east frout are armed. The eight casemates on northwest front are now ready for their guns, except traverse circles. Estimated cost of completing the work, $65,000. This estimate includes the building of seven permanent platforms in the place of the seven timber platforms which are now in position in the work and which were not included in the estimate made last year. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. $40,000 Fort Johnson, Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, in charge of Lieut. Col. Q. A. Gillmore, Corps of Engineers.-This fort, situated on James Island, is one of the works in the system of defense of Charleston Harbor. No operations were carried on at this work during the past fiscal year. The approved project for reconstructing this old work contemplates making of it a battery for eight pieces of heavy ordnance, four mortars and four guns. Its commencement and completion during the next fiscal year is recommended. Four 13-inch mortar platforms are on hand, ready to be laid. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. Castle Pinckney, Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, in charge of Lieut. Col. Q. A. Gillmore, Corps of Engineers.-This work, situated on an island near the city of Charleston, is one of the works in the system of defense of the harbor. No operations were carried on at this work during the past fiscal year. An appropriation is required to adapt it to the reception of 10. inch smooth-bore guns or corresponding rifles, to be mounted in barbette. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. No appropriation asked for next fiscal year. Fort Jackson, Savannah River, Georgia, in charge of Lieut. Col. Q. A. Gillmore, Corps of Engineers.-This work forms the inner line of defense for the city of Savannah. During the past fiscal year a service traverse-magazine has been built between guns 3 and 4 of the barbette battery. Five guns are in position, but they are not of the calibers contemplated in the approved project, and cannot be efficiently served without a completion of the work. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. Appropriation asked for next fiscal year $8,000 Fort Pulaski, mouth of Savannah River, Georgia, in charge of Lieut. Col. Q. A. Gillmore, Corps of Engineers.-This is the principal work for the defense of Savannah on the outer line of the system. During the past fiscal year the entire demilune was completed in accordance with the approved plan, except the retaining wall in demilune sally-port and the filling immediately behind it. This wall was completed during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1875, but was not found sufficiently strong to bear the thrust of the filling behind it, owing to the unstable nature of the material in which the piles were driven. It was finally taken down, the piling strengthened, and the wall rebuilt, which is now complete except coping. The modification of the main work in accordance with the approved designs was commenced. The new piers on the north front, numbered from the northwest bastion, have been raised to the following heights: Those opposite Nos. 2, 3, and 4, to reference (11' 6";) opposite Nos. 5 and 6, to reference (7';) and opposite No. 7, to reference (2) Estimated cost of completing the work, $235,000. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. $75,000 New fort on Tybee Island, mouth of Savannah River, Georgia, in charge of Lieut. Col. Q. A. Gillmore, Corps of Engineers.-Plans for the defensive works to be constructed on the north point of Tybee Island have been completed, and it is proposed to commence their construction whenever funds are available. No appropriation for the work has yet been made. Fort Clinch, Amelia Island, Florida, in charge of Lieut. Col. Q. A. Gillmore, Corps of Engineers.-This work defends the entrance into Cumberland Sound, and is in an unfinished condition. No operations were carried on at this work during the past fiscal year, its modification being still under consideration. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. Fort Marion, Saint Augustine, Florida, in charge of Lieut. Col. Q. A. Gillmore, Corps of Engineers.-This work defends the harbor and city of Saint Augustine. During the last fiscal year a temporary roof of scantling and boards, covered with felt, was constructed over the terreplein of the north front and a privy was built, all for the accommodation of the Indian prisoners or hostages confined in the work. One casemate on the south front was put in order for a guard-room, and a break in the retaining wall at the foot of the glacis, on the north side, was repaired. These alterations and repairs were made from the appropriation for contingencies of fortifications, at a cost of $1,594.03. No appropriation is asked for this work. Fort Taylor and batteries, Key West, Florida, in charge of Maj. Jared A. Smith, Corps of Engineers.