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DEFENSES OF PENSACOLA HARBOR AND NAVY-YARD-continued.

no appropriation has been made for them no work was done upon them. The plans require revision.

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.

No appropriation asked for next fiscal year.

DEFENSES OF MOBILE.

Fort Morgan, eastern entrance to Mobile Bay, Alabama, in charge of Maj. A. N. Damrell, Corps of Engineers.-This casemated fort, commenced in 1819 and completed in 1833, is situated at Mobile Point, on the east side of the main ship-chaunel to Mobile Bay, and as it commands this channel from the outer bar to the lower anchorage, and forms, with Fort Gaines on the west side of the channel, the outer line of defenses to the harbor and port of Mobile, its site is of great importance, but will not be of much value as a defensive work until the contemplated water batteries for heavy ordnance along the western and southern shores are completed. As stated in former reports, the construction of these batteries was commenced in September, 1875, but work had to be suspended in April, 1876, the amount appropriated being exhausted; and as no appropriations have been made since, this work has not been resumed. The plans of the batteries require revision. 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.

No appropriation asked for next fiscal year.

Fort Gaines, Dauphin Island, Alabama, in charge of Maj. A. N. Damrell, Corps of Engineers.-This work, commenced in 1848, is, with Fort Morgan, on the opposite side of the main entrance to Mobile Harbor, designed to command that entrance and the lower fleet anchorage. It needs complete modification to adapt it to the use of modern heavy guns, and plans therefor have been prepared by the Board of Engineers for Fortifications; but no appropriations having been made for this work, the fort remains in the condition as reported in former reports. The plans require revision.

Operations during the year were confined to the preservation and repair of buildings, cleaning and repairing drains, and to the care and preservation of the public property.

No appropriation having been made, no work was done at the 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.

No appropriation asked for next fiscal year.

DEFENSES OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND.

Fort on Ship Island, in charge of Maj. A. N. Damrell, Corps of Engineers.-This casemated fort, commenced in 1862, is located at the west end of Ship Island, on the east side of Ship Island Channel, and is designed for a fortified maritime depot of coal, provisions, &c., and for

DEFENSES OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND-continued.

the defense of the navigation of Mississippi Sound and the approaches to New Orleans from the eastward.

Operations during the year consisted in the construction of a gate, and general repairs and preservation of property.

No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886.
No appropriation asked for next fiscal year.

DEFENSES OF NEW ORLEANS.

Fort Pike, Rigolets Pass, Louisiana, in charge of Maj. Amos Stickney, Corps of Engineers, until July 23, 1884; in charge of Capt. Thomas Turtle, Corps of Engineers, until February 12, 1885; since that date in charge of Maj. W. H. Heuer, Corps of Engineers.-This casemated work, commenced in 1819, is located on the south side of the Rigolets, a pass connecting Lake Pontchartrain with Mississippi Sound and the Gulf of Mexico. It was designed to guard the extreme eastern approach to New Orleans available for vessels drawing 7 feet or less.

During the late civil war, while in the possession of the Confederates, 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.

During the past fiscal year the only work done at this fort was the cutting of the grass and weeds.

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. The plans require revision.

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.

No appropriation asked for next fiscal year.

Fort Macomb, Chef Menteur Pass, Louisiana, in charge of Maj. Amos Stickney, Corps of Engineers, until July 23, 1884; in charge of Capt. Thomas Turtle, Corps of Engineers, until February 12, 1885; since that date in charge of Maj. W. H. Heuer, 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 4 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 Louisville and Nashville Railroad, which crosses the pass but a few hundred yards from the fort.

During the past fiscal year the only work done at this fort was the cutting of the grass and weeds.

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

DEFENSES OF NEW ORLEANS-continued.

Fortifications in 1870, but no appropriation has been made therefor. The project requires revision.

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.

No appropriation asked for next fiscal year.

Tower Dupré, Lake Borgne, Louisiana, in charge of Maj. Amos Stickney, Corps of Engineers, until July 23, 1884; in charge of Capt. Thomas Turtle, Corps of Engineers, until February 12, 1885; since that date in charge of Maj. W. H. Heuer, 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.

