John G. Barnard to Edwin M. Stanton, February 2, 1863

Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War;

Sir: On the 30th of December, 1862, I addressed you a letter* to accompany the report of the commission ordered by yourself ‘ to examine and report upon the plan of the present forts, and sufficiency of the present system of defenses for the city.”

The Commission was composed as follows:

The letter was intended as a report of my own operations as chief engineer of the defenses of Washington, as a synopsis of the results arrived at by the Commission, and a statement of the amount necessary, aS estimated by me, to execute all the additional work recommended by the Commission, and which Congress should be called on to appropriate. As it would be improper to make public the report of the Commission, I deem it proper to make here one or two extracts, which will enable Congress to understand the opinion entertained by the eminent officers whom you associated with me on this occasion.

The Commission do not deem it necessary to enter into the history of the construction of these works, though fully to appreciate their merits or demerits that history should be known (as it is presumed to be by those immediately interested), and it is

fully given in the engineer’s report to the Chief Engineer U. 8. Army, dated December 10, 1861. * * * * * *

The Commission conclude their report by expressing their convictions of the great importance of this system of defenses to Washington, and by urging upon the War Department and Congress to take steps and provide means for a full and early completion of the work.

The position of Washington, on the very borders of the insurgent territory, exposes

it to great danger in cases of serious reverse to our armies in Virginia. * /* *

I would add that in asking for an appropriation of $200,000, far the largest part of this sum is required to carry out the recommendations

42 N. V. A., W. V. A., M. D., AND P. A. CHar. XXXVIL

of the Commission, to connect with the system of defenses already established forts and batteries for the defenses of the Potomac.

Such works, though of earth and timber, must necessarily be expensive; and, indeed, they should be so carefully planned that hereafter they may be converted into permanent works, if desirable.

very respectfully, your most obedient,