half completed. On the cover face, emplacements for four heavy guns have been essentially completed, and the parados on the south bastion has been begun. In the place-of-arms the parados covering two magazines and a large bomb proof has been essentially completed; two traverses have been built, and the requisite thickening of the parapet has been finished. The new battery for three modern guns at the north end of the covered way is essentially completed with the magazine. Necessary repairs have been made upon the sea-wall, temporary buildings, de.

Fort at Willet's Point, eastern entrance to New York Harbor, in charge of Major H. L. Abbot, Corps of Engineers.-This work unites with Fort Schuyler in the defense of the entrance to the harbor of New York City through the East River, and its site is favorable to the construction of earthen barbette batteries. The operations for the removal of natural obstructions to navigation at Hell Gate, render it even more important than heretofore that this channel of approach to New York City and the Brooklyn navy-yard should be put in a proper state of defense. Amount appropriated for fiscal year ending June 30, 1872, $45,000. Appropriation asked for next fiscal year, $90,000.

During the past year an underground passage from the new bluff batteries to the water battery, 270 feet long, has been completed; about three-quarters of the large storage magazine, designed to contain 250,000 pounds of powder, has been finished; six service magazines have been nearly finished and the foundations for another laid; the parapet, covering emplacements for twelve heavy guns, has been so far completed as to be ready for the guns if necessary.

Fort Columbus, Governor's Island, New York Harbor, in charge of Lieutenant Colonel John Newton, Corps of Engineers.-In the new barhette battery eight traverse magazines have been built, the parapet has been partially constructed the whole length of the battery, excavations have been made for the terre plein, for road in rear of terre plein, and for foundations for the remaining eight magazines.

No appropriation was made for fiscal year ending June 30, 1872.
Appropriation asked for next fiscal year, $70,000.

Castle William, Governor's Island, New York Harbor, in charge of Lieutenant Colonel John Newton, Corps of Engineers.-Nothing has been done at this work during the past year.

South Battery, Governor's Island, New York Harbor, in charge of Lieutenant Colonel John Newton, Corps of Engineers.-Nothing has been done at this work during the past year.

Fort Wood, Bedloe's Island, New York Harbor, in charge of Lieutenant Colonel John Newton, Corps of Engineers.-This work, together with those upon Governor's Island, is designed to close the entrance to the East and Hudson rivers and to cover New York, part of Brooklyn, and Jersey City, from the bombardment of a hostile fleet in New York Bay. No appropriation was made for fiscal year ending June 30, 1872. Appropriation asked for next fiscal year, $17,000,

In the new water battery, five traverse magazines have been built; the parapet has been constructed the whole length of the battery; the terre plein has been raised to the proper height.

Fort Hamilton, New York Harbor, in charge of Lieutenant Colonel John Newton, Corps of Engineers.-This work is situated at the Narrows of New York Harbor, upon the Long Island side. Until the question as to the use of iron to cover guns can be determined, no work is proposed pon it other than that necessary for its preservation. At present it is best devoted to the purposes of a keep for the detached earthen bar

bette batteries around it, for quarters and store-houses, and for the reception of mortars on its terre pleins. The work during the past year has been confined to repairs, and the alteration of some embrasures in the officers' quarters.

Fort Hamilton and additional batteries, New York Harbor, in charge of Lieutenant Colonel John Newton, Corps of Engineers. These batteries are earthen barbette batteries exterior to Fort Hamilton, and constitute powerful auxiliaries to the defense of the Narrows.

Amount appropriated for fiscal year ending June 30, 1872, $25,000. Appropriation asked for next fiscal year, $40,000.

Operations were commenced on water battery No.1, by building a coffer dam 484 feet long and 83 feet from the shore line; the foundation was commenced by driving piles and spiking timbers to them, forming a grillage bottom, which was leveled off with rubble stone and concrete. The sea wall was carried up five courses, (ref. 6 feet 9 inches.)

Fort Wadsworth, New York Harbor, in charge of Major Q. A. Gillmore, Corps of Engineers.-This fort is situated on the Staten Island side of the Narrows of New York Harbor, and is a large casemated work. No modifications are proposed at present in it, and no funds asked other than for its preservation. During the past year operations were confined to the repairs of the long earthen slopes in the rear of the work. Fort on site of Fort Tompkins, New York Harbor, in charge of Major Q. A. Gillmore, Corps of Engineers.-This work crowns the hill in rear of the open batteries and other works on Staten Island, defending the entrance through the Narrows to New York Harbor, acts as a keep for those works, and when completed, will throw a heavy fire from a high elevation upon vessels attempting to pass before it.

Amount appropriated for fiscal year ending June 30, 1872, $52,000. Appropriation asked for next fiscal year, $32,000.

The operations have been mostly confined to the construction of the bomb proofs of the channel front and the excavation of the earth from the parade, depositing the same to fill in the large slope and cover face in front of the fort.

