been brought up to grade, the parapet of sand, with sod revetment, completed to a height of 11 feet above terreplein for a length of 400 feet from angle 4-5, affording an excellent position and cover and magazine accommodation for eight or ten 15-inch or equivalent guns. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1875. $50,000 The appropriation asked for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876, contemplates the continuation of the parapet and terreplein embankments, and the construction of additional magazines, leaving the preparation of gun-platforms until the earth work has settled, as the subsoil is unstable. Fort Carroll, Baltimore Harbor, Maryland, in charge of Maj. Wm. P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers.-This fort is situated upon an exterior line of defense, for the harbor of Baltimore. It is a casemated work, and until the best method of arranging such defenses shall have been devised no expenditures upon it are proposed other than for its preser vation. During the past winter one wooden center-pintle platform for a 15-inch gun was laid at one extremity of front 6, and a temporary parapet erected in front of it. A second similar platform was framed, but was not laid down. One 15-inch gun, on a center-pintle carriage, has been added to the armament, and needed repairs have been made to the work. The funds used were supplied from the appropriation for contingencies of fortifications. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1975. Obstructions of the Potomac, in charge of Maj. Wm. P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers.-It has not yet been found practicable to make experiments upon these obstructions, for which the co-operation of the Navy Department seems necessary. The material has continued in store at Fort Foote. Fort Foote, Potomac River, Maryland, in charge of Maj. Wm. P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers.-This work is on the inner line of defense of the channel-approach by water to Alexandria, Washington, and Georgetown. The site is high, commanding, and unusually favorable. During the past fiscal year the grading of the incline and the railway from the wharf to the work has been completed. The earth-embankments of the parapets of the center-pintle guns in the right salient and of the frontpintle guns on the right front, have been made, and the exterior slopes have been sodded. The embankment of the traverse magazines on the left has been commenced. An engine has been placed in position, and an engine-house and cars have been built. The removal of the surplus earth has been continued. The old drains from the right and riverfronts have been reopened, and the former has been rebuilt. Drains have been built to carry off the rain-fall from the center-pintle gun position, and for the drainage of the magazines near the right salient. The masonry of the magazines in the right salient has been commenced, and that of the traverse-magazine on the left of the river-front has been completed, except wing-walls to entrances. The wharf has been extended 110 feet to 10 feet depth of water. The foundations for four front pintle gun-platforms have been completed, and the stones of two of them have been set, and the pintle-blocks of the other two have been placed in position. Steps were taken to open a communication to the Piscataway road for the convenience of the garrison. This object is now nearly accomplished. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1875. Appropriation asked for next fiscal year..... $35,000 Fort Washington, Potomac River, Maryland, in charge of Maj. Wm. P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers.-This fort occupies a very important position on the outer line of defense of the cities of Alexandria, Washington, and Georgetown, and their dependent interests. The site is an excellent one, but the line requires strengthening by the introduction of guns of the heaviest calibre, for which the old fort was not suited. During the past fiscal year work has been confined to the demilune. The masonry of the traverse magazine has been completed with the exception of the coping of wing-walls of entrances, and the entrance from the center-pintle gun. The embankment and sodding of the traverse-magazines near the rear extremities of the faces have been completed, as far as can be done till the construction of the breast-height walls. The embankment of the traverse-magazines near the salient, and of the central bomb-proof, has been partially made, and the masonry of the central bomb-proof has been commenced. Timbers for two wooden platforms have been stored at Fort Monroe. The front pintle-platforms on the left face have been commenced; the two platforms between the traverse-magazines have been completed, except the flagging-stones, and the setting of the pintles. The platform on the left of the traverse-magazine, at the rear extremity of the left face, and the right platform of the set of two between the traverse-magazines on the right face, were commenced and completed, with the exception of the setting of the prop-stones next the breast-height, the flagging stones, and the pintles. An engine and a pump were purchased and placed in position, and an engine-house was built. Proceedings are nearly completed for gaining the title to an adjoining tract of about 300 acres. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1875. Appropriation asked for next fiscal year, $35,000 . $35,000 Fort Monroe, Old Point Comfort, Virginia, in charge of Maj. Wm. P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers.