Official Records of the Rebellion

[332]

No. 20.

Reports of Brig. Gen. John G. Barnard, U. S. Army, Chief Engineer Army of the Potomac, of operations during the siege.

Wednesday, April 30.—Parallel from Battery No. 2 to Battery No. 5 completed, except leveling top of parapet. Parallel leading from Battery No. 5 to Redoubt A will be completed to-day. Parallel on right completed, save a few steps and a small portion of banquette. Redoubt B is essentially completed. Battery No. 10 finished, except placing dirt upon magazine. Battery No. 6: changed for mortars; will be completed to-day. Battery No. 1: extension for 200-pounders commenced, and will be completed to-day. Four hundred and three men of General Woodbury’s brigade are engaged on bridges on south and west branch of Wormley’s Creek, 415 on detached service, the [333] remainder on Battery No. 4, guards, making gabions, &c. Three hundred and eighty-four gabions were made yesterday, and 1,370 on hand; 700 or 800 of these are at Methodist Church. I have directed that they be collected at the saw-mill depot immediately; 119 fascines are on hand. The bridge over the south branch of Wormley’s requires four more framed trestles; they will be in place to-night. The roadway covering has been delayed for want of teams, but will probably be done before the end of the week. The lower (formerly the middle) pontoon bridge over west branch will be relaid to-day with four additional balks throughout and an additional covering of boards. The upper pontoon bridge over the same stream is ready for the passage of siege artillery. Crib bridge may also bear heavy artillery. The communication between this bridge and the lower road along the north bank of west branch is completed, but the turn is rather abrupt for teams. Nearly five of the foundations for platforms for Battery No. 4 are laid. One magazine is completed, except the door; another is well advanced. The work progresses well. General Woodbury can spare twenty more pontoons for General Franklin, who has eighty already. Lieutenant McAlester reports as follows:

Parallel: 400 men were at work completing it during the day, and at night I opened with 500 men the branch parallel designed to communicate with Duane parallel at Battery No. 2. Redoubt: 200 men during the day-time were widening ditch and parapet. Battery No. 9: 250 men were completing excavation and grading road leading up to it by daylight. It will be ready for platforms and traverses at noon to-day. Battery No. 11: 150 men completed excavation for battery and magazine by daylight. May complete the magazine to-day. Battery No. 12: 200 men completed excavation ready for platforms, and opened road leading up to it by daylight. Magazines will be excavated to-day.

Thursday, May 1.—The parallel under direction of Captain Duane on left of Wormley’s Creek nearly finished; on right branch of Wormley’s Creek completed. Redoubt B completed. Battery No. 1: extension nearly completed; enough to receive armament. Batteries Nos. 13 and 14 laid out and worked one day and night. General Woodbury reports 416 men on detached service, and the remainder employed on bridges, batteries, making gabions, &c. Two hundred and twenty-six gabions made yesterday and 1,241 on hand; 79 fascines on hand. Bridge over south branch of Wormley’s: frame completed. If the weather will permit it will be ready for use in two or three days. Two double-covered pontoon bridges and one good crib bridge now span the west branch of Wormley’s Creek. Seven foundations for mortar platforms on Battery No. 4 were ready last night. Captain Stewart reports that 195 axmen were employed in cutting trees on the 29th ultimo from Redoubt A to Battery No. 7 and from No. 7 to the clearing between Nos. 7 and 8. To form an obstruction trees were also cleared away from front of Battery No. 8. A party was also employed at night, under Lieutenant Farquhar in throwing up a covered way along the road from No. 7 to No. 8. On the 30th ultimo a party of 800 men worked upon the pit across the clearing between Nos. 7 and 8; 200 men also employed on No. 7. Others were making fascines, making abatis, and preparing timber for magazines. Lieutenant McAlester reports his operations for the last twenty-four hours as follows:

Redoubt C: the width of ditch was increased from 7 to 8 feet, the ramp of approach commenced, and last night the excavation for closing gorge was opened. To-morrow I hope to commence emplacements for guns. Parallel: the parallel has now its width of 12 feet. With some slight exceptions earthen banquettes are in for about one- quarter the length, and a few log ones were arranged yesterday. I think it can all be completed to-morrow night. Road leading from mill road to Battery No.2. The bridge across ravine half done; can be completed to-night, I think. Battery No. 9: [334] excavation ready for platforms to be completed at 11 a. m. to-day; those for magazines probably to-night; magazines to be put in to-morrow. Battery No. 12: all excavations to be completed to-night; magazines to be put in to-morrow. Battery No. 11 to be finished, magazines and all, to-night.

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