Fort Hamilton, New York harbor, in charge of Brevet Major J. G. Barnard.-A new permanent wharf has been commenced, and most of the piers set, and the structure will be nearly or quite completed this season; small repairs have been made on the redoubt and main work. Balance in treasury October 1, 1857.......... Probable amount to be expended by June 30, 1858 $10,000 00 10,000 00 Fort Lafayette, New York harbor, in charge of Brevet Major J. G. Barnard.-Nothing has been done at this work except to make some necessary repairs of small magnitude to the sea-wall. Balance in treasury October 1, 1857........ Probable amount to be expended by June 30, 1858...... $10,000 00 10,000 00 Fort Richmond, Staten Island, New York harbor, in charge of Brevet Major J. G. Barnard.-The operations in progress at the date of the last annual report were actively prosecuted. The scarp of the north curtain, including the construction of the embrasures of the second and third tiers, has been carried from reference (25' 10") to (45' 11",) and the scarp of the east and south curtains, including the construction of the embrasures of the second tier, and the setting of the sills and embrasure irons for the greater part of the third tier, from reference (23' 4") to (40' 9".) The pan-coupés of the north and east channel bastions have been arranged; the gun embrasures and howitzer embrasures for the second tier constructed, and the masonry carried to reference (36' 10".) All the communication and main casemate arches of the second tier, including those of the north channel and north gorge bastions have been turned, and those of the east channel and south gorge bastions commenced. The masonry of the service magazine for the second tier has also been completed, and a portion of the granite flagging in the gun room recesses set Balance in treasury October 1, 1857.. Probable amount to be expended by June 30, 1858...... Estimate of amount required to be appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1859... $118,169 97 118,169 97 100,000 00 Fort Tompkins, Staten Island, New York.-The appropriation of $150,000, made at the late session of Congress, for the erection of a work on the site of this old fort, will permit a good beginning to be made in the reconstruction, as soon as the plans can be perfected by the board of engineers. The appropriation of $42,300, made for the purchase of an extension of the site, the acquisition of which has for many years been recommended as indispensable to the security of the rear of this and the other works of defence on Staten Island, has been thus applied, and the United States has now the title to this important position. Balance in treasury October 1, 1857.... $150,000 00 Probable amount to be expended by June 30, 1858..... 100,000 00 Batteries Hudson and Morton, Staten Island, New York.-These batteries are in good condition. No further appropriation is asked. Fortifications at Sandy Hook, New Jersey, outlet of New York harbor.-The necessary steps have been taken preliminary to commencing the construction of the work at this highly important position, for which Congress at its last session made an appropriation of $250,000, which sum will suffice for the commencement of operations next year. Balance in treasury October 1, 1857 ..... $230,000 00 Probable amount to be expended by June 30, 1858...... 130,000 00 Fort Mifflin, Delaware river, in charge of Brevet Major John Sanders. This work, though in a state of general efficiency, needs some repairs; they are not so pressing, however, but they may be postponed another year. Fort Delaware, Delaware river, in charge of Brevet Major John San ders.-The face of the scarp from bastion (5-1) to the officers' quarters on front (3,) now of irregular heights, will be carried up to the cordon course before the close of fall operations, and all the casemates in rear of this part of the scarp will also be covered in and their roof surfaces partially formed. The stair towers (1-2) and (2—3) will be completed. The quarters and barracks are now carried above the sills of the second story windows. The permanent gateway and postern have been advanced but little during the year, but will be pushed to completion as soon as practicable. All the embrasure irons required for the work have been procured, those of the lower and part of those of the upper tier have been set, leaving only 17 sets to be still put in place. The funds still unexpended will suffice to cover in bastions (5-1,) (3-4,) and (4-5,) and to raise the whole scarp, except that of curtain (5,) to the cordon reference. An appropriation of $250,000 is asked for by the officer in charge, which would, he thinks, bring the main work to such a state of completion as to prepare it for the reception of its armament; but, in consequence of the necessity of restricting the general estimates, I am compelled to reduce this to $100,000. The sites for batteries on either shore, to afford the requisite cross fires with the fort for the more perfect defence of the channel of the river, are yet to be provided. Balance in treasury October 1, 1857 ..... $115,000 00 115,000 00 100,000 00 Fort Carroll, Soller's Point Flats, Baltimore harbor, in charge of Major H. Brewerton.