-This extensive work occupies an important position, covering the approach to Hampton Roads, the navy-yard at Portsmouth, and the James River. During the past fiscal year, in the place of arms, the sod, soil, and old breast-height were removed, and this battery commenced; the masonry of the magazine was completed; the foundations for two gun-platforms were completed, most of the stones prepared, one of the pintle-blocks placed in position, and the other placed on its foundation. The foundation for a third gun-platform was commenced. In the redoubt, the hauling and placing of sand were continued; the masonry of the traverse-magazines has been completed, and the left magazine almost completed. Stone and timbers for platforms, and material of various kinds, have been received. A cistern has been built with a capacity of about 13,000 gallons, and the cisterns at the carpenter's shop and stable-yard have been secured, repaired, and supplied with pumps. A shed for the protection of timber and material and a bin for coal have been built. An examination has been made of the scarp-wall of front IV for the information of the board of engineers for fortifications. The small wharf opposite front VII has been extended, and the draws of the north and east bridges have been rebuilt. A stone-breaker has been purchased, about 900 feet of railroad-track has been put down, 1,868 feet of fence have been built and painted, and various repairs made about the works. A project for a battery of ten guns of the heaviest caliber, exterior to fronts II and III, has been prepared by the board of engineers for fortifications, and approved by the Secretary of War. The project for a continuous battery on fronts I, II, III, and IV of the main work has been rejected, and a new project for a battery of two guns has been made and approved. Attention is invited to the insufficient supply of water and to the need of quarters for the troops. Amount appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1875.... $30,000 50,000 Artesian well at Fort Monroe, Virginia, in charge of Maj. Wm. P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers.-This well is now 900 feet deep, but no work has been done on it during the past year from want of funds. It is proposed, when funds are available, to increase the depth to 1,200 feet, at which point, as competent geologists have stated, there is a reasonable prospect of obtaining good water. The present supply of water at the fort is insufficient and expensive, and it is a matter of grave importance to have a supply of water which will be ample and unfailing, especially in time of war. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1875. Fort Wool, Hampton Roads, Virginia, in charge of Maj. Wm. P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers.-This casemated fortification unites with Fort Monroe, in closing the passage to Hampton Roads, crossing its fire with the guns from that fort. Until approved projects for its completion are devised, no further work is contemplated than is necessary to preserve it from injury. Three watchmen have been in charge since September, 1870. Fifty-two iron-throated casemates of the first tier are ready for guns, and in an emergency several 15-inch guns could be advantageously and promptly mounted in barbette. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1875. No appropriation asked for next fiscal year. Fort Macon, Beaufort Harbor, North Carolina, in charge of Lieut. Col. Q. A. Gillmore, Corps of Engineers.-The subject of the modification of this work is still under consideration. During the past fiscal year it has been found necessary for the protection of the site to construct a breakwater-dam west of the wharf, where a breach had been made by the tide across the beach to the marsh. Subsequently a crib jetty was constructed east of the wharf to stop the erosion of the shore there. Both of these works appear to answer the purpose for which they were built. The wharf itself requires some repairs. The casemates of the work require a thorough overhauling to render them fit quarters for officers and enlisted men, for which they are now used. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1875. Fort Caswell, mouth of Cape Fear River, North Carolina, in charge of Lieut. Col. Q. A. Gillmore, Corps of Engineers.-This fort, at the mouth of the entrances to Cape Fear River, is advantageously located for the defense of the city of Wilmington. It requires extensive modifications to adapt it to the approved ordnance of the present day. The subject of its modifications is still under consideration. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1875. Fort Moultrie, Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, in charge of Lieut. Col. Q. A. Gillmore, Corps of Engineers.-During the past fiscal year the masonry of magazine in N. E. bastion, for the service of guns 1 and 2, has been constructed, and wing-walls, lintels, and caps have been added to three other service-magazines, built the previous fiscal year, between positions 4 and 5, 6 and 7, and 8 and 9, respectively. More than three-fourths of the earth-covering of the 1st, 2d, and 4th of these magazines have been roughly filled in, and that of the third (between positions 6 and 7) has been formed to the true slope and seeded down. The concrete masonry of the bomb-proof gallery, east of the sally-port gallery, has been completed, and for twenty feet west of it has been raised to springing-line of arch. East of sally-port gallery the earth-filling has been carried to ref. (5'-6"). The sally-port gallery has been raised to (5'6") between the bomb-proof gallery and parade-entrance. The terreplein in rear of guns 5 and 6 has been graded to its proper reference, as has also that of the N. E. bastion. The parados in rear of positions 9, 10, and 11 has been raised from (0') to (14'). The old breastheight wall and sally-port on north face have been removed, and the scarp-wall on that face and of the N. W. and N. E. bastions raised to required height and coped throughout with artificial stone, excepting over the break left for new sally-port. Seven timber platforms for the approved