\j>y IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I SIM IM ''' iiiM '■' m 12.2 2.0 1.8 1.25 1.4 1 16 1 ^ 6" ^ % <^ /}. e. e). cs ^* 3, O ^l. / / 7 Photographic Sciences Corporation i\ « 4^ :n>^ \ \ du odifier une mage The copy filmud here has been reproduced thanks to the aenerositv of: Library of the Public Archives of Canada The images appearing here are the best quality possible considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in keeping with the filming contract specifications. L'exemplaire filmi fut reproduit grdce d la g6n6rosit6 de: La bibliothdque des Archives publiques du Canada Las images suivantes ont 6t6 reproduites avec le plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et de la nettet6 de l'exemplaire film6, et en conformity avec les conditions du contrat de filmage. Original copies in printed paper coders are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the back cover when appropriate. 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May 14, l>rS:^._Or'l(jrol to Hl.i.-r tV-'.iscs. ) *''.o Coii'itiitteo o;i Consr I)-H nlHu ^''^^ ^^^"^ ^^ Knginoers, as expro.sse.l in Lis letter „f the -..tlj i.U.iio ,u regard to the fortilieation of the waters of "oiVhu ir ^\ aslnuotou Territory are eonenrred in l,v this De.-art. ent ^'''^^''' '''^ AVlLLIA.Ar C. IvNDlCO'J T, xl:0 Tin-SIDEM' VllO TEMPORE OF THE . L'xiTED States Senate. OfFici: OF THE Chief of ExGixEERy, United States Army. 27 W 'tiIh Ji ''^'' ^'V'"^""! iT''*^^^'^'^ ^^•^"'^te resoh.tion of AFareh I'ORTIFICATIOXS UPON PIJGET 80i:NI>. ■^ W (locks 1)(' tlinc '.'stabiislicd oi- not. and if so cstahlislicd, {li«- details of tliat foitilicatioii will he inlliiciKHMl hy llic location of tlic station, and ill so far c;ni not lie dctciinincd until the site is dccie in nundieraiid iiiip<»rlance. Jii ad\ance of decision by proper antlioiity ;is to tlic location of a naval station, it can only \w said here that it will simplify the (|uestion to ha\e it so located that the defense of thecitio and towns on the sound wili also deJ'end the. station, 'i'his is stated not as deternnnin.u the «inestion. hut as one item worthy ol' considera- tion in that decision. Not only the location of the naval station, hut the importance which it shall have and the stren,uth ol" the naval e,-- talilishiiient connected thei'ewith and lelated thereto have inlluenee on the fortilication of these, wateis. The entrance to Adnnralty Inlet is some 7.") miles from the (.(;ean. most of the distamu' hein.y throu;j;h a shait IL' nnles and less in width : the entrance of which is more than J.")H miles from the mouth ol'theCo- huuUia. the neai'cs! harboi' of refu;:e. Ibi- hirye vessels exterior to the Strait of .luan de Fuca in oui- territory. (Ireat JJritain maintains a na- val establishment at l''s(juimault. on \'an(!ou\er's Ishiml, and a naval ibrce iu the waters near, and under jiresent conditions this Ibrce would prevaM over any which we could spare to o]>pose it in thai re^iiion. ^riie discussion of this fortification naturally covers the extreme con- ditions of no na\al establishment, oi- Ibrce, on our side, and (d'a stron.y na\al station, with a force siiflicient to prevail over any to which it nmy probably be o|K]>ose(l in those waters. In case we possess no naval s*^ren;itli, th(^ (piestion nanow s down to the protection of the towns and cities to ])re\'eiit destrnctioii of jwoperty therein ; for unless our naval tbrce can ])i'evail o\er that of the enemy, no commerce will seek our ])ort.s tlir()u,i'h such lonn;' and narrow pnssajics from the sea. Should emer- ji'ency arise, the most ])iacticalde (rourse would be to ere(!t earthen bat- teries lor tliedeleiise of Seattle and the '• Narrows,'' as this would ])ro- vide a reasonalde defense in the least time. Fortifications at these ])oiiits would bi! ol' value, too, as l'ormiii.u the sectond line to a more elab- orate system. .Vs tlie interests concerned incre.ise in extent"their ])roteclion shoiihl not be limited to this second line, but in addition a first or princii»al line should be occu])ied furthei'out. The power of tiie ordnance and the ])ei'feetion of the ajipliaiices of the incsent day iiermit the occupa- tion of the headlands Admiralty Jlead, Point Wilson, and .Marrowstone Point as sucli first line, and the occujjation of botli tirst and second lines should lie held in view for the time when th(> extent of the interests to be prtitected reipiires it and other considerations permit. The naval .station aside, then, the requirements of defense would be the lortitleation of the second line noted (the ocjcupation of which would be specially applicable to emerj'ency), and of the lirst line, in addition, when the commercial and jiroperty interests to defend become j>reat. A naval station bein^' de(!ided u])on and lo(;ated, the considerations are extended. The effect woidd be to hasten the occupation of the lirst line. The naval force maintained may be relatively weak or snHicient to jirevail over that of the enemy in the vicinity of WashinjLiton Sound. If no naval force be maintained, that of theentniy need be very little to paraly/e the sea and coastwise commerce of the rej;ioii. As our force iiKM-eases that of the enemy must iiuirease to maintain its control, and he will thus have less available force to operate elsewhere; and accord- FOKTIl-ICATIONS UPON I'L'tiET SOL'NI>. 3 in;;' as oiii' stren^i'tli 'ii)i)i().\imatt's [o tliat of the ciu'iny the second line l)L'('om('.s of less relative iiDpoitaiiee, and it' our lorce be maintained at sntlieicnt streiiin'tk the ..econd line may not be ealh'd into itMinisitioii at all, wliicli at lirst sij;lit makes its occupation under su(,*li circumstanees unnecessary. When our naval force linally prevails o\cr tiiat of the 4'iiemy (s(i)>posed to be ihatof (h-eat llritain. possibly a>;sisted by an ally), we may assunn^ that tlu' enemy's force wdl be partially destr(»yed, with a balance locked up in the fortitied harbor of Ivsiiuinniult. \N'e will ll.cn have a certain excess which maybe used elsewhere That excess will be the j^ieater, ]»ractieally, accordin;^' as our hai'bors in those wateis and tln^ naval station are made secure by the local defenses. Should occasion arise when all tiie naval foi'cii we could assiMublc would be needed elsewhere i'or some desirable or neodfid jmrpose, our interests, in those waters would i'»)i' the time be in the condition Itelore mentiouvMl whe: no naval force is available, with the addition that we now have a navy >ar(l to defend, and it is thus seen that the se(;ond line remains a very useful complement to the defense. rrojects for a harbor ot refu}j;e in Juan tie ]'''n(!a Strait anlans for the works and for their accessories should be prepared, and the ordnance accumulated as soon as the comlitions at our uu>re impoi'tant ])orts perndt. This ordnance would be available for the first line, if needed. (2) The region of the first line should be studied, and the works therefor planned. (3) Discussion of the naval station and decision as to its location should l)e made. (i) When the ordnance is ]>repared, or about "^o be provided, the naval .station located, or the i)orts bt'come of increased im])ortauce. theu the action (Corresponding to thesis conditious would be taktMi. The copies of reports called for in the resolution are herewitii. Very iesi)ectfullv, vour obedient servant, J. C. DUANE. Brig. Gen., Cliirfof L'tutlnecrs, , Hon. William C. Endicott, l^crrtani of W'ir. sf 4 FOKTIFICATIONS Ul'ON PUGKT SOUND. IlEADiiUAKTEKS ])KrAIlT:MEN'l' OF THE CoLT'.MBIA, \''o. li (New ])nny,-eness), ^'o. ]() (Point ^^'iIson), and No. 12 (Adndralty Head), nearly the whole, of the jiround is thus occupied. An investi after- wards, and in still other cases. ])atents were issued by the (iovernment for portions of tlu-se so-called reservations louj; after the reservations were declaied. As the result of these ])atents is to make the lands private pro]»erty, J have the honor to rejxjrt the matter, in view of the provisions of (leneral Orders No. 7t, series 1S(;!>. In comi)liaiu;e with the provision of tin? last paraf>'rai)h of that order an investi,i;ation is now }ioin<«- on, and as soon as all the facts in the cases are ascertained they will he su!)mitted for tlu^ orders of the honorable Secretary of War. I am, sii-, very respectfully, your obedient servant, doiIN (iIBJJON, r>ri(/a(lier-(iencral, Coiimiantliiig. The AD,JUTi\AT-GE^EKAL U^'ITED States Aioiv, (through Ileadciuarters Division I'acitic). [First indorsi'iiii'iit.l irEAD(,>UAliTEKS DIVISION OF THE rACIPIC, kSan Fro)>ei.sco, Col., J>eccmhcy .'>(►, 1S87. Respectfully forwarded to the Adjutant-General of the Army. (). O. IlOWAKD, Major- (>ener<(l, Commanding. [Sicoiid imloi.soiiicnt.l IIead(,>uaktePvS of the Ar:\iy, llV/.v/i/H/zfon, Jffujfrow/ 21, 18S8. IJespectfulIy snbnutted to the Secretary of AVar in connection with previous correspondence, respecting the military reservations in rjues tion, and the importance of fortifications in that vicinity, submitted by the Adjutant-General in my absence, September 12, 1885, including re- port of board of oliicers, niai)s, etc. \\ H. Sheridan, TAcutenant-Ge^ieral, Commandituj. [Tliiid iiu'orseii ou'.] ^VAl^ Dfpartiment. '/- nated Xo. 1' on the military map). Tiiron;^!! the courtesy of Hon.. I. \'. ( )strau(ler, re(irr(((']is, Wash., 'lannnrji 4, 1.S8S. icespeotfully forwarded to the AdJutantGeneralof the Army (through Ilead(juartors IJivision of the I'acitic), iu compliance with i)r()visions of the last para.nraph of General Orders Xo. 74, series of ISiiii, Adjutant- GeneraTs olVice. New l)unj;eness Harbor, on Fuca Straits, is a very safe and j^ood one, and it might, in time of war, be a natter of importance to ha\e it prop- erly protected. At present its occupation is not of much value. Joiix GiiJiiox, Jiritjfulirr-deniyal, CoiDiiKindiiifi. ;h ISpidiiil ill rsiiiiiMit. Head(,»uarters J)i\tsion oi'^ iiiK Pacific, tSan Francisco, Cat., Janiiurii D, 188S. Respectfully forwarded to the Adjutant-General of the Army, iiivit- ing attention to the indorsement of the Dei)artment Commander O. O. IIOWARD, Maji>r-(iencra}, Commantlinfi, SriisisTENCE Office, Department op the Uolumria, Wmcouvcr Barracks, Wash., J)ecemher'M), 1SS7. Sir: 1 have the honor to report that in (!ompliance with verbal in- struction of the J)e))artment Conunander, 1 investigated the Govern- iiieiit titlo to the military reservation at Admiralty Head (designated No. 12 on the military ma))). Through the courtesy of Hon. J. Y. Ostrander, register United States Land Oilice at Seattle, Wash., I was given free access to t!ie records of his oftiee. G rORTIFICATIONS II'ON PfCiKT SOl'Nl). ]Jos('iViUioii (U'daied by tlio Pn'sicU'iit September L'L', 1S0<5. Tlio entire reservation is covered by a doniition land elaini, i>atente(l l-'eb- ruary liT, l.STa, based npon a settlement nnide September 9, IS.").