DEFENSES OF NEW ORLEANS-Continued. with the aid of obstructions in channel, it served to prevent predatory incursions of light-draught steam gunboats of the United States Navy into Lake Pontchartrain, which, no doubt, but for it, would have cut off direct communication by the lake and by rail between New Orleans and the country east of the Mississippi River. Since 1862 the work has been kept in about the same condition it was then, except as to armament and garrison, both of which have since been removed. A project for the modification of this work, to adapt it for the reception of modern ordnance, was prepared by the Board of Engineers for Fortifications in 1870, but no appropriation has been made therefor. 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 $24,000 00 Fort Macomb, Chef Menteur Pass, Louisiana, in charge of Maj. C. W. Howell, Corps of Engineers, until December 1, 1881; since that date in charge of Maj. Amos Stickney, Corps of Engineers.-This work, commenced in 1822, is located on the south side of the "Chef Menteur," a pass connecting Lake Pontchartrain with Lake Borgne and the Gulf of Mexico. It covers the approach to New Orleans of vessels drawing four feet or less via the pass and Lake Pontchartrain, and also the practicable approach of a land force from the pass via the "Gentilly Ridge" and the line of the New Orleans, Mobile and Chattanooga Railroad, which crosses the pass but a few hundred yards from the fort. A project for the modification of this work, to adapt it for the reception of modern ordnance, was prepared by the Board of Engineers for Fortifications in 1870, but no appropriation has been made therefor. 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 $24,000 00 Tower Dupré, Lake Borgne, Louisiana, in charge of Maj. C. W. Howell, Corps of Engineers, until December 1, 1881; since that date in charge of Maj. Amos Stickney, Corps of Engineers.-This tower, commenced in 1830, is located at the mouth of Bayou Dupré, a bayou connected with Lake Borgne and heading near the Mississippi River, about 12 miles below the city of New Orleans. It is one of the system of works designed to command the approaches to New Orleans from Mississippi Sound. It was mainly through this bayou that the British forces approached New Orleans in 1814. About 1873 and 1874 the bayou was converted into a canal by widening and straightening it in places, and by excavation extending to within a few hundred feet of the Mississippi River. A pier was also extended into the lake. Vessels drawing 4 feet or less can now easily pass from the Gulf of Mexico via this canal to its end near the river. Since the late civil war but little has been done to this work, and for the past few years nothing has been done. The tower is at present in a fair state of preservation. The parapet of the battery has nearly all been removed, and there is no armament. In case of necessity the work DEFENSES OF NEW ORLEANS-Continued. can be put in condition in a few days to receive a section of a battery of rifled field guns and a suitable garrison. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1883. No appropriation asked for next fiscal year. Battery Bienvenue, Lake Borgne, Louisiana, in charge of Maj. C. W. Howell, Corps of Engineers, until December 1, 1881; since that date in charge of Maj. Amos Stickney, Corps of Engineers.-This battery, commenced in 1826, is situated in the sea marsh at the junction of the two main branches of Bayou Bienvenue, and about three miles from the mouth of the bayou. It was designed to guard against boat expeditions from Lake Borgue via this bayou to attack New Orleans in the rear of the lower portion of the city. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1883. Tower at Proctorsville, Lake Borgne, Louisiana, in charge of Maj. C. W. Howell, Corps of Engineers, until December 1, 1881; since that date in charge of Maj. Amos Stickney, Corps of Engineers.-This work, commenced in 1856, is one of the system of works designed to command the approaches to New Orleans from Mississippi Sound. No work was done during the past fisscal year. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1883. Fort Jackson, Mississippi River, Louisiana, in charge of Maj. C. W. Howell, Corps of Engineers, until December 1, 1881; since that date in charge of Maj. Amos Stickney, Corps of Engineers.