armament have been laid in positions 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, and 11. The temporary breast-height wall of sod for guns 9, 10, and 11 has been raised to its proper height, but the parapet has been only partially filled in. A brick breast-height wall has been built in front of gun No. 1. In rear of the fort, platforms for four of our largest sea-coast mortars have been laid on concrete foundations, and the mortars mounted thereon. Amount appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1975.. $20,000 40,000 During the present fiscal year the masonry of the bomb-proof gallery parallel to north face, and the sally-port and gallery on that face, will be completed, and the earth-covering of the principal magazine on east face will be finished and seeded down, and all the magazine-doors will be constructed and hung, except those for the old storage-magazine in N. W. bastion. Fort Sumter, Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, in charge of Lieut. Col. Q. A. Gillmore, Corps of Engineers.-During the past fiscal year repairs to the nine casemates of the N. E. face, one in the pan coupé of N. E. and N. faces, and one adjacent thereto in the N. face, have been completed, and one retaining-wall built and earth-filling in rear of same finished. The floors of these eleven casemates, and the scarp-walls and embrasures pertaining thereto, have been repaired, and their armament of eleven guns mounted. The piers of the four northerly casemates of N. W. face have been re-inforced, the scarp-wall of same face has been repaired, and the old temporary sally-port bricked up and replaced by an embrasure. The nine casemates retained in the N. W. face have had their arches repaired aud prepared for concreting and asphalting, and retaining-walls have been built to five of them. The masonry of the new sally-port gallery and connecting service magazines has been completed, with the exception of that of the barbettemagazine, (serving guns Nos. 1, 2, and 3,) and the two loop-holed jambs adjoining casemates. The old cistern under the sally-port casemate has been repaired and strengthened, and two casemates, one on either side of sally-port, have been provided with open wood fire-places and chimneys. Outside, a substantial road has been constructed from the new sally-port to the wharf and extended to the old sally-port in gorge lace. The scarp-walls of S. E. face and the pan coupé between S. E. and gorge faces, and about twenty feet of that of gorge-face, have been coped with artificial stone, the parapet formed, and its exterior slope set with grass-plants. The scarp-wall, N. E. face, has been raised to proper reference, and coped for thirty feet from N. E. angle; the scarp-well of N. W. face has been raised to proper reference for coping for nearly its entire length. The casement-arches, N. E. face, have been covered with concrete, and drain-pipes put in leading to cistern of 20,700 gallons capacity, built in rampart at angle of N. and N. E. faces. The two barbette service-magazines at angle of N. and N. E. faces and on N. E. face have been built, and about three-fourths of their earth-covering filled in. The foundations for storage-magazine have been put in. The terreplein of N. E. face has been completed, and its parapet filled in to the height of the scarp-wall. Timber gunplatforms for fifteen-inch guns have been laid in positions Nos. 6, 7, and 8, and a brick breast-height wall built for No. S. Temporary sod-revetted breast-height walls for Nos. 6 and 7 have been carried up to within two feet of ultimate reference. The site of position No. 3 has been filled in and packed ready for platform-foundation. Amount appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1875.. $20,000 40,000 During the present fiscal year it is proposed to finish the new sallyport on N. W. face, to cover the casement-arches on that face with concrete and mastic, to construct service-magazine for guns 1, 2, and 3, and fill in adjacent traverses, to hang all the service-magazine doors, repair cisterns, making pipe-connections therewith, and lay some additional gun-platforms. Platforms 1, 2, and 3 are yet to be laid, and those at positions 9 and 10 require to be replaced by platforms for large guns, before the work is in readiness for all of its approved armament Fort Johnson, Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, in charge of Lieut. Col. Q. A. Gillmore, Corps of Engineers.—No operations were carried ou at this work during the past fiscal year. Four mortar-platforms were purchased from the contingent fund for fortifications, but they were not laid. The approved projects for reconstructing and modifying this old work contemplates making of it a battery for four mortars and four guns, with the necessary parapets, traverses, and magazines. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1875. Castle Pinckney, Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, in charge of Lieut. Col. Q. A. Gillmore, Corps of Engineers.-No operations have been carried on at this work during the past fiscal year, and there are no available funds at the present time. An appropriation is needed to fit it for the reception of 10-inch smooth-bores or corresponding rifles to be mounted en barbette. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1875. Fort Jackson, Savannah River, Georgia, in charge of Lieut. Col. Q. A. Gillmore, Corps of Engineers.-During the past fiscal year the parapet and breast-height wall of the work have been finished, the parade-wall has been raised to its proper height and concrete foundations for guns 1, 2, 4, and 5 built, and the gun-platforms laid thereon. Platforms 2, 3, 4, and 5 are for the approved armament, temporarily adapted to smaller calibers. Platform 1 (constructed at the work) is for a 10-inch gun. A temporary armament of five guns has been mounted, 10-inch smooth |