*. I am, sir, very rcspe(;tliilly, yonr obedient servant, C. A. WOODIUFF, Captahh and C. S., I'. IS. Armi/. To the Assistant Ad.jltant-CJknkual, DEI'ARTMKNT of tiik COU-.AIIUA, \'aitco^(V('r Jkirrdcis, ll'^.v//. ( l-'irst iiidoi'seiiu'iit. | I1kai)(,h'aktkijs I)f:i'Art.-\ii<:nt of tmf ('0Lr:Mi'.rA. Vitnvoxrcr Ikirruvks, Wnsh.^ 'hiiiiKtri/ I, 1.S88. liespectfnlly forwarded to tlu^ Adiiitant-(ieneial()t'tlie Army (tlir- "li IIead(|iiarteis Division of the Paciitie), in compliance with ]>i'ovisions of the last para^naph of (leiieral Orders, 2so. 71, series of ISCiK, A. (r. O. IJeservation No. I'J, on Admiralty Head, is one of the positions at the month of the Pnjjjet Sonnd waters, absolutely necessary for the de- fense of that entrance. It will be seen that this reservation is no lon,uer a milUanj reserva- tion, all of it havint;' passed into the hands of privat(? i)arties. dOHN (linifON, lirif/adicr (lencral, CoinmantUiu/, ! Second iiidoisunifnt.] IlEADQrATlTERS J)IVISION OF TIIK PACIFIC, San Francisco, Cal., January !), 1S8S. Eespectfully forwarded to the Adjutant-Cleneral of the Army, concur- ring in the a lews of the Department Commander. (). O. IIOWAIID, Mojor-flcncral, Coiiimawlhif/. SULSISTENC^E OfI'ICE, ])]:fARTMENT OF THE C'OLUMllIA. Vaiicvurcr JUirritcl's, Waslt,, Deeeinbcr iiO, 1887. Sir : I have the honor to report .iiat in compliance ^vith verbal in- structions from the I)ei)artment Commander, 1 investigated the Gov- ernment title to the military reservation at Point Wilson, Wash, (des- ignated on the nnlitary maj) No. 10). Through the courtesy of Hon. J. Y. Ostrander, register L'nited States Land Ottice at Seattle, Wash., I was given free access to tlu^ records of his otlice. Tliis reservation was declared by the President September 2'2, 1860. A portion of the land covered by this reservation was granted to the Territory of Washington in 1804, for university pur|)Oses, under act of Congress, and a donation (ilaiin was patented Alarch 0, 18(10, covering a ])ortion of the reserve; only a small portion now belongs to the Gov- ernment. 1 am, sir, very repectfully, your obedient servant, C. A. Woodruff, C((pf((in and C. (S\, ('. S. Arnn/. To the Assistant Adjutant-General, Department op the Columbia, Vancouver Barracls, Wash. FORTIFICATIONS I TON I'lOFT SOUND. 7 I l-'irst iiiiliir.smifiit.l IlKADijl'AHTKRS nKl'AIM'MKNT OT Tin; ('(»I,rMIUA, \'(inc<>Hr(r JlarracLs, Wash., .Inaitaiji 1, 1SS8. Itospectl'iillN roi\vai(l«'ri(i. Gin., i'. >V. A., Frcsiilent Board of Fni/inecr.s Pacijic Coast. Brig. den. A. A. HrMFiiiiEVs, Chief of Engineers, U.S.A. Office Po.^rd of ENiaNEEws fou the I'acifk; ("oast, San Fr((ncisco, Cal., J>eceinlicr \~), 18V 1. (rENEKAL: 1 have the honor to make the following report on the re- connaissance of Lake Washington, AVashington Territory. This reconnaissanct^ was made during the month of August last by myself and Lieutenant Ihmdbury, the recorder of this Board. The object of the reconnaissance was to as(;ertain if this lake could be connected with Seattle Harbor by a ship-canal, within reasonable limits of expense: and if so, to dis(!()ver the approximate locitiui of such canal, the dirt'erentie (4' level between the waters of Seattle Har- bor and the lake, and all the other circumstances attending such an undertaking. 8 lOliTIFICATIONS ll'ON I'UGKT SOUND. My Ictlcr to tlic Dcpiu tniciit (tf ('ctolicr 11, ISTd, Mill sot fuilli iiioio Cully tlu' oltjcct dl' tlM' ii'ciuniiiissaiicc. A copy ot till' iciiort of Jiii'iiteiiaiit lliiiidhiuy, addH'swd to tlio rres- idciit of tills I>oi(i(l,»liilfak( t'liimi Id' tl ' Dlliei elite, d G". J'^xtreiiie IdW water of Lak(' \\'asliiii;;l(iii 17 (•' ) lli;;li water of tlie liay as U ) Mean level of Liiisf fiii'oii 1'J' [■DitVereiice, 7 '.• '. Mean level of J.ukt! AVasliin;;ldn lU 1> " > If we suppose^ the waters of the two lakes to coinmiinicale freely, and to assume, at all times, a common level, then we would have, assiimind' the hi};h water ot the liiiy as 0, th(^ (uimiiion level of the two lakes at liiflli water IS': the common level of the two lakes at loir water 1.'!' [)''; the mean level of the two lakes, l.V HIV'. Xow, in reference to these data, I will rei.iark, if a wide and deep canal were (!Uf between Lake Washiiiofon and Lake Union, that Lake Washiiidton would necessarily tiiid its main outlet to the he;i through Lake Union and Shilshole Hay; and in this (jase the height of the common level of the; comiiuMiicatino' waters, barrino- a slin were drained through Lake Union by a large cut or canal tliat the (nirrent of the escaping water wonld probably soon scour out a deep (ihannel through Union Bay, carrying the sediment, par- ticularly at the first rush of the water, to a great exunt into Admiralty Inlet. Jt is i)ossible that the range I have given for the level of the waters of the two lakes, in ciise this canal should ever be built, would be slightly changed. It may be made higher or lower. The question will be one of exj)ense. This difference of level between the waters of the bay and the lakes will involve the constriu'tion of locks, to enal)le vessels to pass from one to the other. I in the iUH^, low uiid the h Lake otteu if B cut or )ii scour nt, par- niinilty | waters , slightly I be one ' FORTIFICATIONS UPON PUGET SOUND. Tliose locks, lor tlie sake of t'coiioiny in ext'avation, .slioultl In- placoil at till' oiitU't ol" till' cniia!, on Hit' bay sliori'. The raii;;;i' oftlie tiili' in Seattle llaibnr, tor such jiraetical i)urposes as a eaiial, may be assnnied at lOi'eet. II. tlieiel'ore. it bo re<]nireil that the ontlet of tiie e-aiial be so eonstrneted tJiat vessels shall l)e able, ,0()() eacli. The next, ipiestion is the amount of excavation. Two transit ami level lines were run from Union Lake to Seattle Har- bor, crossinjjf the divide between the lake and the harbor at the lowest depressions — one via "■.Mercers Farm,"' thi^ other via the tramway of the Seattle C( al Company. A transit and level liiu' was also run via the tramway conm'etiu;^' the two lakes. These lines were not strai.n'ht lines, because to have made them strai<;'ht would have involved many days cuttinj;' in a thick uiuler.nrowth that mij^ht very ])ro])ei'ly be called a jun,:;ie. Sutlicient exi)loi'alions were made, however, to show that the canal between the two lakes could be made on a strai^ulit line without en- connterin.u- any hi.uh land or other dilliculties. The route between Lake I'nion and Seatile Ilarboi', via '.'.Mercer's Farm " line, can also be, a straight line, while that via the tramway from Lake L'niou to the harbor would be on two straight lines connerred In- an are of a ciicle of l, THK ISA Y (VIA M i: li( Ki;".- lAK.M). Lon,i;th 111" s('(!ti()ii line .", li;." Loiigtli ol'stniiulit iiii;' .">. lao IIKTWKK.N" I, AM-: I NIuN AM) mr. IIAV f \ I A lUAMW AV). Length i»t' section line (i, ;>0." Leiiyth nl' jtiopd-sed line 'vit h eiirv e Ci, ;Ui) I have supposed if we were to bu'ld suith a canal for naval luirposes that it ou;iht to be .'iO feet deep in tue middle at low water in the lakes ; that the snbmei'j;ed slopes oui^hr to be 1 on L* : that about (5 feet above liiffh water in the caiial there on.uht to be a berme, or tow-))ath. IL' feet^ wule, and above this jioint the side slopes may be made i'>~, with small berines 4 feet wide for < verv L'O feet in height. 10 FORTIFICATIONS UPON PUGET SOUND. It may be leinarkt'd tliat tlie exposed banks of earth in all this coun- liy Avill stand at a very steep slope, more than 45°; but for safety 1 ' think hiyh banks like those of a eanal in deep excavation had lietter be ent to that slope. As to the cross-section of the canal, I think 50 feet wide on the bottom wonld be amjily snthcient. This would make the water surface at low water KJL* feet wide, and at hij-h water 178 feet wide, which wonld al- low ordinary vessels of commerce to pass each other with ease anic ,va^•(l^^v On transit line ln'twi'L'u lakes 47:5, .-dl Uu a straislit lim- 4 4v!,7:V-' Hetwreii l^ake I'liioii and tlie l)av, via Mi-icoi's I'aiin . - 4, (i;U,4t)(> Oil a ,strai<;lit line .'. :!, '.'S5, (Ud ISetwccii Lake I nion and the bay, via tramway ;'., lUlf), H".! On straight lim- with connectini; curve :). '.".•>. '^f;'! To be safe, 1 assume the excavation Itetween lakes, 4r)0,(K)!> cubic- yards; excaviition between Uiuon I/ake and the bay, by eitiier route, 4,()II0,0(K) cubic yards ; total excavation, 4,4r)(>,00t) cul)ic yards. From these data we iireeiuibled to arrive at an approximate estimate of the cost of the canal : Say two lil't-lorks. at !?l.f'00,(lOO each ,s-j, Ui)(), (mki Excavation, 4. l.Mt.dOU eiiliic yards, at 'M cents per ciiliic yard "J, 'J-J."), (Rif) Dam, w itli aiunn, across outlet of Union Lake ','."), OOO 4, ■,'.')(>, (10(1 Ad Total cost 4, ('.::., (1(10 I am of opinion tiiat the proposet' caiuil could be built for this amount of money (coin), unless it shotdd be detjided that three locks would be jtreferable to two, in which case aliout 85<>(),()C0 shotdd be added to this estinnite, making it 85, ITo. (»()(>. The tpiestion , irises, in (toiujltision, does the (loverntuent want such a <'anal and such a harbor of refuge in this locality Jis Lake Wasliington would iiiford .' This ((uestion 1 do not i)ropose to discuss tit the present time. IMtU'h might be said both for titid agiiinst ir. if there were such a chiince to make a great uaval depot, so euvirely secure, with so many advantages of climate, of coal, timber, and fresh- water five fioiu ice, at any siiitiible point tdong the middle of the At- lantic fVont, (M' even the (iiilf C()ast of the United States, 1 do not im- agine tlieie wdiild be much hesitation on the subject. The work w(mld probably be started ;it once. But, situated as this harbor is, on one liaidc of the Pacific front of the United States, in u ('(uiiitry yet in its infancy as regards popidiition and resources, the ctise is different. Xeveitheless, it should at idl times be remend)eve i>laces on the I'acific Coast of the rnited Stittes where mivy-yards or naval establishments of any kiml can be estaltlished, where they can be luiule secure. ' m FORTIFICATIONS UPON PUGET SOUND. One of tlie.se i.s at San Francisco, one is at San J)ie<40, and one in ihe waters of Pnj^a't Sound. When the day arrives for iixin,ij a site for a navy-yard, or a depot of naval supplies, in these lattei- waters, the claims of LaUe Wasliin^ton will doubtless l)e considered. Althoufih much information is contained in thisrejxjrt and tlie pajx'rs herewith, yet before any actual woric could i)roperly be bejiun on tlie construction of such aMork as this canal, mucli more detailed informa- tion would be wanted. Minute anort. I alone am resjjonsible for them. