DEFENSES OF NEW YORK AND THE NAVY-YARD AT BROOKLYN-Continued. be still in good condition, the casemates underneath showing little evidence of leakages, and if provided with a new coat of asphalt and gravel this water-proof cover will probably last for several years longer. Part of the wooden gallery of the Castle-forming the communication between the different casemates-is much decayed and requires repairing. Otherwise the condition of the works on the island appears to be about the same as for several years past. The appropriation asked is for continuing the construction of the exterior earthen battery for heavy ordnance designed by the Board of Engineers for Fortifications for this important site, and approved by the Secretary of War. 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..... $75,000 00 Fort Wood, Bedloe's Island, New York Harbor, in charge of Col. Henry W. Benham, Corps of Engineers.-This work, commenced in 1841, forms one of the inner line of defenses for New York Harbor, and with those on Governor's Island is designed to close the entrances to the East River and the Hudson River, and to protect New York, part of Brooklyn, and Jersey City from bombardment. No operations have been under way during the year. A heavy modern earthen battery designed by the Board of Engineers for Fortifications is partially built, and its completion would finish all that is planned for this island. No appropriations 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.. $40,000 00 Fort Hamilton and additional batteries, New York Harbor, in charge of Col. Henry W. Benham, Corps of Engineers.-These works, commenced in 1824, are situated at the Narrows of New York Harbor, upon the Long Island side. No specific appropriation having been made for the past fiscal year, the operations have been confined to such small repairs as were deemed most necessary for the preservation of these works, and as far as the allotment from the general appropriation for that purpose would permit. These repairs on the fort itself consisted in the repointing of the upper part of the channel front's scarp wall-especially its coping-the joints of which, formerly filled with asphalt, had opened to a great extent. The defective brick-work of the 14 embrasures on this front has been cut out and renewed, and then plastered with Portland cement mortar, which coat, conforming more with the general color of the other stonework, gives this part of the fort an improved appearance, besides protecting the brick-work against irregular and premature decay. The cover of asphalted felting with which the terreplein had been provided in the previous year appears to be in good order still, and to serve its purpose, that of a waterproof covering, very well. On the south and east fronts a large number of breaks or frost cracks around and near the scarp-wall chimneys have been carefully filled DEFENSES OF NEW YORK AND THE NAVY-YARD AT BROOKLYN-Continued. with Portland cement, to stop leakages to the casemates below; defects especially evident on the south front during the earlier part of spring. On both of these fronts a separation of the scarp wall from the arches seems to have occurred, and either the winter frosts or the concussion from the practice-firing of heavy ordnance in the adjoining batteries appears to open new cracks from time to time, causing the casemates to leak during heavy rainstorms or from the melting of the snow. On the inside of the fort the brick-work immediately underneath the coping of the parade walls of the south, east, and north fronts has been relaid, part of the coping itself reset, and its open joints filled, and defective stone replaced by new ones. The open drain of the parade, with its broken-down brick cesspools, has been repaired, and a part of the sustaining wall on the north entrance to the fort rebuilt. Two sets of steps of the counterscarp of the ditch have also been provided with iron railings to prevent accidents. In the 15-inch gun-battery, and in the mortar-batteries, the slopes have been rebuilt and sodded, and the surface drain in the latter battery has been repaired, as also the drainage of its north traverse magazine. Extensive repairs have been made to the dry sea-wall running along the shore line of the reservation for some 1,100 feet, and it is now, with its outlets of drains, in good condition. The sea-wall of the battery No. 1, and the one north of the road leading to the wharf, have also been repaired, and additional protection provided for their foundations. For some necessary repairs and the completion of earthen batteries now in part constructed, in accordance with plans designed by the Board of Engineers for Fortifications, and approved by the Secretary of War, an appropriation for the next fiscal year is recommended. 