Benicia Arsenal 1861 Annual Report

[AZReenactor]

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.

[AZReenactor]

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.

[western reb]

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.

[fatocat]

Re: Benicia Arsenal 1861 Annual Report

Good stuff Troy. Thank you

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Re: Benicia Arsenal 1861 Annual Report

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