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,. P). S. Alkxandkk, Lieut. Co}. l-JiiffiiDrrs, lirf. /irit/. Gen., ('. S. A., President lluurd of J^Jnijinecvs, Vncific Coaat.. Brig. (Jen. A. A. HrMPiiREYs, Chief of EnijincevH, U. aS. ^l. l^ '^ 12 FORTIFICATIONS ITON PUGET SOUND. San JYiANCisco, Cal., Ccfolier i;>, 1871. COLONKL: AlU'i' ('()ni])k'tiii<;' tlic iield-w oik ol" (lu; cunciit obsciva- tioiis wliicli you liad diicctt'd iik* to iiuikc in and about tlic iitoiitli of tilt' Colniid^ia ]\ivi'i', 1 inocct'dcd with my i»;iit.v, in obedience to your orders, to l*n}>et Sound, Ibr tlu' i)Ui|to,s(' oftakinj;' current observations in c<'rtain designated locabties tiiere; and also, un' the i)racticability of connectin;^' the waters of tiuit lake with those of Dwaniish or IClliott's Ijay by means of a shii» canal of such dimensions as to admit to the lake our lai-^est vessels of war, in case tiie (rovernmciit shoulddecide to locate a naval dc])ot ni)on its shores. Upon this reconnaissance 1 now have the honor to submit the fbllow- inp' leport : As this lo(!ality is be<;innin.<4' to attract considerabli^ attention on ac- count of its connection with the railroad and maritime interests of commerce, as well as its imi)ortanc.c to the (iovernment for naval ])ur- ]ioses, a description of it, somewhat in detail, may not be uninterestin,i:'. Lake \Vashin.iiton is a body of fresh water, situated about l.\ miles due east froni Dwamis'.i Jiay, \N'ashinj;ton Territory. Jt is about IS miles in lenj^th, with an avoaj^e width of about - miles, atid has an area of about ."UJ s to within a shoir distiincc^ from its shores. The whole lake isnothin;:; mori' tiian a lar^^c volume of water collected from tiie suiroundin.u' hills into a deep .lior^e. ^\'hen it was ascertained that tiie depth was so <.'reat, reac!iin,ecimens, which, after examination, jiroved to be pr<'cisely simi- lar to those obtiiiiied from the toj), both bein,^- iierfectly fresh. The temiH'rature at the bottom was ~>~)^ !•'.: at the surface, 70^ 1'.; the air, ■ u ^ F. The water, althoujih fres4i and soft, is not snfii(!iently imre for drink- inj;' purposes. It seems to ho iinpre,nnated with minute i»articles of sus- ])ensible decayed vegetable matter and minute animal life, scarcely visi- ble to rhe naked eye. The bottom also seems to be covered with fine mud and decayed vege- table substance. _ This lake receives the draina,ue of about .'!()<> square miles of the sur- roundin.u' countiy. its i)rincipal tributary, the Sammamish River, en- ters it at the northern end. This liver drains a lake of the same name, situated about 3 miles due east and lying north and south, nearly par- allel to Lake ^^'ashington. The other tributari«'s are small inconsid- erable stieams, diaining the hills in the immediate vicinity. Its natural outlet is at its southern end, through the Dwamish Kiver into Dwamish 15ay. Uetween the lake and the l»ay this river rec-eives the waters of Cedar and AN'hite rivers. It is navigable for small steam- boats at ordinary high ti«le nj) to a sluit distance above the White Eiver, and during the time of treshets in the Cedar and ^Vilite rivers *steamers have ascended to the lake. It frequently liapi)en" during this time that the waters of Cedar, and FORTII'ICATIONS UPON PUCiKT SOUXD. la sometiiiios thost' of White Iiiver, flow into the h»ke instead oi' thioiiyli tiie Dwiuiiisli IJiver into the bay. The eountiy snironndin^i' Lake Washinjiton is jjeneially uiululatinji' and hilly, alihonj;li not ron,i;h nor rnjiyed. It abounds with numerous springs of alear pure water. Alonjj the borders of the Sanunaniish Lake and down the Snmniamish Iviver there are eonsidcrabie Vltliou,ah the facili- ties lor getting this coal to market are as yet vcy luimitive and expen- sive, still the enteri)ris(; seems to ])ay those interested. The amount now taken ont per month is about l,."»(l(> tons. With improved tacilities the comjjany exjiects to be able to deliver double tliis amount in the course of a lew weeks. To the westward of Lake Washington is another smaller lake called Lake Union. Their waters sire separated by a low narrow lidge aliout ay, thence into Admiralty lidet. 'J'ii rough this outlet the tide rises to within one-half mile of the lake. The stream runs through a low narrow valley, which widens out into a marshy tlat when it reaidus Shilshole Bay. During low water this bay is a low mnd tiat, excepting near its entrance, which is tiirough a nanow goige with bold bluffs on ln»th sides. iJctween tlu' outK-t of Lak(^ ('nion and Dwamish IJay there is a ridge of consideralde height, with a low depression in the vicinity of Smith's l>ay. At this point tin; height of the land does not exceed IL* feet above high water. JJetween the southern end of Lake I'liion and Dwamish Hay there are two depiessions. one in a westerly direction ami the other in a south- erly. The height of 'i of these aliove the lake is about 10.") feet. Un the west of Lake Washington, and limiteay, is well adajited ior tlu' terminus of a eanal, on account" of its bein^- well ])i()te<'ted from storms and of the faAorable dei)t!i of water. At tSmitli's Jiay tlieie is anotliei' extensive Hat similar to tliat at the nioutli of tln^ Dwamisli lliver. Jinniediately alter our ani\al at Seattle mc i>rion, to the examination uri)ose. The distance l>etween the lakes by this route (which is the shortest) is (581 yards. Lake Washinjiton was 7 feet hiiiher than T^ake Union at the time the hivelinjx was done. The highest point of .ground between the two is 31 feet above Lake Union. \\'e were informed by intelliji'ent and reliable persons livinj;' in this vicinity that the water of Lake Washinj^ton, during' a dry season, was about lA feet below what we found it; and dunng a wet season about 1 feet above, giving it a range of about 5^ feet. In Lake L'nion the water falls 1 foot and rises L* under similar cinnimstances, according to information received from the same sources. Tli's would give it a ra nge of :J leet. li will be noticed i'roin the soundings in Lake Washington that at Union Lay tlie water is comparatively sinUlow, varying from L* to o fathoms. Here considerable dredging would be re(]uired to obtain the requisite depth for a ship-canal. The bottom is of very soft mud, which seems to be of considerable depth. On the western end of this line, at Lake Union, the same features are observable. The ground between the two lakes seems to be composed of coarse gravel and sand. Xo rock exca station, I thiidv, need be antici|)ated. If these lakes were connecte-^'.', s 'J'''''"'""'''' •' • Mean lc\cl of Lak(! I'liion j-j' i . M.aii level ofj.ake V/asliiii- ton lii.?:, ( I'lller-'iie,-, T'.:". r>esi. S. Alioxaxder, President Board of Fuf/inars for the Facijic Coast. !j i 16 FORTIFICATIONS ITOX I'UGFT SOUND. IIeau(^uartkks Department of the Columisia, \'(nicoi(Vcr lUirrovUs, ^V^^sh,^ Ji'hj 7, ISSj. Sir: I (U'sire nf>iiiii ti) cull .itlention to the iinportanco of tlje Ibrtili- catious iit tlu' t'iitiaii(;e of I'lifjet Sound. In ('oiiii)any witii Colonel ]Meiul(!ll, INIajor Jones, and Capt.iin Powell, of tlie Enjiincer Coips, I have recently visited the principal ]>ointsthat have been heretofore mentioned in several coniniunications Ivoni these head(inarters, and an» fully inijaessed willi the necessity of the (lovern- nient takinfj such action as ^Yill secure proper defense to the great com- mercial interests of J'nget Sound ; these are constantly increasing every year, and havc^ now reache«l such magnitude as to become of mitional interest. 3Iaiiy reports have been forwarded and are now on tile in the War Dej)artnu'nt, and i)articularly in the olllce of tlie Chief Engineer of the Army. Last year J detailed .a ]>oard of experienced oflicers, consisting of ]Major Kodf^ers, Cai>tain Taylor, and (Jai)taiu INIacMurry to examine the subject, and their report was forwarded to J)i vision Jleadquarters. Many valuable points have been reserved, but I regard the two main entrances to Puget Sound as of the lirst importance for present consid- eration, viz, Admiralty Inlet and Deception Pass. Suitable ground comiminding tiie entrance to Deception Pass has been reserved by the (lov<>rninent. That at Admiralty Head, Point Wilson, and ]Marrowstone Point has been reserved only in part, and a suflicient sum should be appropriatt^d, in addition to that required for defensive works, to secure a pernuinent title for the Government. One objection to any action being taken towards the defense of this inlet has been the distance between Point Wilson and Admiralty Head, about 4 miles, but this it is believed can be greatly overcome now by the use of modern appliaiu^es. I recommend that the attemion of Congress bu called to this subject in time for action during the coming session. The British (xovernment is now expending a very large amount of money in completing its navy-yard and dry-ilocks at Ks(iuimault, near Vic- toria, British Columbia, and has kept during the past ten years from a single ship of war to a small tleet in those waters, and 1 think it ad- \isable that our (Jovernment should take an equal interest in the estab- lishment of a naval station in this j)art of tlie United States. Several reservations have been made on tiie Strait of Fuca',and Puget Sound tor naval pur^joses. What point is best suited for all the requirements of the Xavy could probably best be determined by a Jjoard composed of naval otUcers. Lake Washington, near Seattle, has many advantages for such a pur- pose, it being a lake of fresh water of great depth, and iu close prox- imity to the dee}) water of the sound. I request this communication be referred to Colonel Meiulell for re- mark. Very resi^ectfully, your obedient servant, Nkl.son a. Miles, Byit/diUer-Gencral, ConiiitaittlinIJi'f((iit-(icii( ntl. [Secfuiil inliitMcmfiit.) U. y. EN(iixKKi; OrnrE, San Francisco, Cat., Jidi/ 14, 188."!. IJespectfiilly letuniLMl to tlie Assistant Acljiitant-doncral, Iloadciuar- tors Division oftlu' racifie. Wliile concurriiii;" in tlio iinportaiico ot* jtrcparations for tlic defense of Pn^et Sonnd, it seems to nu^ tliat of iSan I-'raneiseo and of our ]ijreat coniniereial ports on tiie Atlantic, coast siioiiid lirst be assnred. In this connection it is understooresided over l)y the Secretary of ^Var. C. Seafoutii Stkwaim', Colonel EiKjinccn^. [ Tliiiil iiiil'ii'Si'ineiit. 