-This work, commenced in 1822, is situated on the right (west) bank of the Mississippi River, at what is known as the Plaquemine Bend, about 70 miles below the city of New Orleans. Together with Fort Saint Philip, situated on the opposite bank of the river, it was intended to serve in the defense of the very important port of New Orleans and its surrounding country against attack of a hostile feet attempting their capture by way of the river. It is an inclosed caseniated work, with masonry scarps and new exterior earthen batteries, which are in an incomplete condition. The levees for the protection of the fort and the reservation being inefficient, from lack of height, damage by overflow, and boring of crawfish, the fort and surrounding ground was flooded during the high water. A survey to ascertain necessary work for complete repair of levees will be made as soon as the water subsides. For needful repairs to the work, completing new earthen batteries, and for continuing preparations for mounting an armament of heaviest caliber, the modifications of this work, designed by the Board of Engineers for Fortifications, to adapt it for the use of modern heavy ordnance, being incomplete, an appropriation is asked. No appropriation having been made, no work was done at this fortification during the last fiscal year beyond its protection, preservation, and this repair, as far as was possible with the general appropriation made for purpose, and no other work is contemplated during the current fiscal year for the same reason. Appropriation asked for next fiscal year. $25,000 00 Fort Saint Philip, Mississippi River, Louisiana, in charge of Maj. C. W. Howell, Corps of Engineers, until December 1, 1881; since that date in charge of Maj. Amos Stickney, Corps of Engineers.-The location and pur DEFENSES OF NEW ORLEANS-Continued. pose of this work, which was commenced in 1841, are sufficiently described in the preceding report on Fort Jackson. It is fully as important to be maintained and properly armed as Fort Jackson. Although the latter is the larger work, the position of the former is more advantageous. It is an inclosed barbette work, with masonry scarp and new exterior earthen batteries, which are in an incomplete condition. The levees for the protection of the fort and reservation from river floods are inefficient. A survey will be made as soon as practicable to ascertain necessary work to put them in good order. For needful repairs to the main work, and for continuing the construction of the exterior earthen batteries of heavy guns which have been designed by the Board of Engineers for Fortifiations, and which are yet incomplete, an appropriation 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.. $25,000 09 Fort Livingston, Barataria Bay, Louisiana, in charge of Maj. C. W. Howell, Corps of Engineers, until December 1, 1851; since that date in charge of Maj. Amos Stickney, Corps of Engineers.-This work, commenced in 1842, is located on the west end of Grande Terre Island, at the entrance to Barataria Bay, and guards the western line of approach to New Orleans offered by the bay, and the bayous and canals connecting the bay with the Mississippi River opposite New Orleans. It also secures the anchorage in the bay as a harbor of refuge for coasting or other light-draught vessels in time of war. The location is likely to be given even greater importance than in the past, because of the projected Barataria ship-canal, and the canal already far advanced connecting the bay with Bayous Lafourche and Terrebonne and the Atchafalaya. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1883. DEFENSES OF GALVESTON. Batteries at the entrance to the harbor of Galveston, Texas.-The object of the earthen batteries of heavy guns, recently designed by the Board of Engineers for Fortifications, to be placed on Pelican Spit, Galveston Island, and Bolivar Point, is for the defense of the entrance to the harbor of Galveston, a harbor rapidly increasing in commercial importance. No appropriation for the construction of these works has yet been made. Appropriation asked for next fiscal year $50,000 00 DEFENSES OF SAN DIEGO HARBOR. Fort at San Diego, California, in charge of Lieut. Col. C. S. Stewart, Corps of Engineers.-This earthwork, situated in rear of Ballast Point, commands the channel at the entrance to the bay and harbor of San Diego. The first and only appropriation for it was an appropriation of $50,000 for the fiscal year 1873-74; under it work was commenced in 1873, and considerable progress was made, but in its present unfinished state this battery is utterly worthless for defensive purposes. Its position wholly DEFENSES OF SAN DIEGO HARBOR-Continued. controls the entrance to the important harbor and bay of San Diego, every vessel going in necessarily passing close to the work. The embankment of the faces of the battery was raised to the level of the parade, and the concrete masonry of the walls of one service magazine built to the spring of the arch. The watchman in charge of the public property has made the repairs to embankments which have been required. To complete this work so that it may receive its armament of fifteen heavy guns requires the construction of everything above the level of the parade; that is, of parapets, magazines, terrepleins, breast-height walls, platforms, and communication. It is estimated about $135,000 will be required for these. An appropriation of $70,000, to be applied. to the masonry of magazines, breast-height walls, and gun-platforms, and so much of the earthwork connected therewith as possible, is asked for the year ending June 30, 1884. 