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one moved to Plymouth; and one at Macon, to replace the gun removed to Newbern.
“Guns are burst, and otherwise crippled in active service,” and there should be at this depot, at least one or two extra, for such contingencies.
The “Southfield,” burst a one hundred pounder in extricating the “Bombshell” on the Chowan. On the twenty-fourth Commander Flusser was expecting the “iron-clad” and an attack at Plymouth, and wrote to Commander Davenport, urgently, for a one hundred pounder rifle, for the “Southfield.” Had I an extra gun, I could have served our naval friends at a time when it would have been appreciated. If these considerations have any force at all, the number seven) of guns asked for by the Ordnance Officer on the fourteenth instant, is quite as small as is proper. * * * * * * What has been done are such modifications as seemed imperatively called for, in view of the public interests intrusted to me. Had they not been made, and disaster befallen us, the Government and the Major-General commanding the Department would not have excused me for delaying to communicate with the Engineer Officer at Fort Monroe.