1 IIi:AD(,tUAUTEll.S J )I VISION OF THE TACIFir, Frcsidio of &(a Francisco, (,'aJ., 'lull/ 1, 1885. Tiespectfully referred to the Chief of Eiif^ineers, to wlM)m the report of Board of Ollicers within mentioned was referred from this ollice on the 21st Xovember, 188-i. By order of the Secretary of War. C. McKeevek, Assistant Adjufant-Gcnerai in Charge. ! Vancouver Barracks, Wash., October 11, 1881. Sir: The board of ofiicers convened pursuant to the followin*;- order: Headql'autkks ])i:i>ai!tmi:nt uv tiik ConMniA, I'micouvvr Barracks, H'anlt., October 2, l^i»4. Spixial Oudkus I * No. U'^. S (•2) A lioard of Ollicers, to consist of MaJ. Joliii I. Kodgers, First Artillery; Capt. V. E. Taylor, First Artillery, ami Capt. J. W. MacMurray, First Artillery, A. E. O., will jiroceed Moiulay, OctoWer (i, or as soon tliereat'ter as practieablti, to tlio entrance of i'aj^et Soniul, Wasliinijton Territory, and sni'h otiier i)oinrs as niav be necessary, and examine tlie sites which are retained by the Gtvoinnient lor military reserves and S. Ex. 1G5 2 is i'()irnriCATi(>x> ri'<>\ ri'(;r,T sor.Mi. witliliiltl [or (hl'.ii-ivi ]iiii poM's, |iiiiti(iil;ii ly llmsc in ilic \ i. iniiy dI l'...f i'in\ rix-iiil iiiiil I >t'ic|iii(iii I'mss. \\'iislnii;;tiiii 'i".iiit(ir\ . Till- Koiird will 1. iinit u lint, in it> Ki.iiiiMii, is llic iiioition n!' iliv liiM iniccrlimi <• I'ni' iM(ii|iiitiiiii li.v lrii()|is iMiil llic Nlri'ii^iJi ul ;;;iirM()n m-fCNsjirv inr ili.- mimii', ;inil will Miliriiil isliiiiiilfs CKVriiii- llii' |iii>li;(lii<' cusi ol tlir ciinsl nictii'ii of siiilulilc ili'lriixiN c wdiKm, iiiiii tlic rf(|iii.sil(' l>mlfliii;;s osi'iil iiil Inr the sIn'ltiT ami ariiniiiiHiiliiiioii of tiic lr(Hi|iM iiiiil hii|i|iiit'.s wliicli limy cirrcli vrly ^iiiiisdii llir smnr, 'I'lif iictiMy; cii-iiiici' ollir'iT ol' (lie ilcinirlmcnt will I'limi^li llic linaid with the nt-i'. rsNary inaiis and nmcIi ii|li(i:il inlni mal ion from tin- lii.s ,,\' |ii> utlnr a«. w i 1 t'aiililati' ilM Will i^. 'I'll'' Junior im mljir oi the lioaii! w ill art as icvoidiT. I'lmn i'oni|di'tion of lliis duly IIh- nii'nihiT.s ol' tin- I'oaid will n jdlii ilicir ]iri>iu-r stalMins. Thr lia\i'l lii'iciii diriili'd is n -.salN loi- tin' |inldii' .scrv ice. I!y (irdi I' of |5i iuailirr-( icnn al Mile-. < '>c.\l! I . l,i>Vli, .Ifltini J.^^iihiiil .Idiiihinl-drni III !. Olliciai. liiis tlic liDiioi' t(t ii'spi'ft fully snhiiiit the lullowiiio rrpnii : 'lilt' r.oiirtl met < )('t(iin'r tl, all t lie inciiibt'is hciii^' )>r»'S('iit, iiinl jno- c(hm[(mI to the ()tli(!»*- of tlii' rcoistcr <»f tlie Liiited States Lainl Oflic*' at Olyiiipia. Wash.. aii«l thcic cxaiiiiiitMl the state of llu' titles to the I'liited States military res«'i\ at ions as declared by the I'resident in an lOxi-eii- tivc Ordeidated Septeiuhei' 21', LStK!, at tlie entrance to Admiralty In- let, the principal jtassaue to the wateis of IMifiCt Sound, atnl at l>ecep- tion j'ass — all in W'ashinj^ton 'l"ei litory, in the vicinity ot' Port Town- send. 'I'he I'.oard obtained from the I'nited States Land ( )flice an officially certilied abstract of the titles to tlu^ land at NN'ilson's Point, Admiralty Head, ami at Mairowstone Point, which is snbmitted herewith ; also a nni]> sho\vin.u' what icmaiiis of these original reservations IteloMiiinfj" to the I'nited State.>. As to the iescr\ at ions at Di'ception Pass, and Islands ^f.A, and Mo. U, the iJoai'd examined the titles, and found the records of the land oftice show tluMii to betciii;' to the I'nited Slates. The resulted' this examination shows that the Uidted States has no title to any jjortion of the reserved lands at I'oint Wilson or at Adnd- lalty Head. The small lots at these points used by the United Stat«'s lor lijiht-lionse ]mri)osos were, pnrchased from the. ])rivate owneis. At Maii'owstone Point, while the title of private individuals and of the Territory for university purj)oses has lieeii a«lmitted at tlu' landotlice to ]iart«of the military reservation as declared at this i)oiut, still the title to the most valuable part for the construction of batteiies remains in the Tinted States. The IJoard ])roceev'.s Isliuid. It is ii lilnlViilxmt >>'> lei't lii;;li. Al)i)iit IK iicres at tlie extrenn* ]M)int is tinilcr cult iv.ition, iinil It'iiinii lliisopi'ii licM tliici; lir wootls (•Ntcnd to (he M(»it li ami east. .Mairowstoiie Point is a hliitV ahuit IJO teet liiuli, tiinb.'reil and densely o\ci';4io\vn with nnilerl»i M-ili. It is ahoiit I mmIi's inside and op- posite t lie a I on! 1 1 of Admiralty I n let, on tiie south side ot' the en I la nee to Port Townsend i>ay. Point iludsiutisoi t he (»pposite sidti ol' t he l»ay, distant aliont L' [ miles. The distance of Mariowstoiu' Point iVoni Itotli i\dnnralty Head and Wils m's Point is ahout 1 nnles At 'ts Iiaso on tlu! ea.st side there is a low ,nia\(dly sand bank, inidosiuj;' sonu) low, aiable land, which is cultivated as a <;'ar(len by a Mr. SaluKUi, \vho said he rented it at •'r<.](» per year from ]\[ajoi' \'aii P.okkelen, who it appears claims title ton part of .Marrowstone Point, where the rectords of the I'nited States l.aiid Ollice show title to rest in the I'nited States. There are wood oi' country I'oads Iroin I'oint Wilson leadinj'' alony the water, over the hills, and throuj^h the woods to Pent Townsend, and thence up the bay, and ovi !■ to Port Discovery. 'I'here is a country 'oud leading irom Adnuralty lleainion of the JJoard, all three of tiiese points should be gar- risoned as soon as the batteries are constructed, an«l the j)erMianent strength of the j^arrison.s should not be less than two companies of troops at each place. The Board would recommend that batteries, consistinji' of not less than ten (10) rifled ^uns ami from eij^ht (8) to twelve (Hi) rifted mortars of the largest calit)er and greatest penetration, be eretJted at these points. Owing to the distance between these i>laces, the Board is of the opin- ion that none but rilled ordnance should be placed iu position. 20 FORTIFICATIONS UPON rUGET SOl'XD. If tlie liiyli <;i't>"n«l i>t Toint ^Vil^^oIl slioiiM bo selected for tlie site, open batteries of eaitb, ^ith a i)ara])et of 40 leet tliickiiess, would an- swer. At Adniiialty Head and at 31arrowstone I'oint tlie batteries would necessarily be ])la('ed on tlie bluffs. If tlie low sand spit at Toint AV'ilson should be select t-d, the site would be below the level of the shii>'s puns, and iron turret or casemate bat- teries would be necessaiy. AVhilst the iiiendieis ol' the l>oard are uot af^reed ujiou the selection of "the i)osition of first in»i)ortance for occupation by trooi)s," it ma;.' be stated her»^ that the only jiosition at present in a condition for the building' of batteiies and the erection of the necessary buiklin<;s for a garrison is Admiralty J lead. So far as Deception Pass is concerned, the J^oard would not recom- mend any fortilication there at the ])reseiit time. The ])assajie is nar- row, not more than \~A) yai'ds wide at its narrowest jiart, but little used, and of great dilliculty of navigation, e.\cei)t at slackwater. In the opinion of the J>oai(l, in the event of hostilities, it could be easily ob- structed. As regards the estimated cost of the batteries, and the necessary buildings for the accommodation of troops, the 15oard submits estimates obtained from the l-^ngiiieer's and Quartermaster's departments. Tor the building of the batteries, covered ways, serxice magazine, laying jtlat forms, etc., *! 50,000 at each jihu^e. I'or the building ot' quarters for commanding ofiicer, two cai)taius, six lieutenants, surgeons, (;ommissary, oidnance, and (juartermaster.v sergeants, barracks lor t\\() (;omi»anies, hosi>ital (IL* beds), commissary, (|uarterniastt'i, and ordnance store-houses, quartermaster's stables, und magazine or powder house, commanding officer's office, adjutant's office, and guard-house, $58,000. The r>oard einleavored to ascertain as niiicli information bearing on the commercial importance of the waters of Tuget iSound as possible. It called on the collector of the i)ort at Tort Townseny Firfif Arfillc)'!/. FiiANK "E. Taylor, ('(il>t(iin First Aytillcri/, J. W. MAOMrHKAV, Capiidit Tirtsf Artillcyi/. To the Assistant Adjutant-CIenkual, DETAKTMENT of the ('i»Ll>;i3IA. VaiKoin'cr liar racks, Woisli. FOIITIFICATIOXS Ul'OX PiGHT SOUND. 21 IlEADi^UAKTERS DErAUTMENT OF THE CoLUMTilA, Office of Chief Kmiineeu, Vanconrer Barracks, ]V((slt., Ocloher 20, 1884. kSiR : 1 iiiclo.so luM'owith roi)()rt of Uoiiid of ol'lituTs convened by .s{)e- cial order No. 148, lle;is. Very respectfnlly, your obedient .servant. ,J. \V. M.AoMrKKAV, Captain First Artillcri/, Assisfauf Cliief J'Jiif/ini'i'r's Ojjicr, liccordcr, Hoard (fijicers. Assistant AD.irTANT-dENEUAL, l)ErAKT:MKNT OF THE (.'OLriMlJIA, ]'aHC()urer Jiarracks, ]Va.sh. [First iiiiiorsi'ineiit. I IlEADQUAKTEnS 1)EPA1{TME>T OF THE COLFMniA. Vanconrer Barracks, Wash., J\'()rciiiher 1, 1884. lves])(H;tridiy foiwiirded to the Adjutant-Oenera! of the Army (thronji'li nead<[uarters Division of the Paeilie) in\itinj4' attention to the initloscd rei)ort. Jt is a matter of snri)rise that this imi)ortant liarboi' and entrance to I'ufret iSonnd has been so lon.^- ne,uleeted. The very .yreat im|)ortan(;e of th<' commercial interests already established anrotection as is {^iven to lik(! interests aiul ])laces in other jiarts of the country. The object of sendin.u' this ])oard to the points nanxMl in the order is to take initiatory steps towards brinj;in,i;' tins subject to the a.tteution of the (lovernmeiit. N'»'ith this view and the informati(m cont. lined in the report, and tli(> fact that there has been <|tnte a iiumt»er of militaiy and naval reservations established on the Sound, I would ivcommend the ajjpointment by the I'resicU'Ut of a IJoard, composed of ollicers of the Army and Navy, to designate jjoiids of the first inii)ortance, and tliat api>ropriation of a sufiicient sum be asked of ('oni^ress to put such l»oints in a defensible (-ondition. Nelson A. IMiees, Britindicr-dencral, Conhnaiidinf/. [SiM-Diiil iiiilorsi'iii nt.l J1j:au(,>uarteks Division of tiii: rAciFic, Prcsifiio of ISan Francisco, CaL, Xorcnihtr i<, 1884. " JJespectfidly forv arded to the Adjutaiit-Cjeneral of the Army. Tliis report contains much valuable infoi ination coiu'crnin;^' the ecuMiition and l)hysical characteristics of llu' reservatiiuis for defensive jinrposes in I'ns'et Sonml dechn'ed by the President. It ai)i)ears that the Oovern- inent has lost possession of several of the most important ]>oints for de- fensiv(^ works, and t seems to me that the title to these places should, in some numner, be recovered to the United States. This sort of defensive works needed and tluir armanu'iit and cost i)er- tain to other departnuMits of the sei'vice, and I withhold my comments upon that part of the report. ,Tno. I'ol'E. Major-General^ Commanding. \- 22 FORTIFICATIONS I 'PON PUGET SOUND. [Third inilor.seiiii'ut.] War Department, Adjutant-General's Office, WoKhinnton, Kovemher 21, 18SA. Respectfully roferretl to the Chief of Engineers for remark. To be returned. By order of the Secretary of War. . II. C. Drum. xid}i(tant-(iC)teraL [Fourth iiiilor.siiiii-'iit.] Office Chief of Engineers, r, S. Army, Scptevihcr 11, 1885. Eespectfullv returned to the Adjutant-General, U. S. Army. 1 recommend that this matter be i)Ostponed until it can be ascertained whether it is the intention of the Government to establish a naval sta- tion in or about the waters of Puget Souinl, Inasmuch, also, as the subject of the defenses of the more important harbors of the United States has been referred to a Eortilication Board, presided over by tiie Secretary of War, it would seem proper that these papers should be submitted to that Board for action. John Newton, Chic/ of Jvuf/inccrs, Briff. 