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DEFENSES OF THE KENNEBEC.

Fort Popham, Kennebec River, Maine, in charge of Lieut. Col. C. E. Blunt, Corps of Engineers.-This casemated work, commenced in 1857, defends the entrance, through the mouth of the Kennebec River, to the rich valley of this river, the cities of Bath and Augusta, and the United States arsenal at the latter place.

The work, which requires extensive modifications, remains in an unfinished condition, no operations having been carried on during the fiscal year, except for the necessary care and preservation of the property. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1883. No appropriation asked for next fiscal year.

DEFENSES OF PORTLAND.

Fort Gorges, Portland Harbor, Maine, in charge of Lieut. Col. C. E. Blunt, Corps of Engineers.-This casemated work, commenced in 1857, is one of the series of forts designed to defend the harbor, and channels leading into the harbor, of the important strategic position occupied by the city of Portland. Its construction was suspended for want of funds in 1876, and the work is in an incomplete condition.

The long suspension of operations causing deterioration, the working plant must be renewed when work is resumed.

No appropriation having been made, no work was done at this fortification during the last fiscal year beyond its protection, preservation, and repair, as far as was possible with the general appropriation made for this purpose, and no other work is contemplated during the current fiscal year for the same reason.

Appropriation asked for next fiscal year..

$12,000 00

Fort Preble, Portland Harbor, Maine, in charge of Lieut. Col. C. E. Blunt, Corps of Engineers.-This work occupies such a position that three-fourths of its guns command the two principal channels entering the harbor of Portland.

The original work on this site was built in 1808. The new earthen batteries with parados and traverse magazines, which have been partially executed, are in an incomplete condition and suffering from

exposure.

The condition of the work is unchanged from the close of the last fiscal year.

The derricks and other working machinery have so deteriorated during the long suspension that considerable expense must be incurred in their renewal.

No appropriation having been made, no work was done at this fortification during the last fiscal year beyond its protection, preservation, and repair, as far as was possible with the general appropriation made for this purpose, and no other work is contemplated during the current fiscal year for the same reason.

Appropriation asked for next fiscal year..

$35,000 00

Fort Scammel, Portland Harbor, Maine, in charge of Lieut. Col. C. E. Blunt, Corps of Engineers.-This work, commenced in 1841, occupies a very important position in the harbor, and commands four of the channels leading into it. It is an inclosed work with detached masonry bastions and heavy earthen batteries.

Plans for its modification and for additional earthen batteries have been prepared by the Board of Engineers for Fortifications and ap

DEFENSES OF PORTLAND-Continued.

proved by the Secretary of War. They are only partially executed, and the work is in an incomplete condition.

No appropriation having been made, no work was done at this fortification during the last fiscal year beyond its protection, preservation, and repair, as far as was possible with the general appropriation made for this purpose, and no other work is contemplated during the current fiscal year for the same reason.

Appropriation asked for next fiscal year

$100,000 00

Battery on Portland Head, Portland Harbor, Maine, in charge of Lieut. Col. C. E. Blunt, Corps of Engineers.-This modern earthwork, commenced in 1873, will, when completed, cover by its guns all the approaches to the main channel leading into the harbor, and will prevent by its fire an enemy's fieet from taking up, unopposed, a position behind Bang's Island from which to bombard Portland or shell the shipping in the harbor.

This work remains in the incomplete condition reported at the close of the last fiscal year.

For the construction of the operating-room and gallery for torpedocables and for continuing work on the battery itself, an appropriation of $50,000 is asked.

No appropriation having been made, no work was done at this fortification during the last fiscal year beyond its protection, preservation, and repair, as far as was possible with the general appropriation made for this purpose, and no other work is contemplated during the current fiscal year for the same reason.

Appropriation asked for next fiscal year......

$50,000 00

Batteries on Cow Island, approaches to the harbor of Portland, Maine.The object of these earthworks is, with batteries designed to be placed on Great Hog Island, to prevent an enemy's occupation of Casco Bay and to guard the passage from it to Portland Harbor.

Plans for the construction of batteries for the heaviest guns on this island have been prepared by the Board of Engineers for Fortifications, and it is proposed to commence work upon them as soon as funds are available.

No appropriation for their construction has yet been made.
Appropriation asked for next fiscal year.

$50,000 00

Batteries on Great Hog Island, approaches to the harbor of Portland, Maine. The object of these earthworks is, with batteries designed to be placed on Cow Island, to prevent an enemy's occupation of Casco Bay and to guard the passages from it to Portland Harbor.

