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Originally Posted by JohnTaylor Can someone point me to a source showing the number of heavy (or siege) artillery in the Washington defenses in May of 1862?
In May, there were thirty-two field guns in the Washington defenses.
As of December 1862, there were six hundred and forty-three guns and seventy-five mortars. But this includes field and siege guns.
But I can't find a laydown for the siege or heavy guns in May 1862.
Any helpful hints would be greatly appreciated.
JT |
John,
I can't tell you exactly. The report below shows what the plan was in late 1861. In January, about 200 guns had been mounted, but the forts had no permanent garrisons in most cases and ammo had not been supplied to the forts.
WASHINGTON, D. C., October 24, 1861.
General S. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant-General:
GENERAL: In our report of the 22d instant we stated the number of men we deemed necessary for garrisons and reserves "for the various works in and about Washington to satisfy the conditions of a good defense." It seems proper to exhibit more clearly the grounds on which our estimate is founded. We have adopted the rule, which experience Showed to be satisfactory for the lines of Torres Vedras, in computing the garrison of the various works, viz: Two men per running yard of front covering line and one man per running yard of rear line, deducting spaces occupied by guns. Computed in this manner, the total of the full garrisons of all the works would amount to 19,789 men, of which 6,581 should be gunners, in order to furnish three reliefs to each gun. Of these works, however, the following on the south side of the Potomac are on interior lines, and do not require full garrisons, while the exterior line is intact, viz: Forts Ellsworth, Scott, Runyon, Jackson, Corcoran, Bennett, and Haggerty.
Fort Albany might, perhaps, have been included in the above list in our estimate of the 22d. However, we have considered it as fully garrisoned.
As Fort Ellsworth and Fort Scott have commanding views of the valleys of Hunting Creek and Four-mile Run, we have considered it necessary to provide for the efficient service of all their guns by three reliefs of gunners; to the others we have assigned but one relief. With regard to the assignment of garrisons to works of the exterior lines, we remark that if Washington were thrown upon its own defenses, without external <ar5_627>aid, and the enemy were so far in the ascendant in the field as to be able to act on either shore, it is evident that all the works should be fully garrisoned.
We do not consider this extreme supposition the proper basis for garrisoning the works, and it is evidently desirable to shut up in them as few men as possible. The more probable supposition is that the army moves from here in force, rally occupying the bulk of the enemy's forces by its own movement, leaving the capital so strengthened by its defensive lines as to prevent danger of sudden seizure by a strategical movement of the enemy, and enable it to be held a reasonable time in case of serious reverses to our own arms in the field.
On this basis we have estimated for full garrisons of all the works of the exterior line south of the Potomac, for three reliefs of gunners for Forts Ellsworth and Scott, and for one relief for the other interior works, and for three reliefs of gunners only for all the works north of the Potomac, giving a total, as stated in our report of October 22, of 11,045 men. As without reserves a line of detached field works possesses little or no strength, we have considered as included in our instructions to provide for these. We are of opinion that two brigades should be distributed along the lines from Hunting Creek to Four Mile Run and two between Four Mile Run and Fort Corcoran, making, say, 12,000 men; one regiment in reserve at Chain Bridge of 750 men, and stationed in the city a reserve of 10,000 men; making a total of reserves of 22,750 men. As the total of full garrisons of all the works north of the Potomac is 7,343 men, it will be seen that in case of necessity part of these works or all might be full garrisoned from the reserves, still leaving over 15,000 men.
We herewith inclose two tabular statements, giving the names of works, perimeters, full garrisons, number of gunners, of works north and south of the Potomac. We would add that the system is not entirely completed, and that three or four more works than are mentioned in these statements may yet be found necessary.
RECAPITULATION.
For full garrisons of all works of exterior line south of the Potomac, except the Chain Bridge 5,952
Full garrisons of Forts Ethan Allen and Marcy 1,500
Three reliefs of gunners at Forts Ellsworth and Scott 363
One relief of gunners for other interior works 230
For three reliefs of gunners for all works north of Potomac 3,000
Total. 11,045
Total garrisons 11,045
Reserves 22,750
Total 33,795
We have the honor to be, general, very respectfully, your obedient servants,
WILLIAM F. BARRY,
Brigadier-General, Chief of Artillery.
J. G. BARNARD,
Brigadier-General, and Chief Engineer.
<ar5_628>
[Inclosure.]
Names. Perimeter. Guns. Men toman guns. Totalgarrisons.
North of the Potomac.
Yards
Battery Cameron .... 2 .... ....
Battery Martin Scott. .... 2 .... ....
Battery Vermont .... 3 45 ....
Fort .... 5 75 400
Fort (north of reservoir). .... 5 75 300
Fort .... 5 75 300
Fort Gaines 105 4 75 250
Fort Pennsylvania 440 12 180 600
Fort (Schwartz's house). 190 7 105 250
Fort Massachusetts 168 10 150 200
Fort Slocum 250 13 195 300
Fort Totten 272 14 180 350
Fort Bunker Hill 205 8 120 270
Fort Saratoga 109 6 120 220
Fort .... 4 60 200
Fort Lincoln 446 16 140 600
Fort. (Benning's Bridge) 354 10 150 500
Fort .... 8 120 300
Fort .... 8 120 300
Fort Stanton .... 8 120 300
Fort 322 18 270 483
Fort Carroll .... 10 150 400
Fort Greble .... 12 180 400
327 15 255 420
Total north of the Potomac. .... 205 2,960 7,343
South of the Potomac.
Fort Lyon 937 41 570 1,200
Fort Worth 463 14 210 630
Fort Ward 576 17 255 780
Fort Ellsworth 618 17 255 843
Fort Blenker 360 10 150 510
Fort 172 6 105 225
Fort Scott 226 6 108 487
Fort Albany 429 13 183 585
Fort Runyon 1,484 21 315 2,120
Fort Jackson .... 4 60 200
Fort Richardson 316 8 120 444
Fort Craig .... 7 105 400
Fort Tillinghast .... 7 105 300
Fort Ramsay .... 5 75 300
Fort Woodbury 161 5 75 300
Fort De Kalb 196 9 135 450
Fort Corcoran 576 12 180 800
Fort Bennett 146 5 75 200
Fort Haggerty 128 4 60 172
Fort Ethan Allen 736 21 375 1,000
Fort Marcy 338 7 105 500
Total south of the Potomac. .... 239 3,621 12,446
Grand total .... 444 6,581 19,789
Hope the formatting held
Regards,
Tim
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Heavy artillery in Washington defenses 
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