'and Jii't. MUARTERS OF TIIE AR3IV, Ad.iut ANT General's Office, • Wanldiu/tou, tScpteiuhcr 12, 1885. Bespectfully submitted to the Secretary of War. Tt> the absence of the Lieuteuant-General commanding, K. C. Drum, Adjutant-General. [Sixth iiiilorstment.) llespectfullv !eferred to Cai)t. Edward :\raguire, Corps of Engineers Secretary of the Fortittcations Board, for reference to the proper com- mittee. William C. Endicott, Sccretatij of War. V7ar Department, Sept€ntber2l, 1885. [Seventh iiKlorsfimnt. I United States Engineer Office, (ha-C(io, X. Y., Xove}nber2o,lS85. Bespectfully referred to General John Newton, chairnum of Commit- tee on " Ports to be Defended." By direction of the Secretary of War. Edward l\rA(njiRE, Captain of Enci'meera, 1. S. A., Secretary of Board. s CO', tilt iii^ 'i SUl Hi;? wit A(l J^ gel ailj tot L ted si(l( 1 iea( of ^ istl lOlK i-ific Stii T Si the el a Si 11^ just iiig- 1 cliai and Tl Colli iiixh so lit the and Fue: Tl of S Sou I «>f ni ton, a slu 'P rORTIFICATIOXS IToX PUGET SOIJXD. 23 '& i i United Statks ]:ngineer Office, rortldxd, (h-('fi<»i,'h(l!/ ~i, 1884. Sir: I liave tlic honor to invite attention in an extension of onr sea- coast defenses, if the subject lias not already leeeived consideration, to the need of defenses on rn^et Sound aiul adjoininj;- waters of Wash- ington Territory. To aid generally in the determination of tlie extent and character of surveys or other investijjations which maybe desired for sites for forti- fications on I'uj^et Sound ].>roi)er and .Vdiniralty Inlet, I inclose here- with a ])rint showinjLj shores of the deep water entrances to Pnj^et Sound and military I'cservations there located, on which entrances, t'S[)eeially Admiralty lidet, I J ndfje, defenses are first re(]uired. Subse(iuently,deleMses maybe reqnired for I'oit Discovery, Fort An- j;elos, the ai)i)r<»aciies to r>ellin<;ham May, and on San .Inan Island and adjoininj;' islands from wliich (jlianncls leadinj;' from tln^ Strait of Fnca to the terminus of the Canadian I'acitic; Railroad could be commanded. Defenses on the entrances to I'njict Sonnd would be for i)resent jtro- tection of the cities Port Townsend, Seattle, Tacoma, and Olympia, be- sides some ship-yards and large saw-mill establishnu'iits. I'ort Townsend I5ay is a commodious aiichorage, wliich vessels can readily reach from the sea without a i)ilot. Seattle is the principal city of NVashington Territory. Olymjjia is the Territorial cajutal. Taconni is the legal terminus and an important station of the North I'acitic Rail- road. Tacoma ami Seattle are the only i)laces on the Northwest I'a- citic coast which are points of delivery i>f coal ir()m mines in the United Stiites. Veiy respectfully, your obedient servant, ClfA!-!. F. FOWELL, Captain of Knylnccrs. To the Chief of Engineers, U. S. A. United States Engineer Office, Fortlanil Omiou, Mnrcli '_'(), 18S4. Siu : I have the honor to invite the attention of the (iovernment to the propriety of accpuring a site for a naval establishment of the fir.st class on Lake Washington, Washington Territoiy. IJeasons for such an establishment on our North Facilh; coast are Justly found in its commercial growth; its extent of coast liiu^, includ- ing as it does the ramifications of Puget Sound and the nudtitmlinous channels of Alaska: its remoteness from the 3Iare Island Navy Yard, and the presence of a foreign naval jtower. The sea coast sketched above is separated into two jiarts by Ibitish (.'olumbia. Fugland has a imval depot with a public graving dock untional advantage' when a short canal to I'uget Sound is completed. u FORTIFICATIONS UPON FUGET SOUND. ini«).'>> iiir \> HUM" iiiTiv ui Jiiiiu iruiii llil^ in laivr, i iiu ii-.i.m ^^ mm «m tliis neck, wliidi is ojiposite tlio tido iliits of Seattle Jlarhor, is a little iiioie tliaii L' miles, ^«'(»i'tli of Seattle tiie width is i'lopi aliout 4 to 7 miles. The (!onli;;iiratioii of the jiToiind, iiowever, jnoteels the lake from attack by vessels on tlie Sound. Lidce I'uion is north of Seattle, and between \ai\h-. AVashinpton and Salmon I>;iy, on Tnjiet Sound. The foi-mer lake is of much smaller ex- tent than tln^ latter, but of eciually good depth. An addition to Seattle is built on the southern shore of Like Union. A canal for draina,iieand li<4ht-drau.!;lit navif^ation froiii J.ake Washin<;ton to J^ake Union has been conuneneed, and with a view of its extension to Salmon Bay. Teh',i:rai»hic accounts of (^)n<4ressional ))roceedin^s state that the House ',)f Jiejiresentiitives' Conimeice Committee hax'e aj^reed to favor- ably recomnu'iid a liill ibr this canal, Rivinj;' to its <'(Mn]>any a .^raiit of land reclaimed by the lowerinji' of the level of Lake "NVashin^iton. As to the feasibility of the canal, 1 have intbrmation thiit the level of Lake Washington issonu* Tfeet abovethatof Lake Union ; tiiat the divide is about 1'.") feet above the former l('\('l. and about oiu'lburth mile lonji'. Lake I'nion drains into a tidal slouch of Salmon Lny, an feet al)ove hi{;h-tide mark. The distance between the two Ie\els is about 1 mile. J Jud<:e tluit the intended canal will l)e develojied into a ship-canal : a greater depth and nH)re lenj;lh to the sinj;le lock oidy aic necessarily re(]uired. A li;^ht-drau^ht i)avi.!,;atiou alufu^ to Seattle harbor could be easily obtained I'rnm the southern end of Lake W'ashinjitou. That the canal company disre<;ard this ])1ain ami important circumstance shows that tlu'V look beyond a rivei'-boat commerce, and ha\(', for ad- ditional object, either laiul lechunatiou or ship imvi,uation, or both. That the shi])-caniil will be reay has sufficed for Seattle's necessities, but her ,i;Towth as a liir,ue commercial center ncds the n)a<;niHcent harbins which the two lakes iiear her can furnish. Present wlnirfaj^e is limited by mud flats at the head of the bay and l)y exposure on the north ciul to pre- vailin,^- winds, ^iviny an available shore lenjith of sonu^ 1* miles, on one-half of which only is the ])r()tection secure. The sharp ])itch of the bank to depths of several fathoms, without extensive dredji'inji', limits dock ca]»acity. A li-foot run^^e of tidii is inconvenient. l>ut a more serious drawback than any named is an unusual destructive action of^ sea-worms on native timbers, which is shown by less than one year's life of a lir i)ile. There are extensive coal nunes near thi' foot of Lake AVasliin^ton, which ship by rail to l^lliot i}ay, transportation of whose ])roduct could be more cheai)Iy made to deep vessels from chutes onthe lake. liould the subject of this communi' certain riiihts and lU'ivileges to the Lake Washington and Pnget Sound Caiml Company. 1 understand from FORTIFICATIONS UPON PUOET SOUND. 25 reiioit that an cxaiiiiiiatioii ol" tlic .;!s niatle some twenty vear.s ago by (Jeiieral 15. 8. Alexander. I have infonnatioii that the (lovcninieiit has iu»t reserved any land on Lake Waslniijitoii, but have no iiilurinatidu as to i)ri\ate entries of land already made, neither itf any land wliich may be held for sale t(» the (Jovernn)ent. J'ii.i;et kSoiunl includes the waters orijiiimlly named as surh. Admi- ralty Inlet and Waslnngton oound. Duwamish IJay is I'ow known as HUiot or Seattle Hay, Dnwamish r.a!;e as Luke ^Vasilin,^■tt»n. and Shil- shole 15 ay as Sulmon I5ay. \'ery respectfully, your obedient servant, (Has. F. ToAVicLr.. ('(ijittiiit oj' Kiijihtt'vy.s. To tin' ('niEF OF l\.N(ii:sK]:i;s, r. .S. A. Office ]5(»Aun of ENiiixFJMfs von Fori'ii'icai'ions. An.MY J5i:ir.tJiN(i, (."oi;. lloisiox and (Iuekn Sis., Xeic Yorl: Citji, •Itinnayj/ 15, 187.'). General: Tin* Doard of l'^n.uineers for Fort itieations havinji' con- sidered the subject of a jtrojioscd I'cscrvalion ni>on San .luan Island. \Vashin;4"ton Teri'itory, which was refeii'ed,bv your indorsement of 11th instant npon a letter of (reneral Canby. cominainlinn' l)ei»ai tawnt of the (.'olnmbia, have the honor to snbr.iit the foIlowiiiL; report tluMiMui: iM'.roirr. In our report of March l.">, ISO!), upon tlie resnlutiou of the Senate of the United States callin,!;" for information regard in. s^' the mihtary iui- portauce of the Island of San .Juan, we exincssed tlie oj)ini(ni tiiat its possession l)y the I7niti'd States was of importaiu.'e, as seiuirinu- to ns uu anchorajie whi(;h could be defeinled by fortilicatious aud whicii iu tinieof wai' would bean important harbor of refu.ue. Such si hai'bor or iUiehora;;e is to be tbuud iu tiiat body of water ly- inj? between San duau, Loi)e/., and Shaw's islautls, tiie three entrances to which are susceptible of easy defense by Ibrtilications ])roperly located. The exact position of these work'.s can not now Ix; indicated here for the want of amps showin<>' the topo.uraphi(;al ch;iract»'r of the ii:roun(l ; but they are iiulicated iu a jieneral way by the small circles in red, marked A, JJ, C, J), 10, F, on the three islands named above. Possibly the small island between L()))ez and Shaw's inijiht; fiirnish a site for a work of size adeipnUe to the closini;- of tlie channel ; in which case it would be occupied in ^ireference to the ])oints 10 ami F. While (Jeneral Canby is no doubt correct iu the opim'on that the ex- penditnie involved iu the construction of the necessary works wouhl not be justilied by the present needs of thai ]>art of our coast, ami in- deed may never be, yet, as no one can certainly tbresee what amy be the future development of that part of our Pacitic possessions, it seems to ns wise, since the (iovernment now owns the laud, wl:i<;h has little value at present, to reserve from sale suitable^ sites at the six i»oiiits iianu'd, as also tae small island indicated aI)ovi', with a view to the con- tin<;ency of its beinj;' determiued at some future day to make the an- chora;,'e referred to a war harbor of refuge. We tlitM'cfore I'econunend that these seven reservations be made; that an oflicer be sent, if necessaiy, to select the sites, and that the res- ii 26 FORTIFICATIO' 8 UPON I'UGHT SOUND. ervatioiis iiicliirt. Ma). (!cnl. (iKOHCK \V. CULLUM, Col. of EiKi'mccrs oikI Brf. Ma}, (ienl. Z. 15. Tc)Wi:i{, IJi'xi. Col. ol' KiKi'inccrs and Hit. Maj. Cwnl. \\. (x. WlJIGHT, Lieut. Col. of Knii'inecfs ami lift. Maj. (rcnl. Brig. Gen. A. A. IlrMPiriiEVs, Cliif/ of