The piers and arches of the seventeen bomb proofs between the two sally ports, including the foundations of the casemate extensions, have been constructed. The scarp wall between the sally ports was finished, with the exception of an opening left in the center for temporary egress and ingress. The piers and skew backs of both the sally port arches have been built. The parade wall was carried two feet above the top of parade arches, and the concrete forming the roof surfaces of the casemate arches was nearly made ready for the mastic covering. The brick sewer running under the center of the channel front has been connected near the northwest gorge flank of Fort Wadsworth with the sewer running from the south soldiers' latrine.

The connection was made with cement pipe measuring 2 feet interior diameter and 381 feet in length.

The cisterns under the casemates of the channel front have been connected with each other by suitable pipe and made ready to receive the drainage from the casemate roofs. The portion of earth filling to form the cover face in front of the scarp has been connected with the casemate roof surface by a temporary wooden bridge, so that the earth filling over the arches can be transported and deposited without being twice handled. The iron balcony for the parade of the channel front is in readiness to be put up.

During the current fiscal year it is contemplated to complete the channel front of Fort Tompkins, and put it in readiness for its battery,

according to the existing plan, (omitting the completion of the cover face and the construction of the parade and division walls of the casemate,) to place the iron balcony around the entire parade of the work, to excavate the parade to its proper grade, and to put up the gates and side loop-holed walls in the two sally ports.

Glacis Mortar Battery, (south of Fort Tompkins,) in charge of Major Q. A. Gillmore, Corps of Engineers.-During the past fiscal year the earth work and sodding of this battery were completed, except a portion of the rear slope and the covering of the principal magazine, of which one-fourth of the concrete masonry is already laid.

The two service magazines were also finished, except the doors and granite coping to be laid on the entrance retaining walls. The battery will be finished and ready for the platforms and armament during the present working season,

No appropriation asked for next fiscal year.

Battery Hudson, Staten Island, New York Harbor, in charge of Major Q. A. Gillmore, Corps of Engineers.-This work, together with those on the north and south cliffs, forms a system of open earthen barbette batteries, lying exterior to Forts Tompkins and Wadsworth, and brings a powerful fire to bear upon the channel, up to and through the Narrows. Amount appropriated for fiscal year ending June 30, 1872, $16,000. Appropriations asked for next fiscal year, $17,000.

That portion of the battery near the light-house and west of the 15-inch center pintle platform has been cleared to give room for platforms for 15-inch guns and two service magazines. The latter have been built during the year and are complete except the doors and a portion of the earth work and sodding and the coping of the wing walls. In the extension of the battery the masonry of the two service magazines and the principal magazine is complete, except the coping wing walls. The earth excavations to form the rear slopes, and the filling over the magazines, are all in a forward state and nearly ready for sodding. It is expected that the Battery Hudson extension, and the return at the light-house, will be completed and made ready for their new armaments during the present working season.

North Cliff Battery, Staten Island, New York Harbor, in charge of Major Q. A. Gillmore, Corps of Engineers.-No operations were carried on during the past fiscal year, except to clear the earth from the terreplein, where it had been washed from the unfinished slope at the north end of the battery. The earth was deposited to form the parapet. This battery may be finished according to existing plans during the present fiscal year.

South Cliff Battery, Staten Island, New York Harbor, in charge of Major Q. A. Gillmore, Corps of Engineers.-No operations were carried on during the past fiscal year, except to cut the grass and keep the gutters and cesspools open. The battery may be finished according to the existing plans during the present fiscal year.

Fort at Sandy Hook, New Jersey, in charge of Lieutenant Colonel John Newton, Corps of Engineers.-The condition of this work remains the same as at the date of the last annual report, the watchmen being the only force employed during the year.

Operations were commenced in the latter part of the month of June, 1871, for constructing additional jettees for protecting the site of the fort, $13,500 having been allotted from appropriation for contingencies of fortifications.

No appropriation was made for fiscal year ending June 30, 1872.
No appropriation asked for the next fiscal year.

Fort Mifflin, Delaware River, Pennsylvania, in charge of Lieutenant Colonel J. D. Kurtz, Corps of Engineers.-This fort constitutes one of the inner line of works for the defense of Philadelphia and the naval establishment at League Island.

Amount appropriated for fiscal year ending June 30, 1872, $26,000. Appropriation asked for next fiscal year, $85,000.

During the last year two small service magazines in the demilune have been commenced and continued to completion.

There have also been executed repairs and restoration of the dikes near the fort; excavation and clearing of the ditches; re-adjusting the surfaces of the 15-inch gun platforms; cleansing and purifying the quarters, barracks, and store-houses; repairs of roads and bridges; construction of a new sluice for the use of the ditches of the work; attention to grassed surfaces, and minor repairs to scarp, parapet, and buildings.