Plans for the construction of batteries for the heaviest guns on this island have been prepared by the Board of Engineers for Fortifications, and it is proposed to commence work upon them as soon as funds are available.

No appropriation for their construction has yet been made.
Appropriation asked for next fiscal year

$50,000 00

DEFENSES OF PORTSMOUTH AND THE NAVY-YARD AT KITTERY.

Fort McClary, Portsmouth Harbor, New Hampshire, in charge of Lieut. Col. C. E. Blunt, Corps of Engineers.-This work, together with Fort Constitution, opposite, forms the inner line of defense to the mouth of the Piscataqua River and to the navy-yard at Kittery, Me.

The original fort was commenced early in the present century. An

DEFENSES OF PORTSMOUTH AND THE NAVY-YARD AT KITTERYContinued.

inclosed barbette work was commenced in 1863, but has not been completed.

The work remains the same as at the date of last report, no operations having been carried on except for the necessary care and preservation of the property.

No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1883.

No appropriation asked for next fiscal year.

Fort Constitution, Portsmouth Harbor, New Hampshire, in charge of Lieut. Col. C. E. Blunt, Corps of Engineers.-This work, together with Fort McClary, opposite, forms the inner line of defense to the mouth of the Piscataqua River and to the navy yard at Kittery, Me.

Extensive modifications are required for the casemated work at this place before proceeding with its construction. Plans for an exterior earthen battery for heavy rifled guns have been approved by the Secretary of War, but it has not yet been commenced.

The condition of this work has remained unchanged since the date of the last Annual Report, no operations having been carried on except for the necessary care and preservation of the property.

No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1883.
No appropriation asked for next fiscal year.

Battery on Gerrish's Island, Portsmouth Harbor, New Hampshire, in charge of Lieut. Col. C. E. Blunt, Corps of Engineers.-This earthwork, with the one opposite on Jerry's Point, forms the outer line of defense to Portsmouth Harbor and to the navy-yard at Kittery, Me. It was commenced in 1873.

The work remains in the same incomplete condition reported at the close of the last fiscal year.

Plans for the completion of this work have been prepared by the Board of Engineers for Fortifications and approved by the Secretary of War, but are only partially executed.

An appropriation is asked for constructing the operating room and gallery for torpedo-cables and continuing work on the battery proper. No appropriation having been made, no work was done at this fortification during the last fiscal year beyond its protection, preservation, and repair, as far as was possible with the general appropriation made for this purpose, and no other work is contemplated during the current fiscal year for the same reason.

Appropriation asked for next fiscal year...

$36,000 00

Battery on Jerry's Point, Portsmouth Harbor, New Hampshire, in charge of Lieut. Col. C. E. Blunt, Corps of Engineers.-This earthwork is on the western side of the entrance to the harbor of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and with the battery at Gerrish's Island, on the opposite side of the entrance, forms the outer line of defense to that harbor and to the navy-yard at Kittery, Me. It was commenced in 1873.

Plans for the completion of this work have been prepared by the Board of Engineers for Fortifications and approved by the Secretary of War, but are only partially executed.

No appropriation having been made, no work was done at this fortification during the last fiscal year beyond its protection, preservation, and repair, as far as was possible with the general appropriation made for this purpose, and no other work is contemplated during the current fiscal year for the same reason.

Appropriation asked for next fiscal year.

$50,000 00

DEFENSES OF BOSTON AND THE NAVY-YARD AT CHARLESTOWN.

Fort Warren, Boston Harbor, Massachusetts, in charge of Col. Henry W. Benham, Corps of Engineers.-This important casemated work on George's Island, commenced in 1833, is for the defense of the main channel of entrance to Boston Harbor, and commands the anchorage of Nantasket Roads.

For some years past operations have been confined to the expenditure of an allotment from the general appropriation for the preservation and repair of fortifications, in the general care and oversight of the work and its property, in repairing the earth-slopes and sodding, with such slight repairs to the masonry as were imperatively needed.

During the year about 500 square yards of sodding were relaid; the surface drains were cleaned and rearranged, and some minor repairs were made to the Engineer buildings.

The condition of the work at the close of the fiscal year is essentially the same as at the date of the last report, excepting that the injuries to the masonry of the scarp of the curtain of front 2, and the concrete work in bastions B and E, which have been referred to in the Annual Reports for years past, still continue.