Liu/i'mrrs, C. S. A. Office ISoard of ENOiiNFKRs fou thf: Pacific Coast, >S'((/« Fraiicisro, ('(d., Ovtoher 11, 1870. (rENKU\L: lly reference to my letter of September P), 1, snbmit- tiuj;' a project and estinnite of surveys luMMled for military defenses on the Pacific Coast that can 1)e executed jyrior to June ;i(), 1871, it will be seen that there is an item of $2,000 for " lleconnaissances and surveys in Admiralty Inlet and Pufiet's Sound." L desire now to state more particularly one of the objects to be ac- complished by these reconnaissances and surveys, viz: To discover, if i)ossible, which of the harbors in Admiralty Inlet and Puyet's Sound should be selected as a naval depot and harbor of refuge for our naval and mercantile marine. It seems to me to be absolutely necessary to determine this question ]>efore the Jioard of lOngineers for the Pacilic Coast can project any works of defense for tliese waters. The views of this lioard on tliis subject were 'presented as fully as was then possible in its rei)ort to tiie Chief of Engineers of December 0, 1807. By consulting tliis rej^ort it will be seen that tlie Board was the:: of the oi)inion tliat either Port Orchard or Lake Washington possessed the greatest advantages for a naval depot and harbor of refuge. The Board is still of the same o[)iiiion. To a proper understanding of this subject 1 in(;lose you herewith a coi)y of a letter I addressed to .lames S. Lawson, the assistant of the Coast Survey in Washington Territory, ineers. An inland establishnu'ut at Lak(^ Washinjiton would i)i'obably not re- quire any ractica- bility of the canal, its ]>robable cost, the nature of the shores, dei»tii ot' water, etc., I will order it to be made at an early day. I inclose with this a sketch of the waters of Admiralty Inlet and Pu- get's Sound, traced from a map in this oflice, so that in studyin,n" the^ subject the whole . S. Alexandkk, Lieut. Col. Kiijirs. Ilrt. Urif/. (Jen., J'. S. .1., Vrest. Board oj' J-Jiii/r.s., F^tcijir Codsf. 3Ly. Geu. A- A. Humphreys, Cltiefof IJufiineers, I'. S. A. . ! I il I I i [First inilotseiiu'iit.l Office of the Chief of Enoineers, ir«.s/( /M/y/o/j, Ocy order of tlie Hoard. (;k(). \V. riLT.rM. Col. ()/ Kiu/r.s., Jilt. Mdj. a cut. Office r.oAnn of I'.noinfhks, ISnn Fr(()tcisc(>, CUfl., AiKjnst ."iO, ISOT. Dfar Sir: 1 lutve to thank yon for yiuii- note of the 7th instant with the inclosed sketelie.s ami list of distanei's. 1 shall feel yreatly obliged to you if yon can lind out and let nie know the dejjth of water at the two entrances (in)rth iind south ends of J>ain- hrid^c Island) of the I'ort Orchard (,'hannel. J do iM)t. of (u»urse, expect you to spend much tinu" in this investij;a- tion. It will not be necessary. All we want at ])resent is to'know whether or not there is sullicient depth of water at the two entrances above named lor the entrance ol"'tlie heaviest vessels of war. The exist- in<,f charts appear to leave this in doubt; but when we i)assed through in the Diduit our soundings indicat<>(l an abundance of water. J5y detacliing a boat some day, with a lo(;al i)ilot to indi(;ate the chan- nels, the facts can be readily ascert uneil in a few houis. Von will umlerstand that we are looking to the possibility of making these wateis a naval and mercantile rei'dezvons in time of war. The ]dace could be easily and securely defcmled, and it has some other advantages, though it would be better if it was on the other side of the iidet. J regret when 1 was at Seattle that we did not spend a ftnv days there and exatniue Lake Washington, and ascertain the quality and quantity of coal that is found in the neighborhood. If this lak(! has sullicient dei>th of water, and if it can be (;onnected by a shin canal without too much exi)ensewith the waters of Admiralty Inlet, ami if there is an abundance of good coal along its shores, it would appear that it has niore advantages than any other place for a naval, at least for an iron-ciad, depot. Can you give me any information on these points .' \'ery respectfully, etc. 15. S. Alk:caxdfr dAS. S. LAW80X, Es(|. A true eoj)y. />'<•/. Hr'Kj. < iCll. U. S. A. B. S. ALKXANI3ER. Lieut. Col. Knurs., Bit. Br!;/. (!in.. U. S. A. U. S. Coast Survev IJRia If. K, Fauntleroy, Port Biscnrer}/, Wash., April 14, 1809. ]>]:au Sir : Inclosed 1 send you a tracing on the scale of joouu from the topographical and liydr()gr,ii)liical sheets of Port Madison of the FOlJTlFirATIONS ITON l'('(JKT SOUND. 20 north t'litnuicc tn I'mt Oicliaid. lii the topD^rapli.v the red lines in- dicate altitndcs dl' L'O t'ct-t cacli, as inaikcd. 'I'licsc arc skctclicd in, as the , (.'al. A true copy. I'.. S. Aij:xam)i;i;, Llnif. Col. EiKjrs., livf. Uri;/. (it n., I'. S. A. Office Board of I^ncuxkkus, San Franci.sco, (,'al., J)ccnnhn'i)ariii;^ j)Iaii.s and ostiiiiares of the works with which tlu-y may iiroposts to occiii)y tlicm. Ill tliis jiai't of its duty tiie Moard slionld not h)sc Mi. t()i«' will iiitt H'liuiri' ;iin\v ilic t'liturc ^1) As.suiiiiii;^' tliiit it is llu'lii.st duty of tin* II();inl, in accordiiiicc witli its iiistnictioiis, t«> iisc.citiiiii :iii(1 point: out wliicli of tin' iiiithois in tiicsc WiitfTs oni-iit to i»t' d('f('nil<'il l»_v fort ilic;it ions, it ni;iy he olistTvcii tliiit, wiiiiont know in;; the coiiisf of fiitnrt' scttlt'iiM'nt in tlu-sc comiiar- jitivcly nnoi'ciipicd r<';,Mons, it is difli(;idt, if n(tt inipossihlc, to t'orcsc*' the i)liici's wiiicli will hrconn' of tlicniost impoi'tancc ninl tluM'c'' most l'n|iiii(' defense. To .M>i\e tlie prohleiii helore ii in ;i manner whicli nMMlificitiun hei»';ilter, il wonld he necessary also to policy of (»nr (iovernment in lefe renin' to the acipiisition of territory on tins coast. It. for instance, the coast of tin' I'nited States were, con- *j)nons from \\'asliin<;ton Territory to the rcct'iit purchase from Ifussia. the |tl^ilcm would he materially ehan^cd. In thaf case, new clenn'Uts woidd i)e introduced, ami lu'w positions heconu' the ki'y points of defense. in tact, Willi the i'xclusion of(ireat llritain from tiiis coast, from which power in case of war wt^ wonld have most to fear, it wonld prohalily l)e- come a (|uestion whethei', with the entire <'i)ast in our possession, any tortilications woidd l)e m'(;essary in these waters, at least until the <'ourse of settlement should point out the future sites of its commerce and weall li. Consideiin^' the; i;'reat distance of these shores from iCurope and our rapidly ;;i(»wiii;;' commercial marine on the I*a(^ilic, it wouhl hecome a (jiiestion. in the ease supposed, whether we would not he al)le to defend them hy naval means alone without the aid of lortilications ; at least until population and wealth should he so increased and coni'entrated as to invite attack. The Hoard is aware that these are questions of statt^ not properly hefore it for discussion ; nevertheless, as they involve important con- siderations hearing' on the defense of our Northwest coast, which can not jji'operly he overlooked eitln^r by the Engineer J)epartnient or by ('on,niess when the suhject of the t'ortilicati(Mi of these waters is hrouj;ht under discussion, it is thou<;ht that they merit this ])assing" notice. (L') Atter com])letin<; the exannnatiou of tiie Columbia IJiver thi; Hoard went overland from Monticello, at the mouth of the Cowlitz, to ()lyini)ia, \\'asli. The distan(!e betwei'u these two jdaces is about 90 miles. The road is called a military road. It i»asses throuyh a heavily timbered re^^ion with an undergrowth so thick in many places that it is impossible to penetrate it without the use of the axe Beiny built hefore the countJ'v was settled or even thoroughly ex])lored, it is not surprising, in view (^♦'the ditlieulties that had to he encountered, that the road was not al" ays located in the most advantageous jiositions, and being built wif'-; 'cry inadequate api)ro- priations it was not i)ossible for the engineers charged with its con- struction to make it more than a trail. A trail it still lemains. Overshadowed by tall evergreen trees, the sun can not reach it; shut in by a dense undergrowth, the wind can not dry it; while the almost daily rains during a great i)art of the year keep it constantly muddy. The country is sparsely inhabited and the road can not therefore be kept in repair. The consefpience is that during the winter and spring the road or trail is impassable for wheeled vehicles, and it is only with great ililUculty and with light loads that wagons can traverse it dur- ing the summer aiul fall. While making this journey the Board could not help remarking that a good wagon road from the nuuith of the Cowlitz to Olympia or Seattle FORTIFICATIONS UPON I'UGKT SOUND. 31 lOiul shut ilinost mUiy. )rB be priiig with dur- woiild (1(» innrc for \\\o ih^lViisc of thoso iioitliciii wjitcis, liist, l>y in- ducing' iniMii;;ratioii :ind set tltMncnt, iind Mhmi, in the cvcnr ot'wiii, niiddiiy; it ]»nssihU' lor ti'oops IVom tho (.'ohiinUi.i ;ind the vidicy of the Willinncttc to rtsich tht* scene o|" conilict, thiiii ;iiiy other consd iictjnu. As tlie I'oiid is iit jn'i'sent it niiiy he i'e;;iinlc(l ;is inipiiu't icnhh' lor nu army. ^I hsist dnrin;^- a ^real poi'ihtu of the \car. It is ti'ue inlantry and cavahy uii:;lit make tin' march oxer tliis jiort- a;;'e at ahnost an\ season, hut a war on llie waters of I'n;:'et Soiiml ami Admiralty Inlet would of necessity he a war of positions, whether on land or on the water, anil one tliercl'or*' to l)e d(M'i(|e«l l>y artillerv. in- fantry withoul artillery would he of little use. In the piescnt coiidi- lion (»f tlie road neither artillery nor the supplies ol' any cons'dei'alde hody of t riMips could he taUen over it. it should he ohserved that the country oorderint;' the waters, wjuoe defense we are now cousideriuji' does not produce sullicieiit piov isions even for the sjjarse |)opidation now there, the most of whom are en- yai^cd in s(»m<' w ay or (»ther with the himher trade. If we suppose, thcrt-lore, in the event of war, that any coutin.uency shoidd arise ren- dering' it necessary to send troops, provisions, or military sujiplics liom the valley of the Columhia lliver to the waters (tf \Vashiii.uton 'i'ct i i- toiy, a iu-acti(rnl military road would he indispeirs;d)le. We liave said that siudi wt'i'e tlie rellectioir-- of the I5oard while trav- elin;n' (tver the road to (>lymi)ia. We nniy now add that thi' suhseipu'iit examination of the waters to he defended, a return across tlie countiy to the Columhia ifivei', and mature rclleetion on the suhject have only served tocoidiriu the IJoard ii: its opinion that a ;^()od niilitai'y road from lids rivci- to these watei's is an important jtrere(|uisite to their defense. I f the suhject should ever come hefore < 'oii^rcss, no (piestion of inter- nal improvement, liowever