Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Benicia Arsenal 1861 Annual Report

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Benicia Arsenal 1861 Annual Report

    I recently transcribed and posted this on my blog about the Civil War in the Southwest and thought some here might find it interesting as well.
    Benicia Arsenal
    July 18th 1861

    Brvt. Brig. General J. W. Ripley
    Commanding Ordnance Department,
    Washington City,

    General, I have the honor to submit the following report of operations at this arsenal during the year ending June 30th 1861.

    Buildings

    The new arsenal store-house, one hundred and seventy feet wide and seventy-five feet long, sixty feet wide and three stories high, is finished except the pointing of inside and outside walls, the paving or graveling of the lower story, and a cistern to recieve the water from the roof. It is built of Benicia Sandstone, of a quality superior to that which has been used for building purposes in the neighboring city of San Francisco: judging from the latter which has been used for ten years it would seem that the stone indurates from exposure to the atmosphere and is well adapted for building in the climate, where heavy frost is rare and variations of temperature during the year slight. The foundations of this building are laid on the solid rock, the walls are of “rock [?]” on the outside and are hammer dressed on the inside; they are pierced in the lower story with loop hole windows for Musketry and four embrasures for flank defense howitzers. All these openings are furnished with boiler iron shutters and the main doors are of two thicknesses of plank fastened together with iron rivets six inches apart from center to center, the heads and washers being being hemi-spherical one inch and a half diameter. Both the upper stories and attic are lighted by glass, the roof of the main building is slated and copper has been used on the towers.

    Two towers projecting beyond the sides and was on the diagonal comes , have loop hole windows in every story which furnish a flank defense for every face of the store house; they also contain the stairways and afford room for cleaning and packing stores. A staff on the South West tower supports our country’s flag which flies one hundred feet above the ground. All the small arms & accouterments, the siege and field guns were moved into this building before its completion one third one third of the lower story has been partitioned off & floored over for the occupancy of troops, it is at present garrisoned by a company of the 6th Reg. Infantry.

    Commanding Officers Quarters. This building is furnished and occupied. It is built of brick with slate roof and copper gutters according to plans furnished by the ordnance department. It still remains necessary to paint this building on the outside.

    Officers Quarters No. 2 the walls of this building are completed and the slaters are at work on the roof. Most of the inside finish is ready.

    Fabricated

    2. Platforms24 Pdr Siege Guns
    6. Sponge heads Mt. Howitzers
    4. Wipers 6 inch Mortar
    4. Quoins
    8. Pointing stakes
    8. Gunner’s sleeves
    4. Portfire shears
    3. Sponge covers
    2. Vent covers
    5. Girths for pack saddles
    5. [?] Boxes
    202. Fixed rounds ofsperical case shot for 12 pdr Mt. Howitzers
    40. Junk wads
    196. grommet wads
    46. Holsters Colts Belt Pistol
    4. Curb bridles
    3. Watering bridles
    13. Surcingles
    29. Girths
    129. Halter head stalls
    147. Halter straps
    1. Pair coat straps
    1. Carbine strap
    1. Crupper
    838. Columbiad cartridges
    389. 24 pdr cartridges
    538. 12 pdr ”
    1308. 6 pdr ”
    50. Bursters filled
    100. Columbiad cartridge bags
    1453. Flannel cartidge bags for guns
    380. Howitzer cartridge bags
    269659. Rifle musket ball cartridges (cal .58)
    55810. Sharp’s carbine ball cartridges
    57200. Colts revolver ball cartridges
    55020. Musket blank cartridges
    21000. Carbine ” ”
    13100. Pistol ” ”
    514827. Rifle musket balls pressed (cal .58)
    44810. Carbine balls pressed
    57000. Colt’s pistol balls cast
    700. Fuzes filled
    1025. Fuzes plugs wooden
    195. Sabot mt. howitzer ammunition
    2. Brands “O. D.”
    1. Brands “U.S.”
    12. Triggers sharp’s carbines
    20. Primers following pins
    400. Lbs paint for tarpaulins
    483. Lbs olive paint
    23. Gallons lacker for guns
    33. Arm chests
    539. Packing boxes
    1. Can

