861. Hon. JOSEPH HOLT, Secretary of War: SIR: Herewith I have the honor to lay before you a statement of so much of the information called for by resolution of the House of Representatives under date of the 31st ultimo as can be furnished by this office, and am, Very respectfully, your obedient servant, S. COOPER, Tabular list of the forts belonging to the United States, with statement annexed of their actual garrison and also of their appropriate garrisons, the latter as originally set forth in a report of the Colonel of Engineers dated November 1, 1851, and which was prepared in answer to a call of the House of Representatives made on the 3d of March of the same year. Tabular list of the forts belonging to the United States, etc.—Continued. Apalachicola Arsenal, Fla. Augusta Arsenal, Ga... Missouri Depot, Mo.. Mount Vernon Arsenal, Ala Charleston Arsenal, S. C. Baton Rouge Arsenal, La S. COOPER, Adjutant-General. 1 63 43 4 93 1 44 0 6 17 32 8 90 0 19 1 58 8 57 16 33 22 46 13 25 [Inclosure No. 2.] Hon. JOSEPH HOLT, Secretary of War: ENGINEER DEPARTMENT, Washington, January 18, 1861. SIR: I have received a copy of a resolution passed by the House of Representatives on the 31st ultimo, referred by you to this office on the 15th instant, and I have the honor to furnish so much of the information required as relates to the condition of the forts. Fort Wayne, Detroit, Mich.—In a condition to mount its entire armament, but deficient in quarters. Fort Porter, Black Rock, near Buffalo, N. Y.—Prepared for its armament and garrison. Fort Niagara, mouth of Niagara River, N. Y.-Ready for its armament, but deficient in accommodation for garrison and supplies. Fort Ontario, Oswego, N. Y.-Defensible. Fort Montgomery, Rouse's Point, N. Y.-About half built; capable of some defense. Fort Preble, Portland Harbor, Me.-In a defensible condition. Fort Scammel, Portland Harbor, Me.-In a defensible condition. Fort on Hog Island Ledge, Portland Harbor, Me.-Under construction; not defensible. Fort Knox, Narrows of the Penobscot River, Me.-Is in condition to receive a considerable portion of its armament bearing on the river passage, but is not defensible on the land side. Fort McClary, Portsmouth Harbor, Me.-Defensible. Fort Constitution, Portsmouth Harbor, Me.-Defensible. Fort Warren, Boston Harbor, Mass.-This strong work is essentially ready for its garrison and for nearly the whole of its armament. Fort Winthrop, Boston Harbor, Mass.-The barbette guns of the tower may be mounted; capable of a good defense. West Head Battery, Governor's Island, Boston Harbor, Mass.-Defensible. Southeast Battery, Governor's Island, Boston Harbor, Mass.-Defensible. Fort Independence, Boston Harbor, Mass.-In good condition for service. Old fort at New Bedford Harbor, Mass.-Defensible. New fort at New Bedford Harbor, Mass.-Not defensible. Fort Wolcott, Newport Harbor, R. I.-Defensible. Fort Adams, Newport Harbor, R. I.-This very strong work is now essentially ready for its garrison and for its entire armament. Fort Trumbull, New London Harbor, Conn.-This work is essentially finished. It is ready for its garrison and is already supplied with nearly the whole of its armament. Fort Schuyler, eastern entrance to New York Harbor.-Ready for its garrison and for its entire armament. Fort Griswold, New London Harbor, Conn.-The exterior battery in good condition. Fort at Willets Point, eastern entrance to New York Harbor.-Not commenced. Fort Columbus and Castle William, New York Harbor.—Both in good condition for defense. Fort Wood, Bedloe's Island, New York Harbor.-Defensible. 4 R R-SERIES III, VOL I Fort Hamilton, New York Harbor.-Defensible. Fort Richmond, New York Harbor.-Ready for its armament and for occupation by troops. Fort on site of Fort Tompkins, New York Harbor.-Not yet far enough advanced to be of much service. Battery Hudson, Staten Island, New York Harbor.-Defensible. Fort at Sandy Hook, N. J.-A few guns might be mounted; no shelter for men and supplies. Fort Mifflin, Delaware River, Pa.-Ready for garrison and armament. Fort Delaware, Delaware River, Del.-May receive garrison and armament. Fort McHenry, Baltimore Harbor, Md.-Defensible. Fort Carroll, Baltimore Harbor, Md.-Not far enough advanced to afford full protection; not armed; a part of one tier might be mounted in a few weeks. Fort Madison, Annapolis Harbor, Md.-Battery nearly ready for guns. Fort Washington, Potomac River, Md.-Defensible. Fort Monroe, Old Point Comfort, Va.-In excellent defensible condition; needs minor repairs only. Fort Calhoun, Hampton Roads, Va.-Under construction; not ready for armament or garrison. Fort Macon, Beaufort Harbor, N. C.-In pretty good condition for defense. Fort Caswell, mouth of Cape Fear River, N. C.-In pretty good condition for defense. Fort Moultrie, Charleston Harbor, S. C.-Had been placed in the best condition possible under the circumstances prior to its evacuation. Fort Sumter, Charleston Harbor, S. C.-In good condition for defense, having been greatly strengthened within the last few months; a very strong work. Castle Pinckney, Charleston Harbor, S. C.-In good condition; defensible. Fort Pulaski, Savannah River, Ga.-Ready for its garrison and nearly the whole of its armament; a very strong work. Fort Jackson, Savannah River, Ga.-Can receive its armament and garrison. Fort Clinch, Amelia Island, Fla.-Is nearly prepared for a partial but efficient armament of its channel fronts; is weak on the land side. Fort Marion, Saint Augustine, Fla.-The battery nearly ready for guns and is defensible. Fort Taylor, Key West, Fla.-Is prepared for its casemate batteries, two tiers; guns enough already in place for efficient action in all directions; in the absence of the projected cover-face, not prepared to resist siege by land. Fort Jefferson, Tortugas, Fla.-Is prepared for its lower casemate guns; capable of making a good defense. Fort Pickens, Pensacola Harbor, Fla.-Is prepared for its entire casemate armament, its new barbette armament of heavy caliber on one curtain and two bastions, and the old and lighter armament on the remaining fronts, and should make a good defense. Fort Barrancas, Pensacola Harbor, Fla.-Is capable of good defense; its armament is mounted, its magazines in good order. In the redoubt the flanking howitzers of scarp and counterscarp can be mounted in a short time. |