much it miji'ht hciu'tit the countr\' throii,i:h which it would pass, and to whicdi it would lead hy ren(h'riii.u' immigra- tion and settlement possihie, need he mixed up with it. It should he looked upon as purely a military road, made for niilitai'y purposes. A jiood road, practicahle at all seasons, could Ix' built from ^Slonti- cello to Olympia for about ■■SL'OO.OOO. and it is not believed by the Uoard that a like sum could be expended in any other way w liieli would add so niiudi to the defense of this Territory. Such an ex]»(Miditiire now would be saved many limes when wo shall be called upon to defend these waters or even to fortify them so as to be in readiness for a state of war. In explanation of these opinions it may be observed when we shall undertake to detend the iiiteri(U' waters of Washington Territory we will not be at liberty to for<;'et (w lu^ther the defense b(^ by fortilications alone or by fortitications aided Ity the Xavy) that witliout a practicable road leading' to the Columbia IJiver, <)'• to some other place whence sup- l)lies of men and ju'ovisions could he obtained, we will be undertaking' a dilUcult task — the defense (»f a country cut olf by the lack of commii- ni(;ations from all external aid and having' but a .sj>arse ]iopulatiou and limited resources within itself. In sin.'h a ease a iortiticati(ni to he of any use ajiainst a powerful enemy would iiave to be stdf-reliant. that is, contain within itself the artillery, the ammunition, the men, and the l>rovisions required for its complete defense, if atta(!ked, or that would he iie(;essary to enable it to sustain a i)rolonj;'ed l>lo(dcade. It wouhl therefore have to be lar^ic, have a heavy armament, a lari:e iiarrison, and immeiis(^ stores of amaiiinition and provisions. It would, eonse- tpieiitly be exi)ensive, l^oth in construction and inaintenance. l>0 FORTIFICA'ilOX.S UI'OX JTCiET SOrXD. Wliei'cas, with a j;oo(l and secun' coimnuMicatioii leadinj;" to n-souicos such as couUl Itcroadily funiishcd liy tlici State (»f Oregon, a Idititica- tioii which (•(Mile of ane iiemv's tleet through rhe chan- nel it is intendetl to defend, eveiythiiij^' else, men, i)rovisi()ns, arms, am- munition, and perlia[)s even additio.ial armaments for new woilcs, ren- ilered necessary by the course of the war, could be more ra[)idly sni)plied troiii tiie Columbia iiiver than from any other )»lace. Such a fort need :iOt, therefore, bo so (-xix-nsiNc in its construction, re(]uireso lai<;('<'^ j^airison, or involve .so much expense in time of peace as the one lirst nienti(ined. What is true of one fort or one j;i'ou]» of forts will beeciually triu' of all others. Isor should it be for<;otten that what is true now in reference to the delense of this Territoi-y will be true, alsu, after it shall have become a State with coiisiderablc re- sources. A secure comninnication with the {.'olumbia Ixiver — a wagon road n.ow, with a railroad in after years — will always add greatly to its security, simpliiy the defense, and lender it much less expensive. (.S) Having arrived at Olympia on the -Sth day of July, LS(!7, the lioard embarked on a small steamer w liicli had been chartered by the (Juar- ternmster's Department, and ])roceeded to mak'e an examination of the waters mentioned in (Uir instructions. We visite>'eeah I>ay, San fluan Island, and l)ecei)tion I'ass, Although named in tlie order of secinence from Olympia, it ajipears more natural, in considering them separately, t lat they should be taken r.p in the reverse order, beginning at Xe('-a'. I'ay, and mentioning the l)oints or harbors of which we s[)eak as we wcdd [)ass them in approach- ing ()lymi)ia fiom the orean. (4) The JJoard approaches the subject before them with some (b'fli- dence, inasmuch as it has been ably handled by tin'. joint Boaid of Army ami Navy oilicersin \H')0, and thort)ughly discussed by the late able (Miief Engineer, (leneral U'otten, in the yeai' l.S(i(». Tii;' Hoard has given the most careful study to l)oth of these papers and is disjxiscd to give to them all (Uu- weight, ami ])ariicularly to re- gard the reporc of <>eneral T(»tten, with the lights before him when it was written, as being as nearly i)erfect ami exluiustive as it was ]»ossi- ble to nnike it. Xevertheless, the IJoard is disposed t»> think that the ciioumstances of the case have been somewhat modilied sJice these im- ports were written, and therefore, if it should be led to coindusions dif- fering, in sonn^ jtarticulars. from those who lia\e preceded, it is liojjed I hat tae changed conditions of the owertnl ar- tlHery tl.an had hei'.'totore been useJ, while lli' reiM'Ut actpiisit ioii of Russian America nniy give to tlies ', waters an inipoitiince which they did not possi'ss lietore. I ■.V(»ul wate L c niasoi Thi 'heap -) a 'lie so We than Heii and d( bor sh riu'rel( 'In^ (lit be lie the gi ilford !!ot fo( of-W' still, w llll, COI iJefo fense a -^^Tiv^V^ ^l •'• FORTIFICATIONS LTON ITGET SO TNI). 33 PilSS. takoii :4 the oacli- ilirti- xVi'iiiy Cliief api'i's to rc- icn it jiossi- ir the 'SO 11'- is (lif- li(»])i'(l ily the It' war liavc •crs of •till ai'- tioii of li tllfV The war of tho rt'liellioii has tau<:iit us our stroiiyth, and how to im- provise the means of (k'feiis*'. Our inereascd naval streiijitii may U'ail us to depcutl more upon tills arm for sneli deiense as isrecpiircd in tiieso waters rlian we wouhl have done only a lew years a<;o. The in(!reased i>ower and i-an^e of artillery may enable ns to under- take the defense of channels whieh would heretofore have been deemed indefensible. The recent aecpusition of liussian AnuM'iea, whih^ jr no lon.uer ])erniits Washington Territory to be looked upon as the extreme frontier of our >'ortiiwest coast, su^jiests the possibility, if not the jtrobability. that our territory on this coast will, at lu) distant day, be continuous. (."») The extension of our territory towards the northwest, leadin<,% as it doubtless will, to a corresi)ondiny; extension of trade and commerce,, aihls j^reutly to the value of Xg 'ah 15a3'a-i a harbor of r^'fuije. Situ- ated as this harbor is, Just inside of Capv'; Flattery, ir is the last jxu't within our territory whu-h vessels en<;aged in the northwest trade can leave when outward bound, and the lirst to be made on their return. This harbor is imporrant now as affording- c(unparativ'dy secure an- ('horaji'e in heavy weather. As our commerce im-reases its importance will increase corres]H)ndiii,!;ly. It is not so i^ood a harbor as coidd be det;ired ; nevertheless, from the i)osilion and the fact that it aflbrds the only ]»laee of shelter for vessels between (hey's Harbor and I'orr Angeles, it is imi)ortant that it should be made a place of safety for our rummercial mariiu' in time; of i)eace ami a jilace of security for our naval and commercial vessels in time ot' war. To aecomplisii these objectts tlic harl)or should be 1i<:hted. Tlie an- ehora^^'c to the south of W'a addah Island slionld be rendered secure by a breakwater, and the harbor should be defended. 'J he breakwater should extend from the soutliwestern point of the island, nearly in a southwesterly direction, to thi' most westerly point of the shoal. It would be built on solid rock, which slopes away very .ueidly from hi) a fort on some point' of the shore to the southeast of Waaddah Island. We swy J'orts because the works will re(iuire to 1k' sland will ittbida ji'ood position for such a ,\ oik, beinji' covere(l with earth and aot too lii^li for ricochet lire, and yet lii,!L;lier than the deck of a maii- iif-w;;, TIlis island should be re<;arded as the key of the ])ositi(ni : still, witlumi batteries on the main shore, a work here, however power- I'ul, (!ouId not render the anchorajie entirely secure. ISefort^ the I>oard can make detai' mI plans and estimates ibr the de- fense and im[M'ovement of this harbor, a minute topo,i:;'raphical survey .^^ i:x. KT) ;j 34 FOUTIFICATIONS ITON' I'lGK'I .^01 ND. will be iicccssai'V. ;ni) 'J'liere are Ibur hai burs Itetween Xeeah Hay. nd the entrant'e tisci)veiv is, beyond all (juesjion, the Mi(»st iniportaiil. I'ort Angeles is too lai' IVoni .\diiiiralty lidct to sei ve rs ;■, liaibor ol' retujic, as is <'learly shown l»y (ieneial 'J'otteii in his repoif. >'ew l)an,i;-en<'ss Harbor can not be securely del'cuded by Ibrti.'ications, ami AVashin.:;ton llarl)f»r is too small, and besides lias uot sul'icient depth ot" water at its entrance. The whole sid)jeet of the relatix'e importance of these lour harbors was thoroughly discussed by (Jeueral Totten, aud with his views iu re- lation thereto this Uoard concurs. As we can not hoi)e now, if vvcr, lo ibrtify uioie than one of these harbors, the JJoaid is in fav(.i' of narro\\in^' this aud all future discus- sion on the subject of a (brtilicd auclioia;:e outsule oJ', yet neai' to, Ad- nuralty Inlet to i'ort Discoveiy alone. It therefoic recommends that the, orders for I'esei'vations oi' land which have been made lor militai'y purposes at New 1 )unji«Mi<'SS be withdrawn. (7) I'ort Discovery is an admiralde harbor. Its nu-rits are well de- scaibcil by (ieneral Totten. It is a better harbor of relume than Port Townsend, iuasuuich as its windiu.^s affoid complete protection, at some }>l,i(;e or otlu'r. aiiainst all wimls. I'ldtectiou Island. Cape (leoi';;«Mtn the eastern shore, and Challam Point on the westi'rn shore aietlie true ])ositious for defending' the entrance, while the salient points on tin* shor(>s '.liter we enter the liai'b(>r alford admirable i»ositions for batte- I'ies to coiiti'ol the inner anciiora;ies. One j^reat advautaiie of this harbor as a jwace of rendezvous and se- curity, is its ^reat cai)acity aud the fact that all its watei's may be se- curely coiit rolled by slioic batteries. There is no jjositioii iiisi(l(>ofit wheK' au enemy could liud seianity, no place where he could anchor oi' take a position lo at tack an tstabli.slnMent bleated towards its li»>ad, where he would be safe t'rom land batleries were the harbor i)roperly defended; while I'rotectiou Island, standiuj.'; like a watchlul foe, well out in front of the mouth of the harbor, would keep au eiu'm\"s fleet beyond shell- in;i' ''-lance of the lleet within. The lioanl recommends that this harbor be fortilied. and to enable the necessary plans andestimates to be made, lespeitt fully recjuests that the sum of -■^5,000 l»e asked or set aside lor the necessary tt»i)oyraphicai surveys. The res<'ivati()ns of land for the ]trotection of this harbor api)ear to be well (;h(>sen. (S) We come now to the main question before us, the j)roi)er method of dcfendinji the wateis of Admiralty Inlet and I'u^et ISound. A careful study (»f the very able report of the late (.'hief lCn.yineer |^| ((ieneral Totten) on this subject will show that throiijihout he assumes (Uir naval inferiority. In a war with (Ireat Ilriiain (the enemy most to be I'eaicd in this re.uion), he supposes that she would be mistress of the waters; that our commerce on these interior straits would be exposed to the greatest hazards: that we could not hope to vlianye this mas- pai soo ma ( at ].le .Sai am the won Si war it, t on t witli fast the (1 erat tpiir rend and FORTIFICATIONS UPON I'UOKT SOUND. 