    Other Work Done


    16. 12 Pdr guns cleaned and lackered
    30. 32 Pdr. ” ” ” ”
    35. 24 Pdr. ” ” ” ”
    2. 24 Pdr. howitzers ” ” ”
    6. 10 inch Mortars ” ” ”
    11. 32 Pdr gun carriages and chaises painted
    6. 24 Pdr ” ” ”
    2. 24 Pdr howitzer ” ”
    6. 10 in Mortar Beds ”
    11. 32 Pdr Gun Carriages and Chaises Painted
    6. 24 Pdr ” ” ”
    2. 24 Pdr howitzers ” ”
    6. 10 in Mortar Beds ”
    4. 6 Pdr carriages
    12. Tarpaulins repaired and painted
    6. Fuze Cutters repaired
    6. Fuze plug reamers repaired
    6. Gunners pincers
    5. Tangent scales for guns repaired
    2. ” ” ” Howitzers ”
    6. Tow hooks
    2. Vent covers
    1. Rammer with staff for siege guns repaired
    1. Vent punch repaired
    2. Axle trees
    3. Guard plates caissons repaired
    1. Stock caissons ”
    4. Keys ammunition chests repaired
    13. Traces chain ”
    2. Harness sets Mt Howitzers repaired
    2. Pack saddles and bridles ”
    1156. 10 in Shells cleaned & Lackered
    5608. 8 ” ” ” ”
    252. 10 ” Shot ” ”
    1478. 8 ” ” ” ”
    3656. 42 Pdr ” ” ”
    500. 32 Pdr ” ” ”
    300. 24 Pdr ” ” ”
    100. Mt Howitzer spherical case shot strapped
    408. Rifle Muskets (Cal .58) cleaned and repaired
    50. Muskets (Cal .69) ” ” ”
    10. Muskets Model 1922 ” ” ”
    62. Rifles ” ” ”
    278. Sharp’s carbine ” ” ”
    12. Musketoons artillery cleaned and repaired
    13. ” Cavalry ” ” ”
    2. Pistols Colt’s Revolvers ” ” ”
    125. Pistol Cavalry Percussion ” ” ”
    40. Sabres Cavalry ” ” ”
    300. Sword Belts Cleaned and blacked
    11. Halter straps repaired
    1. Halter Head Stall repaired
    1. Saddle, Dragoon ”
    1. Valice & Straps ”
    1. Bridle Dragoon
    20 Surcingles
    62. 8 inch Columbiad Cartridges
    27260. Sharp’s Carbine Cartridges repacked
    3. Arm Chests Mt. Howitzer repaired
    167. Sword Bayonets cleaned
    117. Bayonets for Muskets ”
    7. Bayonets for exercise repaired
    9. Musket Locks ”
    64. Magazine for Cartridge Boxes repaired
    600. Sabots ”
    10. Horse Brushes ”
    394. Packing Boxes repaired and painted
    3000. Lead Bars cast for Musket Balls
    1. Set of Stencils repaired
    14956 Cubic Feet of Stone laid on public buildings
    319500 Bricks Laid on public Buildings
    53000 Linear Feet of painting on walls of buildings
    7341 Cubic Feet of Rock and earth excavated
    270 Yards of Brick paving laid in Cellar
    171 Pairs Hinges Made for Buildings
    1346 Bolts ” ” ”
    500 Rivets ” ” ”
    Steam Engine Repaired
    1. Boiler taken down thoroughly mended and cleaned
    1 Circular Saw Erected in Shop
    2 Lathes ” ” ”
    1 Rifling Machine ” ” ”
    1 Wooden Guard House for use of Post built
    Buildings Kept in Repair
    Fences ” ” ”
    Machinery ” ” ”
    Tools ” ” ”
    Wagons ” ” ”
    Harness, etc. ” ” ”
    Armaments at Fort Point Kept in order
    Armaments at Alcatraz Island Kept in order
    110 Issues of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores have been made within the year.

    The following Ordnance and Ordnance Stores have been recieved.

    8000 Muskets
    66 Pistols
    300 Sets New Pattern Horse Equipments
    300 Rifle Waist Belts & Clasps
    500 Pairs Spurs and Straps
    2500 Lbs. Rifle Powder
    997 bs. Laboratory Paper No. 5

    I am respectfully,
    Your Obt. Servant
    J. MCALLISTER
    Capt. ordnance Comdg.
    Last edited by AZReenactor; 07-28-2011, 12:52 PM.
    Troy Groves "AZReenactor"
    1st California Infantry Volunteers, Co. C

    So, you think that scrap in the East is rough, do you?
    Ever consider what it means to be captured by Apaches?

