[494] From Fort Independence I crossed over to Fort Winthrop to see Major Blunt, but he was not there. I found him, however, last evening, at his residence, No. 22, Chestnut Street, Charlestown. The condition of Fort Winthrop is as follows:— Mounted.Major Blunt is ready at Fort Winthrop for sixty-seven 10-inch guns, and one 15-inch. He will probably be ready this fall for eighty 10-inch guns, and ten 15-inch. He is unable to say when these guns will be received. The ordnance officer only can give the information. He will be ready for the four 15-inch guns at Fort Independence “this fall.” He is ready now for fifty-four 10-inch guns at Fort Warren, and will be ready for a hundred or a hundred and fifty more at this fort this fall. The casemate armament of Forts Warren and Independence is complete. No foreign-made guns are in any of the forts in the harbor. Major Blunt was further pleased to inform me that the new fort at Eastern Point, Gloucester, will be ready for a garrison in the bombproof quarters built by him, by the 15th of November. It has seven 32-pounder guns with casemate carriages. Fort Lee, at Salem, is almost finished. Four 8-inch Columbiads will be mounted there this month. Forts Pickering (Salem) and Sewell (Marblehead) will not be ready for their armament for several weeks. It is not likely that any thing heavier than 24 or 32-pounders can be got for these works. The quartermaster must provide quarters for the men. The battery at Long Point, Provincetown, will be finished “by cold weather.” It will be mounted with eight 32-pounders. The battery will be an open one, and the quartermaster must furnish quarters for the men. The works at Plymouth are just begun. The armament is unsettled, but probably will be five guns. This is all the information I have been able to gather respecting the forts and armaments. Major Blunt made a special report to General Totten about two weeks ago, showing the condition of the Boston works
18 10-inch Columbiads, latest pattern (Rodman), throw 125-lb. solid shot. 4 10-inch Columbiads, old model. 7 8-inch Columbiads, latest pattern (Rodman), carry 65-lb. shot. 7 24-pounders, old.
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1868. E. P. DUtton and Co. Boston,.
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