-The piling of the foundation has been completed, and the piles sawed off on fronts 2, 3, and 4. The grillage has been completed on fronts 3 and 4; and on front 2, the whole of the lower course of timber of the grillage, three-fourths of the upper course, and about one-fourth of the 6-inch planking have been laid. The opening left in front 5 has been closed and the sea-wall completed, as has also the eighth course of the scarp wall. The exterior of the ninth course of scarp has been laid, with the exception of about five-sixths of front 2. The interior of the ninth course has been laid on front 3, and 200 feet on front 4. The exterior of tenth course has been laid on front 3 and part of front 4, together with 200 running feet of the interior of the same course on the latter front. The foundations of six of the piers on front 3, and eight on front 4, have been raised one foot six inches above the top of the grillage. Fifty-two thousand three hundred and nineteen cubic yards of sand have been taken from the bed of the river and placed within the area of the fort, making the whole quantity of filling, to include the 30th September, 85,561 cubic yards. An artesian well, for the purpose of procuring a supply of pure, fresh water, was commenced in March last, and iron pipes (20 inches in diameter,) have been sunk to the depth of about 109 feet below the plane of ordinary low water. The permanent wharf has been commenced, and it is hoped to sink the wooden portion in place this year. Balance in treasury October 1, 1857 ..... $155,505 48 155,505 48 100,000 00 Fort Madison, Annapolis harbor, Maryland, in charge of Captain M. C. Meigs. An appropriation towards the completion of this fort was made at the last session, but the plans having been destroyed by fire no operations of construction could be undertaken till a survey and a plan of the ground and work were made. This is now in hand, and will be completed so as to allow the commencement of work early next season. The work has been in care of a fort keeper, who reports all in good condition. Fort Washington, Potomac river, Maryland.-This fort continues in good condition, and has required no work except in some repairs of the wharf. These have been made. Fort Monroe, Old Point Comfort, Virginia, in charge of Brevet Col. John L. Smith.-The magazines of front No. 6 are nearly finished. Old and defective pipes have been removed and new pipes have been laid for the drainage of the roofs of fronts No. 1 and No. 2, and of the roofs of the caps de garde, and of the magazines of front No. 5. The masons have been engaged mostly in re pointing the masonry of the exterior of the casemates. The counterscarp at the sluice, near the batardeau, that had been undermined during a gale some years ago, is nearly rebuilt, with piles and a bedding of béton to support the foundations. Extensive repairs have been made to the gutters of the roof of the water battery in advance of front No. 4. Nothing has been done to the redoubt. The pierhead of the permanent wharf has been finished. Its stability was thoroughly tested during the ice period, of three weeks duration, in January and February last. The bridge between the pierhead and shore needs immediate temporary repair to render it safe. The wharf is an indispensable appendage to Fort Monroe. The bridge ought to be rebuilt without delay, and in a permanent manner. Balance in treasury October 1, 1857.... Probable amount to be expended by June 30, 1858....... $31,000 00 31,000 00 Artesian well at Fort Monroe, Old Point Comfort, Virginia.-No offers have been received for sinking the artesian well by contract, although they were advertised at many places. Balance in treasury October 1, 1857........ $10,000 00 Bridge over Mill creek, Old Point Comfort, Virginia.-The appropriation of $800 made at the last session for the repairs of this bridge, forming the sole communication between Fort Monroe and Hampton, will be applied to such indispensable renewals as can be effected with that sum. These, it is hoped, will put the bridge in a serviceable condition for another year, and therefore no further appropriation is now asked. Fort Calhoun, Hampton Roads, Virginia, in charge of Brevet Colonel John L. Smith.