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 Mortar Battery at Fort Hamilton, New York Harbor, in charge of Col. Henry W. Benham, Corps of Engineers.-No operations were carried on during the past fiscal year. Some little work yet remains to be done on this battery (which was commenced in 1871) to place it in a condition to receive its full armament, as projected by the Board of Engineers for Fortifications. The cost to finish this battery, amounting to about $1,100, is included in the estimate for Fort Hamilton and additional batteries. No separate appropriation is asked for this work. Fort Lafayette, New York Harbor. This old work, commenced in 1812, and situated on a shoal at the Narrows entrance, occupies the best of all the positions for the defense of New York Harbor. It was injured by fire in December, 1868, to such a degree as to make it practically worthless, unless repaired at a very considerable outlay; and as it was adapted to guns of small caliber only, it was not thought worth while to restore it, but to replace it by an iron construction which should meet the demands of modern armaments. The plans for this have been prepared. The defense of New York Harbor requires a new work on this shoal DEFENSES OF NEW YORK AND THE NAVY-YARD AT BROOKLYN-Continued. which will admit of the mounting of 80 to 100 ton guns. It will require several years in building, and should be undertaken without delay. 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...... $200,000 00 Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island, New York Harbor, in charge of Lieut. Col. Q. A. Gillmore, Corps of Engineers.-This fort, commenced in 1847, is situated on the west side of the Narrows, and constitutes a part of the second line of defense of the southern water approach to New York. It is an inclosed work, built of granite, containing three tiers of guns in casemates, and one en barbette, the lower tier being only a few feet above the water-level. The work, in connection with those adjacent to it on either side, Fort Tompkins and the two Glacis Batteries on the hill in rear, is designed to throw a heavy concentrated fire on vessels approaching or attempting to pass through the Narrows, crossing its fire with that from Fort Hamilton and batteries on the opposite side of the channel. A concrete arch was built over the reservoir, which is situated in the ditch of the fort, and which supplies the works with fresh water. The arch was covered with earth to the grade of the counterscarp coping. The masonry at the north end of the sea-wall, which had been displaced by storms and ice, has been rebuilt and made secure with iron anchors. The masonry of the sea-wall opposite the east curtain was pointed. Permanent stone steps were constructed at the wharf; the barbette railing, and the iron-work of the embrasures, portcullis, &c., were painted, and two concrete shot beds were constructed in the parade of the fort. An appropriation of $9,000 is asked for next fiscal year, to be expended in clearing the ditch of the sand washed in from the slope of the hill in rear, in painting the iron-work in the embrasures, in pointing the masonry of the whole work, and in replacing 25 old pintles in the barbette gun platform with new 4-inch pintles. No appropriation having been made, no work was done at this fortifica- $9,000 00 Fort on site of Fort Tompkins, New York Harbor, in charge of Lieut. Col. Q. A. Gillmore, Corps of Engineers.-This work, commenced in 1858, with the earthen Glacis Gun Battery on its left, and the Glacis Mortar Battery on its right, crowns the hill in rear of Fort Wadsworth and the earthen batteries known as North Cliff Battery, South Cliff Battery, Battery Hudson, and the South Mortar Battery. It is an inclosed pentagonal work, having on its four land faces two tiers of casemate quarters, a deep, dry ditch, and a heavy battery to resist a land attack, and on its channel front seventeen large casemates for storage and other purposes. It mounts its channel-bearing guns en DEFENSES OF NEW YORK AND THE NAVY-YARD AT BROOKLYN-Continued. barbette. It is intended to supply quarters for the garrison and act as a keep for all the defensive works occupying this position. Properly armed, this work will be able to throw a heavy fire from a commanding position upon vessels attempting to pass through the Narrows. The four land faces were, for all defensive purposes, finished in 1865. In December, 1869, a plan giving such increased depth to the casemates that heavy rifled guns could be mounted over them en barbette was adopted and carried into execution. Since 1876 the work has been in readiness to receive, on temporary platforms, all the heavy guns intended for channel defense. Twenty-four communication arches of the casemates of the channel front were closed up with brick