Josiah Gorgas to James A. Seddon, October 13, 1864

Hon. JAMES A. SEDDON, Secretary of War:

Str: I have the honor to present the following general view of the operations of my department for the year ending September 380, and of its present condition and prospects. I refer briefly to the more important branches of supply:

Small-arms.—The chief supply has been from importations, which, since the loss of the vessels belonging to this Bureau, have been very light, not to exceed, say, on this side of the Mississippi, 30,000 during the year included in this report. The number manufactured is about 20,000 instead of 50,000 to 60,000, as I anticipated. This reduced product is due to the interference of military operations, both of the enemy and our own. The captures have been about 45,000 and the losses about 30,000, leaving a gain of 15,000. The stock of arms in the arsenals is about the same as it was one year ago. If we place the diminution of our military force at 50,000 men (including reserves, local forces, militia, &c.), the aggregate of their figures (30,000 improved+ 20,000 made+15,000 captured+50,000 less troops) 115,000 will represent the waste of arms during the year. About 20,000 are now on the way from Europe and 50,000 more have been ordered purchased. A further purchase of at least 50,000 will be necessary for the coming year unless the operations of the armories can be placed on a permanent footing by declaring all skilled mechanics engaged on them absolutely”exempt from military duty, attaching them permanently to the Ordnance Department, and encouraging in every way the growth of this class of workmen. I cannot lay too much stress on the necessity for legislative action on this point in order to give assurance to the workmen.

Powder.—The mechanical means of the Bureau for the production are ample for a war conducted on any scale, and are so arranged as to be almost beyond casualty. The supply depends alone on that of saltpeter and sulphur, and for the present on the former. While we must still depend on importations as one chief source of supply of niter, it will be indispensable that the efforts of the Niter and Mining Bureau be sustained, in order that the home production may not be lessened. A certain force of white and black labor ought to be permanently assigned to this duty of procuring niter and sulphur and the other operations of the Niter and Mining Bureau.

Lead.—The expenditure of small-arm ammunition has been very heavy and has exhausted all our efforts to accumulate a supply of this precious material. I feel more uneasiness on this point than on all others. The requisitions have, however, been fully met through the energy of the Niter and Mining Bureau and our own exertions in gleaning the battle-fields.

Artillery.—The supply of field artillery has been adequate to the demand and the quality very good. The quality of the rifled ammunition is susceptible of improvement. From deficiency in the supply of copper the manufacture of bronze field pieces is suspended and an iron gun tightly banded substituted for the 12-pounder Napoleon, which gives entire satisfaction. Harness and equipments have not been deficient.

Cavalry.—Good cavalry arms are much needed. Were again the removal of an armory (for military reasons) and the want of workmen have crippled the Bureau. The sea-coast defenses have been supplied with a large number of 10 and 8 inch columbiads and some heavy rifled and banded guns. The want of transportation for iron and coal from Selma to Macon has paralyzed the operations of the foundry for heavy guns established at Macon.

I regret, too, that military operations about Richmond have prevented them from the casting of 12-inch guns, the preparations for which are now completed. A few guns of this caliber at Wilmington would have been of inestimable advantage in defense against monitors.

Mechanics, miners, artisans, &c.—While the Army have been well supplied during the past year, there are causes operating which will render future results less satisfactory. The chief of these is the diminution of skilled workmen. Without statistics I can only assure you that the number and quality of workmen have greatly fallen off since the middle of the year 1863. While two years ago it was difficult to get machinery, we have now a surplus and cannot get workmen torunit. This opens a most melancholy prospect and indicates an evil that cannot too soon be corrected. While we are importing workmen by twos they are leaving us by the hundred. I formerly reported to you that from Christmas, 1863, to May, 1864, fifty-five men left our (Government) workshops in Richmond. This may give a glimpse of the exodus. Nor is it that this class of men is disaffected or unpatriotic that they leave the country. When called on they have fought and fought well. Out of one battalion of, say, 200 workmen from the armory here 4 were killed or died of their wounds and some 8 or 10 wounded in askirmish. But workmen will not fight and work both. This must be accepted as settled in their minds. I trust the policy of the War Department may be modified toward these men for the sake of results as to home production, and that legislative action will secure to these men exemption from military seryice while in the employ of the Government. I have heretofore urged that this Bureau and the Niter and Mining Bureau should have a definite number of mechanics, miners, and other skilled labor assigned to them, and that the usual bi-monthly returns be rendered by those bureaus for them, thus placing such force exclusively under the control of the chiefs of those bureaus. Considering the vital nature of the operations confided to these two bureaus, I again urge this proposition.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,