The present year it is proposed to complete the two demilune traverses and the three gun platforms of its south face, to construct two traverses and magazines of the exterior battery, with five corresponding gun platforms, the storage magazine in demilune, and half of the mortar battery below the fort.

Next year it is proposed to construct the new breast height wall, two 15-inch gun platforms, and one earth traverse in demilune; one traverse with magazine, four 15-inch gun platforms, and the sand and earth embankment of the exterior battery; also to complete mortar battery, for six mortars south of the fort.

Fort Delaware, Delaware River, Delaware, in charge of Lieutenant Colonel J. D. Kurtz, Corps of Engineers.-This work, situated on the Pea Patch Island, forms one of the chain of works constituting the outer line of defense for the Delaware River.

No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1872. Appropriation asked for next fiscal year, $50,000.

Operations were commenced on the 12th September, 1870, to make provision for new platforms for large guns, with their magazines and traverses. Six of these magazines have been constructed of concrete masonry, and the embankment of the traverses has been commenced.

The levee on the southern and southwestern sides of the island has been rebuilt for a distance of 2,450 feet; the stone revetment on the sea face has been relaid and the main ditch, inside the bank, thoroughly cleaned out for more than that distance.

During the present year the work on the barbette platforms, with their magazines and traverses, will be completed. Next year it is proposed to cleanse the remaining ditches and repair the banks on the upper faces of the island; to complete the coping of dock walls; build the stone facing to the upper eastern wharf; remove upper stories of the quarters on parade of fort; repair the scarp on Front I,'and execute minor repairs of bridges, walls, roads, and walks, breast heights, and counterscarp walls, parade, and stair towers.

Battery at Finn's Point, Delaware River, New Jersey, in charge of Lieutenant Colonel J. D. Kurtz, Corps of Engineers.-The construction of this powerful earthen barbette battery for this point, to form the left of the outer line of defenses across the mouth of the Delaware River, has been delayed for want of the necessary act of cession of jurisdiction of the site from the state of New Jersey. This act will be obtained the coming winter, and operations pushed forward the coming season.

Amount appropriated for fiscal year ending June 30, 1872, $20,000. No appropriation asked for next fiscal year.

New Fort, opposite Fort Delaware, Delaware shore, in charge of Lieuten

ent Colonel J. D. Kurtz, Corps of Engineers.-Measures have been taken for the acquisition of the site of this barbette battery, and it is expected that active operations will commence in a short time.

It is proposed, during the present fiscal year, to build a wharf and the necessary temporary buildings, and to commence the construction of the lattery.

Amount appropriated for fiscal year ending June 30, 1872, $50,000. Appropriation asked for next fiscal year, $50,000.

Fort McHenry, Baltimore Harbor, Maryland, in charge of Major Wm. P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers.-This work forms part of the inner line of defense for Baltimore and its dependent interests, and commands with its fire the interior waters of its harbor and the channels of approach thereto. A project for a large exterior battery for guns of the largest calibers has been prepared, and an appropriation is asked for its com

mencement.

No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1872. Appropriation asked for next fiscal year, $25,000.

The wharf, which was much decayed by long use, has been rebuilt. The floor of the large magazine exterior to the work has been renewed. The armament of the work has remained unchanged.

Observations have been made for the determination of the direction and force of the surface and sub surface currents in this vicinity, with a view to selecting the best location for explosive and other obstructions to the passage of hostile vessels.

Lazaretto Point, opposite Fort McHenry, Baltimore Harbor, Maryland, in charge of Major Wm. P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers.-This work will cross its fire with that from Fort McHenry, constituting one of the inner line of defenses of the harbor, and consists of an earthen barbette battery for the largest guns. The site selected is now the property of the United States, and an appropriation is asked for the commencement of the work.

No appropriation has as yet been made for this work.

Appropriation asked for next fiscal year, $15,000.

Fort Carroll, Baltimore Harbor, Maryland, in charge of Major Wm. P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers.-This work is situated upon the outer line for the defense of the harbor of Baltimore. It is a casemated work, and until the methods of arranging such works shall have been devised, no expenditure is proposed upon it other than for preservation.

Observations have been made for the determination of the direction and force of the surface and sub surface currents in this vicinity, with a view to selecting the best location for explosive and other obstructions to the passage of hostile vessels.

Obstructions of the Potomac, in charge of Major Wm. P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers. It has not yet been found practicable to make the desired experiments upon these obstructions. The material has been kept in store at Fort Foote.

Fort Foote, Potomac River, Maryland, in charge of Major Wm. P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers.-This work forms the inner line of defense of the channel of approach by water to Alexandria and the cities of Washington and Georgetown. The projects for the modification of this work and erection of an additional battery of the heaviest guns have been Submitted. Arrangements have been made for the purchase of the site. The wharf has been rebuilt.

Observations have been made for the determination of the direction and force of the surface and sub surface currents in this vicinity, with a