An appropriation is asked for the modification and completion of the work according to plans prepared by the Board of Engineers for Fortifications.

No appropriation having been made, no work was done at this fortification during the last fiscal year beyond its protection, preservation, and repair, as far as was possible with the general appropriation made for this purpose, and no other work is contemplated during the current fiscal year for the same reason.

Appropriation asked for next fiscal year...

$100,000 00

Battery at Long Island Head, Boston Harbor, Massachusetts, in charge of Col. Henry W. Benham, Corps of Engineers.-This earth work occupies an important position in the outer line of defense for Boston Harbor, and its guns bear on all the channels of entrance.

It was commenced in 1871, and was designed for the reception of the heaviest modern ordnance. Nothing has been done in construction since the fiscal year 1875-76 for want of appropriations, and the work, the plans of which have been prepared by the Board of Engineers for Fortifications and approved by the Secretary of War, is in an unfinished condition.

No active operations have been under way, owing to the want of funds. The allotment from the general appropriation for the preservation of fortifications for this work was expended in the general care and oversight of the work and its property, and in effecting some repairs to the earth-slopes of the traverse magazines; in replastering the ventilators of these magazines, and in slight repairs to the Engineer buildings. The condition of the work is essentially unaltered from that at the date of the last Annual Report.

No appropriation having been made, no work was done at this fortifica-
tion during the last fiscal year beyond its protection, preservation, and
repair, as far as was possible with the general appropriation made for
this purpose, and no other work is contemplated during the current
fiscal year for the same reason.
Appropriation asked for next fiscal year.

$50,000 00

Fort Winthrop, Boston Harbor, Massachusetts, in charge of Col. Henry W. Benham, Corps of Engineers.-This work, on Governor's Island, is one of the works forming the inner line of defense for Boston Harbor. The present work was commenced in 1844, and consists of a central

DEFENSES OF BOSTON AND THE NAVY-YARD AT CHARLESTOWNContinued.

casemated keep and exterior earthen batteries. The mortar battery is intended for six or twelve mortars. All of the gun-platforms of this fort, with the exception of the eleven in the exterior tower battery, are now ready for their armament. The plans of this fort have been modified by the Board of Engineers for Fortifications for the reception of modern ordnance, and they have been partially executed.

No active operations have been in progress, owing to the want of funds. The allotment from the general appropriation for the preservation and repair of fortifications for this work was expended in the general care and oversight of the property, in repairing and resodding about 600 square yards of earth-slopes, principally at the counterscarp of the tower ditch, and the traverse magazines of the south battery.

Small sea walls are required for the protection of the sites of the east and south batteries. For the one planned for the east battery $30,000 will probably be sufficient, but the last year has shown that the south battery site requires still further protection, at least as much again as formerly estimated for.

No appropriation having been made, no work was done at this fortification during the last fiscal year beyond its protection, preservation, and and repair, as far as was possible with the general appropriation made for this purpose, and no other work is contemplated during the current fiscal year for the same reason.

Appropriation asked for next fiscal year....

$100,000 00 Fort Independence, Boston Harbor, Massachusetts, in charge of Col. Henry W. Benham, Corps of Engineers.-This casemated work, situated on Castle Island, is one of the inner line of defenses for the harbor of Boston. The present work was commenced in 1833.

During the entire year active operations have again been suspended from a want of sufficient funds, but the work is in essentially as good order as at the date of my last report.

An allotment from the general appropriation for the repair and preservation of fortifications was made and expended in the repairing of the earth-slopes of the parapet of the enciente, and in partially resodding them, as also in replastering the unfinished masonry of the breastheight wall of the east exterior battery, and in protecting this new plastering with a temporary cover of earth.

The plans of this work have been modified by the Board of Engineers for Fortifications for the reception of modern heavy ordnance, and they have been partially executed, but no work has been done since the fiscal year 1875-76, on account of want of appropriations.

No appropriation having been made, no work was done at this fortification during the last fiscal year beyond its protection, preservation, and repair, as far as was possible with the general appropriation made for this purpose, and no other work is contemplated during the current fiscal year for the same reason.

Appropriation asked for next fiscal year..

$50,000 00

DEFENSES OF NEW BEDFORD.

Fort at Clark's Point, New Bedford Harbor, Massachusetts, in charge of Lieut. Col. G. K. Warren, Corps of Engineers.-This casemated work, commenced in 1857, commands the entrance of the harbor of New Bedford.

Plans for new earthen batteries for modern heavy guns have been com

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