Jas. W. Ripley to and Ohief of Ordnance, September 11, 1862
Washington, D. O., September 11, 1862.
Col. J. C. KELTON, Chief of Staff, Headquarters of the Army:
Sir: Brig. Gen. William F. Barry having reported to me, in compliance with instructions from army headquarters, I beg leave to submit the following suggestions in regard to his instructions:
The objects sought to be attained in the assignment by the Generalin-Chief of Brigadier-General Barry to the duty of acting inspector of artillery are: First, to prevent the further extension of the evils arising from the multiplication of different kinds and patterns of pieces of ordnance and of ammunition in the military service; second, to rid that service, as promptly as possible, from the embarrassments under which itis now suffering, in consequence of the introduction of new and untried inventions. In order to carry out these objects effectively, General Barry should receive instructions to co-operate with the Ordnance Department in the examination and modification of any requisitions or applications which that department may refer to him for his views respecting the practical wants of, or adaptation to, the artillery service of any cannon or other artillery supplies not of the regular adopted caliber, kinds, and patterns; also to make rigid inspections of all the artillery and supplies of every kind heretofore or now in service, to note every deviation therein from regularly adopted kinds and patterns, and, in conjunction with the Chief of Ordnance, to take measures for discarding them from use and for replacing them with others, so as to produce regularity, uniformity, and efficiency in the material for the artillery arm. These instructions should come from the highest military authority, in order to enable them to be executed with certainty and dispatch; and, in order effectually to prevent the recurrence of the evils now existing, a firm adherence, in all respects, to the prescribed regulations concerning changes in established patterns of ordnance and ordnance stores should be specially ordered and insisted upon.
your obedient servant,
Brigadier. General and Ohief of Ordnance.
RUSSELLVILLE, December 1, 1862.
Col. J. P. GARESOHE,
Assistant Adjutant-General and Chief of Staff:
My men drove Woodward 10 miles beyond Clarksville, toward Ohar-.
lotte. From deserters I learn that he expects to unite with Morgan and