walls. Five additional casemates of the same front were prepared for the storage of torpedo cases by closing their fronts facing the parade. The iron balcony of the channel front and the iron-work of the flanking embrasures in the counterscarp gallery were painted. To prevent the damp air entering the casemates where the torpedo cases are stored, sliding wooden shutters have been fitted to the inner faces of two loopholes in each casemate. All the torpedo cases have been thoroughly cleaned off and repainted. The road leading from the north sallyport to the officers' quarters has been repaired and top-dressed with gravel. The grass on the parade, exterior slope, and traverse magazines has been cut several times during the year. Three hundred and ninety linear feet of boundary fence were rebuilt. All the timber gun-platforms require more or less extensive repairs, several of the parts being rotten. The estimates for the completion of Fort Tompkins comprise 10 permanent gun-platforms in place of the present wooden ones, 4 bonnets on the traverses for the better protection of guns and gunners, and finishing off 26 casemates for quarters, and 11 large casemates on the channel front for storage purposes. The appropriations for the Glacis Battery and the North Cliff and South Cliff batteries are included in that for Fort Tompkins. 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. $75,000 00 Glacis Gun Battery (north of fort on site of Fort Tompkins), Staten Island, New York Harbor, in charge of Lieut. Col. Q. A. Gillmore, Corps of Engi neers. This earthen barbette battery, built in 1872, is designed to sup plement the barbette fire of Fort Tompkins. It has been in readiness to receive its armament on temporary platforms for the last six years, and may be reported as finished, although some little work remains to be done to the magazine doors and lamp closets. It is provided with timber gun-platforms and ample magazine room. The cost of substituting stone for the timber gun-platforms, and rais ing them breast high, in all amounting to $8,250, is included in the esti mate for fort on site of Fort Tompkins. No separate appropriation asked for this work. DEFENSES OF NEW YORK AND THE NAVY-YARD AT BROOKLYN-Continued. All the timber gun-platforms require more or less repair, some of the pieces in each being rotten. No appropria ion 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. Glacis Mortar Battery (south of fort on site of Fort Tompkins), Staten Island, New York Harbor, in charge of Lieut. Col. Q. A. Gillmore, Corps of Engineers.-This battery, built in 1872 and 1873, is intended to throw a powerful vertical fire upon vessels approaching or attempting to pass through the Narrows. It is provided with ample storage and service magazine room, and is ready for service, although a little work yet remains to be done to the magazine lamp closets, and the principal magazine requires to be lined with wood. All the mortar-platforms require more or less repairs, the upper tier of oak pieces being rotten at the heart. The pine timber of lower tier is in good 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 in the estimates under the general head of sea-coast mortar-batteries. Battery Hudson, Staten Island, New York Harbor, in charge of Lieut. Col. Q. A. Gillmore, Corps of Engineers.-This work, built in 1841 to 1843, and the North Cliff and South Cliff batteries occupy the slope of the hill between the fort on site of Fort Tompkins and the water, and are able to bring a powerful direct fire upon the channel leading up to and through the Narrows. For want of funds no work except that of preservation and repair has been done since the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876, One of the new platforms was constructed for King's depressing carriage and a 15-inch smooth-bore gun mounted thereon. The work necessary for the completion of this battery comprises twelve new permanent gun-platforms in place of old ones, the construction of a new breast-height wall in front of some of the platforms, and raising the wall to a higher level in front of others, the construction of bonnets on the traverses, and the placing of a wooden lining in one of the prin cipal magazines. Three concrete shot-beds were constructed in rear of the battery. All the timber gun-platforms require more or less repairs, some pieces in each being rotten. No appropriation having been made, no work was done at this fortifica- $20,000 00 South Mortar Battery (in rear of Battery Hudson Extension), Staten Island, New York Harbor, in charge Lieut. Col. Q. A. Gillmore, Corps of Engineers. This battery, commenced in 1872, is situated south of Fort Tompkins and directly in rear of Battery Hudson Extension. It is designed to throw a heavy vertical fire upon vessels approaching the |