No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886.
No appropriation asked for next fiscal year.

Battery Bienvenue, Lake Borgne, Louisiana, in charge of Maj. Amos Stickney, Corps of Engineers, until July 23, 1884; in charge of Capt. Thomas Turtle, Corps of Engineers, until February 12, 1885; since that date in charge of Maj. W. H. Heuer, 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 3 miles from the mouth of the bayou. It was designed to guard against boat expeditions from Lake Borgne 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, 1886.
No appropriation asked for next fiscal year.

Tower at Proctorsville, Lake Borgne, Louisiana, in charge of Maj. Amos Stickney, Corps of Engineers, until July 23, 1884; in charge of Capt. Thomas Turtle, Corps of Engineers, until February 12, 1885; since that date in charge of Maj. W. H. Heuer, 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 fiscal year.

No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886.
No appropriation asked for next fiscal year.

Fort Jackson, Mississippi River, Louisiana, in charge of Maj. Amos Stickney, Corps of Engineers, until July 23, 1884; in charge of Capt. Thomas Turtle, Corps of Engineers, until February 12, 1885; since that date in charge of Maj. W. H. Heuer, Corps of Engineers. This work,

DEFENSES OF NEW ORLEANS-continued.

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 fleet attempting their capture by way of the river.

It is an inclosed casemated work, with masonry scarps and new exterior earthen batteries, whicli are in an incomplete condition.

During the past fiscal year the grass has been mowed twice, a new wharf, 55 feet front by 25 feet deep, with an approach 24 feet long by 19 feet broad, together with a drift boom 71 feet long to protect the same from floating logs and drift-wood, was completed, a barbed-wire fence was also constructed to protect the levee and grounds from cattle. There was also purchased a cistern for use of ordnance sergeant at this fort. Two stone platforms for 15-inch guns were also completed during the year. The plans of the work require revision.

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.

No appropriation asked for next fiscal year.

Fort Saint Philip, Mississippi River, Louisiana, in charge of Maj. Amos Stickney, Corps of Engineers, until July 23, 1884; in charge of Capt. Thomas Turtle, Corps of Engineers, until February 12, 1885; since that date in charge of Maj. W. H. Heuer, Corps of Engineers.-The location and purpose 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.

During the past fiscal year work on this fortification has been confined to cutting the grass twice and building a new wharf, 55 feet front by 25 feet deep, with an approach 288 feet long, varying in width from 14 to 19 feet. A barbed wire fence has also been constructed to keep cattle off the levee and grounds. The plans of the work require revision. 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.

No appropriation asked for next fiscal year.

Fort Livingston, Barataria Bay, Louisiana, in charge of Maj. Amos Stickney, Corps of Engineers, until July 23, 1884; in charge of Capt. Thomas Turtle, Corps of Engineers, until February 12, 1885; since that date in charge of Maj. W. H. Heuer, 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.

DEFENSES OF NEW ORLEANS-continued.

During the past fiscal year the only work done at this fortification consisted in some minor repairs to quarters occupied by the ordnance. sergeant.

No work is contemplated during the current fiscal year beyond its protection, preservation, and repair as far as possible with the general appropriation made for this purpose.

No appropriation having been made, no work was done at this fortification during the last fiscal year except its protection, preservation, and repair, as far as was possible with the general appropriation made for this purpose.

No appropriation asked for next fiscal year.

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.

No appropriation asked for next fiscal year.

DEFENSES OF SAN DIEGO HARBOR.

Fort at San Diego, California, in charge of 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 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, terre-pleins, breast height walls, platforms, and communication. It is estimated about $135,000 will be required for these. The plans of the work require revision." 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.

No appropriation asked for next fiscal year.

DEFENSES OF SAN FRANCISCO, THE NAVY-YARD AT MARE ISLAND, AND THE ARSENAL AT BENICIA.

Fort Winfield Scott, entrance to San Francisco Harbor, California, in charge of Col. C. S. Stewart, Corps of Engineers.-This casemated work, commenced in 1853, and its exterior earthen barbette batteries, begun

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