Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 02.djvu/71

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Ordnance Bureau,

Richmond, December 31, 1864.

Honorable, Secretary of War:

Sir—In reply to your enquiry for "information as to the means of supplying munitions of "war," confining the answer to the munitions furnished by this Bureau to the Trans-Mississippi, I have the honor to state

1st. As to arms—

There are enough arms on hand of a mixed character—that is, arms most of which are not as good as those now in the hands of troops in the field—to arm and equip some additional force. The returns of November, 1864, showed on hand at the various arsenals and depots— This amount can be probably increased by ten or twelve thousand by a vigorous system of collecting the arms scattered about through the country.

Importations—We have hitherto had no difficulty in importing arms through the blockaded seaports. The total importations for the year have been— The want of funds necessary to purchase has greatly limited the importations of the expiring year. There are probably not more than ten or twelve thousand on the Islands awaiting shipment.

Manufactured—The number of arms manufactured and made up of parts derived from capture and other sources for the year ending November 30th, 1864, were: There is machinery enough under the control of this Bureau to manufacture 55,000 rifles and carbines per annum, provided a sufficient mechanical force be employed, as follows: The proviso is the workmen, and these must be permanently attached to those establishments and excused from the performance