-The construction of this work is about to be commenced, and a contract has been concluded for the stone for the lower courses, the delivery of which is to commence in November. The removal of the loading was completed in May last. Much labor has been expended in removing obstacles to admit of the measurement of the old masonry; also in handling red sandstone to make necessary measurements; also in loading the spaces to be occupied by stairways, &c. The old walls have been removed, to some extent, where the magistral course of the scarp and the base courses of the piers are to be laid; and the bedding for these courses has been prepared nearly to the extent of the removal. The new wharf will be in a condition for receiving the stone contracted for when it may be delivered. 1857..... Balance in treasury October 1, 1857 $146,048 00 146,048 00 100,000 00 Fort Macon and preservation of its site, Beaufort harbor, North Carolina, in charge of Lieutenant W. H. C. Whiting until July 2, 1857, since then of Captain G. W. Cullum.-The condition of the work is, generally, very good, except the shingling of the interior slopes of the covered way and the iron work, which requires thorough lackering. The jettys require considerable repairs for the efficient protection of the site. They were cut off from the beach, to which they should be thoroughly re-united, by the August gale of 1856, and the greater storm of 1857. Balance in treasury October 1, 1857 ..... Probable amount to be expended by June 30, 1858...... Estimate of amount required to be appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1859... $600 00 600 00 10,000 00 Fort Caswell and preservation of its site, Smithville, North Carolina, in charge of Lieutenant W. H. C. Whiting until July 2, 1857, since then of Captain G. W. Cullum.-Nothing has been done at this work during the past year. The masonry, generally, is in good condition, Vol. ii-12 though some pointing should be renewed and a few trifling leaks stopped a new shot furnace is required or the old one should be repaired; the parapets, terrepleins, and glacis are considerably cut up by cattle, which cannot be excluded without erecting a substantial fence exterior to the site of the fort; the shingled slopes are much, and the permanent parts of the bridges partially, decayed; the quarters within the keep or citadel require some repairs and thorough painting and white-washing; the water gate should be re-adjusted; the wharf, now useless by the making out of the beach, wants extension, and many minor details require attention. Owing to the shifting of the channel into Cape Fear river, from the east to the west bank, additional platforms for guns will be wanted upon the gorge of the main work, and upon the right flank and gorge of the covered way. Estimate of amount required to be appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1859.... $10,000 00 Repairs of Fort Moultrie, Charleston harbor, South Carolina, in charge of Captain G. W. Cullum.-Nothing has been done at this work during the past year, except procuring the cut granite for the columbiad platforms, designed to take the place of lighter guns now on the channel fronts of the fort. Preservation of the site of Fort Moultrie, Charleston harbor, South Carolina, in charge of Captain G. W. Cullum.-The new jetty for the protection of Sullivan's island is nearly half finished, its completion having been suspended till the effect of the constructed part is determined and the sand has accumulated on the prolongation, whereby a considerable saving of stone will be effected, should further extension become necessary. The indications thus far are very favorable, the jetty having accumulated much sand and subserved the purposes for which it was built. It was originally contemplated to be 250 feet long, but it is now thought it may be safely limited to 150 feet, for which the present appropriation will be ample. I would, however, urgently recommend the thorough repairs of the existing jettys, some of which have sunk in places and others have been much damaged by severe gales for several years, during which nothing has been done to them for their preservation. Balance in treasury October 1, 1857.............. $6,500 00 6,500 00 10,000 00 Fort Sumter, Charleston harbor, South Carolina, in charge of Captain G. W. Cullum.-This work has been vigorously advanced during the past year, to increase its defensive efficiency and accomodation for its garrison. Twenty masonry platforms, for heavy columbiads, have been laid down, and the entire barbette, or upper battery of fifty-three guns, has been made ready for service. The whole interior of the officers' quarters has been finished in the most substantial and workmanlike |