-This work is for the defense of the important harbor of Key West. During the past fiscal year, all the bricks and movable materials have been transferred from the towers to the batteries and warehouses. One mile of the railroad has been removed and the materials stored. The hurricane of 1875 occasioned such damages to the southwest portion of cover-face and other parts as to necessitate the expenditure of remaining funds in reconstructions and repairs. A breach 150 feet in length, about 600 cubic yards, was made in the sea-wall, drains were filled with dirt, and fences and water-conductors were broken down. These have all been put in good order, and other parts of sea-wall have been repaired. This has included the laying of 603 cubic yards of concrete, 228 cubic yards of granite, and the wheeling and embanking of 1,469 cubic yards of sand and small stone. Sixteen hundred and fortyfour linear feet of water-gutters have been repaired and painted, and 1,596 linear feet of board-fence built for protection of south battery. The concrete portions of wall below water were laid in bags, without being previously wet, each layer being well rammed. This entire repair has been done with such implements as could be improvised, and with the laborers most of the time to their waists, or deeper, in water. No work has been done on the sand-batteries. The designs for batteries have been considerably modified, so that the guns may be protected singly instead of in pairs. This reduces the emplacements in south battery to 14, and in north battery to 8. The heavy guns now in these batteries and main work are on wooden platforms, which are becoming unserviceable, and should be permanently rebuilt. The long bridge, forming the only communication with the main work, must soon fall unless rebuilt, and considerable other work is required, for which a large appropriation is greatly needed. At the martello towers, to prevent intrusion and depredations, the entrances and embrasures have been closed with strong shutters, and watchmen have been employed as fort-keepers. The movable property requiring care has been placed in warehouses of Fort Taylor. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. ..$75,000 Fort Jefferson, Garden Key, Tortugas, Florida, in charge of Maj. Jared A. Smith, Corps of Engineers.-The guns of this work perfectly command the admirable harbor lying in the heart of this group of keys. No appropriation being available for construction, the expenditure has been confined to care of public property and buildings. All the property has been moved, completely stored, and, as far as possible, put in order. Windows of barracks and quarters have been closed with temporary wooden shutters. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. .$25,000 Fort Pickens, Pensacola Harbor, Florida, in charge of Capt. A. N. Damrell, Corps of Engineers.-This work, with Fort Barrancas and the proposed new batteries near the site of Fort McRee, constitute the defenses to the town and harbor of Pensacola and to the navy-yard at Warrington. During the past fiscal year, quarters, store-houses, blacksmith-sbop, and wharf were repaired. A new stable, mess-hall, and kitchen were built. A railroad-track was laid. Four cars were built. Two derricks were made and raised. The modifications of bastion C were completed according to the approved plan of the Board of Engineers for Fortifications, with the exception of the stone center-pintle platform, and work was commenced on the modifications of bastion D. During the present working season it is expected to finish bastion D. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. Appropriation asked for next fiscal year.. $75,000 Fort Barrancas and redoubt, Pensacola Harbor, Florida, in charge of Capt. A. N. Damrell, Corps of Engineers.-No changes have been made in this work during the last fiscal year, operations having been restricted to those necessary for the proper care and preservation of the property. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. No appropriation asked for next fiscal year. Fort McRee, Pensacola Harbor, Florida, in charge of Capt. A. N. Damrell, Corps of Engineers.-The condition of this work is about the same as at the date of the last annual report. No work was done during the past fiscal year, and none contemplated for the present. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. $50,000 Fort Morgan, eastern entrance to Mobile Bay, Alabama, in charge of Capt. A. N. Damrell, Corps of Engineers.-This work, with Fort Gaines on the western side of the entrance, forms the outer line of defense to the harbor and city of Mobile. During the past fiscal year, quarters, kitchen, mess-hall, stables, and railroad-track to the wharf were repaired. Two thousand six hundred and eighty-seven feet of new railroad-track and four cars were built. Parados, parapet, breast-height wall, and foundation for the gun-platform for gun-position No. 1, service magazine for the battery, breast height wall, foundation for gun-platform, and portion of the parapet for gun-position No. 2, were completed. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1977. $75,000 Fort Gaines, Dauphin Island, Mobile Bay, Alabama, in charge of Capt. A. N. Damrell, Corps of Engineers.-Operations during the year were confined to the care of public property. The condition of this work remains the same as last year. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. Fort on Ship Island, coast of Mississippi, in charge of Capt. A. N. Damrell, Corps of Engineers.