Edwin M. Stanton to Josiah Gorgas, September 22, 1864

Col. J. GORGAS, Chief of Ordnance: COLONEL: I beg to present for your information a list of rifle muskets manufactured North, and their places of manufacture: Springfield U. S. rifle, manufactured at Springfield, Mass. Philadelphia U. S. rifle, manufactured at Philadelphia, Pa. Bridesburg U. 8S. rifle, manufactured at Bridesburg, Pa. Park, Snow & Co. U. S. rifle, manufactured at Meriden, Conn. Colt U.S. rifle, manufactured at Hartford, Conn. Whitney U. S. rifle, manufactured at Whitneyville, Conn. Wm. Muir & Co. U.S. rifle, manufactured at Windsor Locks, Conn. Norwich U. S. rifle, manufactured at Norwich, Conn. L. G. & Y. U.S. rifle, manufactured at Windsor, Vt. Providence Tool Company U. S. rifle, manufactured at Providence, R. I. EK. Robinson U. S. rifle, manufactured at New York. U. A. Co. U.S. rifle, manufactured.at New York. Remington U. S. rifle, manufactured at Ilion, N. Y. Watertown U. S$. rifle, manufactured at Watertown, Mass. Wm. Mason U. S$. rifle, manufactured at Taunton, Mass. Eagleville Company U. S. rifle, manufactured at place not known. Norfolk U.S. rifle, manufactured at Norfolk, Va. Among the old arms received in this armory for repairs during the current month I have noticed the above arms from a variety of manufacturing establishments, all of them made after the U. 8S. ’55 model and all interchanging with the Richmond rifle musket except in lockplate and mainspring, which have been altered in the Northern arms. I suppose there are in the North (including breech-loading) not less than thirty-eight armories, all on a large scale, and their total product probably will not fall short of 5, 000 ¢ arms per day. I am, colonel, your very obedient servant, Ss. ADAMS, Master Armorer. [First indorsement.] OCTOBER 16, 1864. Respectfully forwarded to the President for notice. This paper exhibits a most marked contrast to our own condition in this respect. We are not making an average of 100 arms per day in the Confederacy, though we have machinery enough to make 300 (including pistols), and would soon have the workmen if they could remain undisturbed. I cannot help thinking that the policy of the War Department ought to be modified so far as to appropriate to this duty 500 or 600 men liable to military duty. This, with the exempts, would form a sufficient force. It would be necessary to relieve them from all military duty and attach them permanently to this duty. J. GORGAS, Chief of Ordnance. [Second indorsement.]

OCTOBER 18, 1864.