Today in History:

284 Series I Volume XLII-III Serial 89 - Richmond-Fort Fisher Part III

Page 284 OPERATIONS IN SE. VA. AND N. C. Chapter LIV.

[Inclosure.]

Estimate of men and cannon required for defense of the line in front of City Point, cannon to have the usual number of artillerists.

The lines here about 17,680 feet in extent.

Number of men.

Redoubt. Crest of Minimum. For more

redoubt. secure

defense.

Yards.

Numbers 1 170 170 175

Numbers 2 227 250 275

Numbers 3 161 160 175

No. 4 328 350 375

On line 20-21 ........ ........ ........

Numbers 5 181 185 225

At railroad south of Numbers ........ ........ ........

5

Numbers 6 113 100 100

Re-entrant angle at 35 ........ ........ ........

Numbers 7 162 160 175

Line 37-38 ........ ......... ........

Old Court-House 369 425 500

Salient on line 43-44 ........ ........ ........

Total 1,738 1,800 2,000

Number of guns.

Redoubt. Minimum. For more

secure

defense.

Numbers 1 3 4

Numbers 2 4 5

Numbers 3 2 3

No. 4 3 4

On line 20-21 ........ 1

Numbers 5 3 4

At railroad south of Numbers ........ 1

5

Numbers 6 2 3

Re-entrant angle at 35 ........ 1

Numbers 7 2 3

Line 37-38 2 2

Old Court-House 4 6

Salient on line 43-44 ........ 1

Total 25 38

And for better security against an attack on the lines between he redoubts for picket duty, &c., at least one regiment of 600 to 800 should be stationed about midway in rear of the lines north of the railroad, and another of about the same size in a similar position on the lines south of the railroad.

Respectfully submitted.

H. W. BENHAM,

Lieutenant Colonel of Engineers and Brigadier General, Commanding Defenses, &c.

CITY POINT, VA., October 20, 1864.


HDQRS. ARTILLERY BRIGADE, SECOND ARMY CORPS,
October 20, 1864.

Major SEPTIMUS CARNCROSS,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Second Corps:

MAJOR: I have the honor to report that fire has been kept up during the past twenty-four hours on the new works which the enemy is building opposite our right. Mortars have been put in position by the enemy opposite Fort McGilvery and Battery Numbers 9, from which they fired a few shots last night.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JNumbers G. HAZARD,

Major, Commanding.


HDQRS. SECOND Brigadier, THIRD DIV., SECOND CORPS,
October 20, 1864.

Major SEPTIMUS CARNCROSS,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Second Army Corps:

MAJOR: I have the honor to submit the following report of my tour of duty as corps officer of the day for the 19th instant: I visited the greater portion of the line and found the pickets properly posted and


Page 284 OPERATIONS IN SE. VA. AND N. C. Chapter LIV.