-This work affords shelter to light-draught vessels moving in Mississippi Sound. During the last fiscal year the stone flagging in this fort (272 square yards) has been completed, the store-house and fort-keeper's quarters have been put in good repair, and all irou-work and other property exposed to the weather has been properly stored. This work was done under the allotment from the appropriation for contingencies of fortifications. No preparations have been made or are intended for any change in the armament. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. Fort Pike, Rigolets Pass, Louisiana, in charge of Capt. C. W. Howell, Corps of Engineers.-This work commands the passage by vessels drawing 7 feet or less, through the Rigolets, into Lake Pontchartrain, and to the wharves on the lake front of New Orleans. Projects for its modification, in accordance with the approved system, were approved in 1870, and detailed estimates of the cost of the proposed modifications made. During the past fiscal year operations have been confined to necessary repairs for the preservation of the work. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. Fort Macomb, Chef Menteur Pass, Louisiana, in charge of Capt. C. W. Howell, Corps of Engineers.-This work commands the passage by vessels drawing 43 feet or less, through the Bayou Chef Menteur, into Lake Pontchartrain, and the road along Gentilly Ridge, to the city of New Orleans. During the past fiscal year operations have been limited to repairs necessary for the preservation of the work. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. Tower Dupre's, Lake Borgne, Louisiana, in charge of Capt. C. W. Howell, Corps of Engineers.-This old work is situated at the entrance of Bayou Dupre's into Lake Borgne. During the past fiscal year operations were confined to such slight repairs as were necessary for the care and preservation of the work. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. No appropriation asked for next fiscal year. Battery Bienvenue, Lake Borgne, Louisiana, in charge of Capt. C. W. Howell, Corps of Engineers.-This battery is situated at the junction of two branches of the Bayou Bienvenue, about three miles from its mouth. A keeper was retained at this work during the year, and, with occasional assistance, kept the work and its buildings in fair condition, and also kept the surrounding sea-marsh cleared so as to prevent danger from marsh fires. The battery and buildings have settled so as to be flooded during more than ordinary tides. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. 1 Tower at Proctorsville, Lake Borgne, Louisiana, in charge of Capt. C. W. Howell, Corps of Engineers.-No work was done during the past fiscal year, except that performed by the fort-keeper. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. Fort Jackson, Mississippi River, Louisiana, in charge of Capt. C. W. Howell, Corps of Engineers.-This work, and Fort Saint Philip, nearly opposite, are situated on the Mississippi River, about 65 miles below New Orleans, and are the most important of those guarding the approaches to New Orleans. Operations during the past fiscal year consisted in making sally-port to connect lower battery with lower covered-way battery; in providing material for two center-pintle granite platforms; preparing foundations for these; setting a portion of the granite blocks, cutting stone for their permanent breast-height wall, and partially erecting the latter; in raising, bonneting, and resodding magazine-traverses; in repairing slopes of parapet, levees, roads, buildings, and casemates, and general police of the work. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. $25,000 During the next fiscal year it is proposed to complete the permanent platforms, with their breast-height walls; enlarge the opening on the lower covered-way battery, and construct a bridge across the moat between the two; take up and relay railroad track, so as to better facilitate the movement of materials and armament into the fort; construct as much permanent breast-height wall, to replace wooden wall, as the balance of appropriation will permit. Fort Saint Philip, Mississippi River, Louisiana, in charge of Capt. C• W. Howell, Corps of Engineers.-During the past fiscal year three magazines were built and three traverses completed up to the crown of the arches; foundation of sally-port was completed and weighted; two wooden platforms were put down; foundations prepared for two permanent platforms, and excavations made for seven more. The wharf was extended 32 feet and repaired; a brick drain was built for drainage of magazine in northeast battery. The military reservation was resurveyed, and the boundary-line marked with stone monuments. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. $25,000 During the next fiscal year it is proposed to complete the three magazine-traverses in upper battery; complete sally-port and traverse; provide and put down as many permanent platforms and construct as much permanent breast-height wall as the appropriation will permit. Fort Livingston, Barataria Bay, Louisiana, in charge of Capt. C. W. Howell, Corps of Engineers.-This barbette-work is situated on the western end of Grand Terre Island, at the entrance to Barataria Bay. It guards the only approach to New Orleans by vessels drawing 7 feet or less, available on the west side of the Mississippi River. It also secures a safe anchorage and harbor of refuge for our own light-draught coasters in time of war. |