  • #2
    Re: Benicia Arsenal 1861 Annual Report

    Another Benicia Arsenal letter which some might find interesting.
    Benicia Arsenal California
    July 25th, 1861

    Gen Wm. C. Kibbe
    Guard Master & Adjutant General
    State of California

    Sir: Your favor of the 22nd inst. was recieved on the 23rd July. I see mentioned in your list “20 cap box plates”; we have no such articles in the Ordnance Department, and they cannot be on your receipts.

    I should like to have an equitable settlement of our invoice and your reciepts; and before the Executive makes up his mind on the question, I would submit the following facts for his consideration.

    We have made one hundred and ten issues in the past year, not considering those made to the state of California, without a single mistake. Some of these embraced the smallest parts appertaining to pistols and carbines, such as sear screws, lock screws, primer screws, primer following pins, etc etc, — We were particularly careful in our issues to you, as we wanted to give you the best we had on account of our residence in your state, and the interest we feel in everything concerned with it.

    Since the receipt of your letter we have made careful inventory of stores of the same description remaining on hand. This has been tedious work, and after comparing it with books, we find it is hardly possible that these mistakes could have occurred through any negligence at this end.

    We have not recieved the bill of lading countersigned by Genl. Cobb (your agent) showing that the transporters of the stores delivered to him the proper number of packages; if they did not do this the loss falls upon them. Some of the stores were broken open on the wharf at Brnicia by Capt. Wheeler acting, I believe under your directions, but after the bills of lading were signed by the transporter and I was no longer responsible for the stores.

    Now if Genl. Cobb compared the Bills of Lading with the number of packages recieved, counted these stores himself, and was present from the opening of the packages until the stores were compared with the Invoices, and found out the deficiency then and there, and will certify to the above facts, why we will have to refer the matter to higher authority stating all the facts we know.

    This question of accountability is not one between the United States and the State of California, nor between me and yourself, as I have the transporter’s receipt for the packages, and can certify to their contents. But if your agent, Genl. Cobb, can certify positively to the incompleteness, from personal knowledge, it is then simply a question of count between him and us.

    I would like these stores counted over again, as in the flurry of getting ready for the 4th of July in San Francisco, some mistake most likely occurred. If any of these articles were loaned for the 4th they may not have been returned, and in reality there are many more causes to fasten the incorrectness of count below, where everyone was in a whirl of excitement preparing for the 4th than up here where we have a perfect system of issuing, and when our accountability to the government for a screw is just as particular as for a 32 pounder gun; that is in reference to an officer’s exactitude in keeping his return and stores correct.

    Now if I make up the reported deficiency, the loss will fall on a careful and compitent officer, the military storekeeper of this arsenal, who is responsible to the Treasury department for all the stores. The value of the article is about fifty dollars, and I really think that the State of California can better afford to loose this sum than the officer to whom reference is made.

    I am sir, very respectfully, your Obdt. servant,
    J. MCALLISTER
    Capt. ordnance Comdg.
    I particularly liked his comments about being as accountable for a screw as for a 32 pounder. A good reminder of the bureaucracy and accountability within the US Army at the time. Missing, lost, discarded, or replaced equipment had to be accounted for by someone.
    Last edited by AZReenactor; 07-28-2011, 01:01 PM.
    Troy Groves "AZReenactor"
    1st California Infantry Volunteers, Co. C

    So, you think that scrap in the East is rough, do you?
    Ever consider what it means to be captured by Apaches?

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Benicia Arsenal 1861 Annual Report

      Thanks Troy for posting this as it is always interesting to read what was occuring out on the west coast during the war for us native to the state.
      [FONT=Georgia][/FONT][SIZE="3"][FONT="Georgia"]Dan Biggs[/FONT][/SIZE]


      -Member of the Southwest Volunteers Mess

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Benicia Arsenal 1861 Annual Report

        Good stuff Troy. Thank you
        Andy Mouradian
        JayBirds Mess

        "Snap it up, shake the lead."

        [IMG]http://i333.photobucket.com/albums/m400/westernreb/JaybirdMess-2.jpg[/IMG]

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Benicia Arsenal 1861 Annual Report

          Great stuff! He would be proud to know his building is still standing to this day!
          Robert Johnson

          "Them fellers out thar you ar goin up against, ain't none of the blue-bellied, white-livered Yanks and sassidge-eatin'forrin' hirelin's you have in Virginny that run atthe snap of a cap - they're Western fellers, an' they'll mighty quick give you a bellyful o' fightin."



          In memory of: William Garry Co.H 5th USCC KIA 10/2/64 Saltville VA.

          Comment

          Working...
          X