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 $70,000 00 DEFENSES OF SAN FRANCISCO, THE NAVY-YARD AT MARE ISLAND, AND THE ARSENAL AT BENICIA. Fort at Fort Point, entrance to San Francisco Harbor, California, in charge of Lieut. Col. C. S. Stewart, Corps of Engineers.-This casemated work, commenced in 1853, and its exterior earthen barbette batteries, commenced in 1870, form the defenses of the south side of the Golden Gate, the entrance to San Francisco Harbor. The main casemated work is occupied by a garrison. A few slight repairs have been made, and the iron-work of embrasures has been kept painted by the watchman. The disintegration of the mortar in joints of scarps and facings of piers and saffits of arches is still going on. At some future day the whole of the brick-work will have to be repointed. Many of the bricks in scarps are being eaten away by the influence of weather and of the sand driven against them by the strong and continuous winds prevailing here. Each year makes more apparent the progress of deterioration. The casemates are in fair condition. The sea-wall is in good order. Though the large stones of the apron at the foot of this wall have, as heretofore reported, been moved at some points, no great change seems to have taken place in it during the past year, and none is likely to occur unless from the action of a series of extraordinarily heavy gales with powerful seas. The magazines are in as good condition as heretofore. Annual wear and tear excepted, the general state of the work is essentially as it has been for the past few years. Earthen barbette batteries exterior to the fort.-There being no special appropriation for these, the watchman has made such repairs as practicable, having now and then received assistance through the courtesy of the commanding officer of the garrison. The magazine doors have been painted and the iron-work of the mortar platforms lacquered. A portion of the slopes has been mowed; parts of the sodding replaced; DEFENSES OF SAN FRANCISCO, THE NAVY-YARD AT MARE ISLAND, AND THE ARSENAL AT BENICIA-Continued. drains and fences repaired; sills of some buildings renewed and framework thereof braced and tied to prevent spreading. The buildings are now nearly all very old and much decayed. Some labor has been expended on the water supply, and in the course of a year or so a new tank will be needed. During the present year it will probably be necessary to replace some of the piles of the wharf now much injured by marine worms. Early in the winter season a portion of the timber bulkhead supporting the road-way leading to the fort was damaged during a heavy gale by the sea, and it was feared it might be carried away. However, the storms since having happened at favorable moments when tides were not running high, no further damage has been done. The general condition of these batteries, after remaining six years unfinished, is as good as can be expected. Two platforms in addition to those which are mounted are ready to receive their guns. Six others have been constructed, but owing to the settlement of the terreplein, in deep filling, two of these are not in condition to have the guns mounted. The pintle-blocks for eight platforms are in position, and the concrete foundations for six more have been built. Three positions for heavy guns are ready for platforms, and fourteen more have been begun. Thirteen traverse magazines are ready, and sixteen more can be used when needed. Twelve timber platforms for heavy mortars are in position. The timber of these is decaying. To complete the batteries for their armament of heavy guns will require, it is estimated, about $120,000. An appropriation of $100,000 is asked for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, to be applied toward the finishing of thirty platforms for heavy guns, and the parapets, traverses, magazines, terrepleins, and communications pertaining thereto. No work upon these batteries has been done since 1876, for want of funds, and the importance of an efficient protection of the city of San Francisco, the navy yard at Mare Island, and the United States arsenal at Benicia warrants an early and adequate appropriation therefor. 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 Fort at Lime Point, San Francisco Harbor, California, in charge of Lieut. Col. George H. Mendell, Corps of Engineers.-The system of works projected for the defense of the Golden Gate from the northern shore consists of a casemated work to be built at Lime Point, and detached earthen barbette batteries on Point Cavallo, on Lime Point Ridge, at Gravelly Beach, and on Point Diablo. Some work was done in 1867 and 1868 on the excavation of the site of the casemated work, but it remains incomplete. The Point Diablo Battery was never begun. The other barbette batteries were under construction from 1870 to 1876, but are incomplete, with the exception of the Gravelly Beach Battery. The works have been cared for by keepers during the year. The operations have been merely those of preservation and repair. They consisted of caring for the parapets, cutting the grass, washing with |