35 i I tery, and tliat all we ronJd do would be to seek soiiu" alleviation I'roni it "by providing- liarboi-s of ivtii^^e both witiiiii and witlioiil t lie prob- able raiijie of hostile cridsers.'' After statin,^' that "if ii. were possible to elose the mouth of .Vd- luiralty lidet by fnrtiHi;ations, the j;reat extent of waters that would thereby l»e ;;iiarded would .justily a lar.U'e and ])ronipt expenditure," the- iiener.i! eoneludes that such a defense is inadniissilde il not inipraetiva- ble, on account of tiu' ,i;rear depth of water in tln^ channel bel ween Ad- miralty lleail and I'oint Wilson, renderinj;' the tionstruction of a middle tort out racticable iuelhods." This line extends from 'J'ala. Point across to Foulweather Point, thenci; to Double l>lufl'. with a fort at each ])osdion, and one in the channel between Foulweather Point and Double 151idf. iiiakin;^' lour forts. This barrier at the mouth of Hood's Canal, with a small work at De(-eptinn Pass, was thedel'ense which the (leneral pi-oposed for these waters. ('.I) iJefore enteriu};' fur''.ier upon tlie mei'its oi'this i)lan of defense, the ]>oard will observe th ii if our late abU^ Chief Fnjiineer were n(»w living, it may fairly be presumetl that the chan.ues which have ta ven place since his report was written, and which we have already mentioned, would ])robably induce him to alter his premises, in so far, at least, as they con- '•ede >'K'n;!\al inleriority in these; waters, and that this alteration would ]\i -,'i'; '; '."ad to a itorrespondini;' alteration in the plan of defense winch il jiC. i-rojiosed. In order that there may be no misunderstanding as to the views of the Hoard on this subjcM't, tiiey will say that, in case of ;i war with (ireat IJritain, even at this time, it is the opinion of the I'oaril that the real contest woidd jtrobably be for the i»ossession of X'ancouxcrVs Island rather than to ascertain what Hag should wave on the waters of Admi- ralty Inlet. Tin; vast superiority in tlu' means of makiiiLT war wiiich wi' possess on this coast over those which I'lngland cimhl commai d, })articuiarly in our commercial marine and in men, would suggest, as soon as the city of San Frani'isco could be; madi^ secure, that we siioidd make the war aggi'cssive. Our jn'Ople would never be satisfied to stand on the defensive. It would be urged that all fhe (Jovi'iiimeiit need to do in order to strike at the seat of I'" ^gland's [lovver on this coast would be to gi\(' the peo- l»le arms and ;.n':';'s; that Vancouver's Tslaiid and the islands of the Sail Juan A •; iji]>''l:go could be oveirun in a short time; that \'ictoiia and the na \l 'lur'^! :■ of l\s(]uimault would fall an early prey, and that the English, 'f h- \ eoidd not be driven from the neighboring waters, would soon be e.x c'l' I from the land. Such, in theoininon of the J>oard, would probably be th? course of .i war, even at the present e made manifest to minds the least sanguine. (10) SiKi I war, however, to be successful, would re(|uire the co-(»i)- eration oT ie.e Navy and a large fleet of transports, 'ihese would le- (|uire fortii-e '■ ii'-lois of refuge on our own shores, where they could rendezvous i., security and be furnished with all necessary sujtplies and pro\isions. 3G FORTIFICATIONS FI'ON ri'CiFT SOFXI). Two sucli IiuiImus — Ni'(''iili liny and i'oit 1 )is(;nv('iv — at citlici' cml of tlic Htiaits of l-'iica, liavc already Ix'cu indicated Ity the Hoard, Unless Adiniralty Inlet can be (;Iose(l l)y tortifi(!ations, tiiere OM,i;lit to be another fort iiied naval lendezvoiis on the waters of this inlet oi' those of i*n.i;et Sonnd. And this harbor bein;;' within onr territory, and nearei' by land to the sonrees ol" supply than either of the others, would ]iroba!)ly, in the event of wai', .i;row to be the most inii)ortaiit. With thr(e such harbors so located arid icndered entirely secure by fortili(tations, and lurnishul with all indispensable sui)plies, and with San Francisco as a fourth, from wlu nee a licet of huj^c, ])owerful, and swift steamers could be leadily dispatched, capable of lrans]»oi tiiijj a foriindable Ibice in a few da\ s tothe scene of hostilities, it would iiuleed require a ^ast supeiiority ol' na\'al foice on th(i side of our eneniy to ]»revent a successlul descent at souu' point on the shore of ^'ancouver'.s Islaiul. (M) Wo have yet. howcvci', to considei' the reasons which induce us t(» reconmu'iid the Ibrtilication of some onc^ of the many ^ood harbors to be found in the waters of W'ashinjiton Teriitoiy. We a^ree in >,'en- eral terms with the views of (Jeneral Totten as to the impracti(;ability (d" coin])letely closin;;- the entrance to Admiralty Inlet. The width of the channel would rcipiiic an iidei i ' diate fort, and the i^reat de]>th vt' water (some L'OO feet), and the cons^r, enormous cost, would forbid us to recommend its c(Mistruction, even >'e knew it to be jtracticable. It will be seen, however, in the seipiel tii.it we would not therefore re- linquish all control o\cr tlu' wateis of this passa,ne. The same iciisons. however, which force us to abaiulon this posit io)i wUl drive us from the line of defense which (leneral Totten has rec- ommended at Fonhveather Point. These icasous may be stated in the, words of (leneral Totten, when speakin,ii' of a jtossible chaniu'l fort at Admiralty Jlead, to be '"the enoiiiious cost it would involve as com- pared with the im|)erfect protection it would alford," and we mi.^ht add, too, with the inii)ortance of the olijects to be protected. It will be re(;ollected that (leneral Totten reconriuended four forts for this line. As the pro\ince of these forts would be, not merely to protect an anchorajie, bar to bar tlie passa.u'c of an cnem; *t fleet thiouuh channels wIum'c his \essels would Ix; out of danj^er as soon as they iuid passed beyond ran;ii(', the forts would reipiire to be lar<;'e and heavily armed. They would, of c(Mii'st', be very costly. In the opiinon of this Hoard it is not to be sui)posed that the true interests of the (Tovernmeut (;an justify Congress, before onr jjreat com- mercial centers — such as New York, Boston, and San J-'raucisco — are half fortilied, in nuddnj'" heavy appropriations to defend a wilderness of waters merely because they happen to l)e within our territory. (12) To set this matter in its true li.uht, we will mak(^ a renmrk in relation to the fort which (leneral Totten ))ropose(l in the chaniu'l be- tween Foulweather Point and Double iJlulf. The distance between these two points was stated by (leneral Totten to be about LV. miles. The recent Irianuuhition of the ('oast Survey, howescr, makcN this distance .'! miles and ."i(i( yj ils. The width is, thendoie, some tliree- ((Uarters of a mile ^reatei' than that stated by (leneral Totten. ami tli<' mid channel fort coidd not, thei'clore, furnish as sccuie a defense as was supposed. It is. however, in ridation to its (;ost that we desire to call particular attention. The Deard has no', as yet, been iible to asc(>itain the dei)th of water lOKTIFICATIOXS VVnS PUGKT SOTN]). 87 jii wliicli this lort would be foiiiKlcd, hut, 1;ikiii,n' tlif Inisl dcpili ^^ivoii l)y the. Coast Survey iskctcli, this would l)e t(« throw in loose stones and let theiu seek tlie ijottoii. and tlieir natural sh.pe up to low- water mark. There tiu' niasonry foundations of the scarp would start, tlie interi(U' or parade heinji' lilh'd up with stone, hnely hioken.so as to retain a tew feet of earth on top. Vor our present purposes tiu' whole foundation may ite re^uarded as of pirrrrs pcyditcs. 'J'lu' fort, heiu.u iu luulchannel, would i»robahly he hexa.uoind. Let us suppose we ha\'e si.v casemate ;^uns cents per cidtic loot, or. say, ^X per cui)ic yard. This would j;ive 700,01)0 cubic yards, at >'1 = $1.*..S0(»,0(I0 lor the cost of the foundation. We imty safely add another nnllion of (h)llars fbi' the cost of construi't- in^' this lort after the foundation .sha',! have been completed. \\'heM we reuKMuber that the chaniiel at this place is more than ."J miles wide, and that two other large foits, one on eaidi shore, are nec- essary to close it, and that a fourth fort at Tala I'oiid will be recpured to i'omplete the line of defense; that the barrier when liuished will be still imperfect, owini:' to the width of the channel, we ar«^ led to the con- clusion that the cost i.s out of ])roi)ortion to the protection which could be obtaineoard was enabled to make of these waters during the jiast summer it did not i)r(»i>ose to settle this imjiortant tinestion. It will say, howevei-, that it was favorably im- ]»ressed with the advantajLies of the i'ort Orehaid Channel, to the west- ward of l>ai.nl)rid,iie Island, for naval puritoses. This is a tine sheet of water, perfectly defensible by inexpensive forti- fications at the entrances south and north of IJainbridue Island. The shores are compaiatively low, and therefore i"avorable. There is ample room for all jjossibhi jauposes. TheanchorajiC is good; the eniraiu-es are so narrow and so favorable for defense that tiiey could ])robal)ly be ludd by simple earthworks carryiiij;' a few heavy ,uuns. 1'he surveys lelt a doubt in our minds about tlu' dei)th of water at the entrances, but from the soundiu fe( . thick) is I'ound in the neighboi-- liood. Jf these things be all true, and if the construction of the iu-o])osed .ship-canal would not l)e found too expensive, tlu' position would cer- tainly ]iossess strong claims to be considered in choosing the site of r naval station for this part of our coast. The more ])articuiarly as ar,y railroad which iriay be made in the future (whether the Northern Pacilic or the Oregon Pranch of the Cential Pacitic), will in all i)robability have its termiinis on the sound, either at Seattle or at some point on the mahi shore, between there and ()lym])ia. (15) The Poard is of the opinion that a .b)int Poard of Army and Navy odicers should be organized to select which of the jiositions in these waters is best suited for a naval and militaiy dejtot. The lioai'd should examin(^ all the waters carefully, and if no better ])Osition is found below Point Defmnce, then the Poard would be in fa- \ov of so fortifving that line as to secure all the wateis above it, Th fort ifu-at ions of this line would not ])robably be very exjiensive, as the ]>oard is disjiosed to think that it may be nmde secure i)y earthworks, avoiding thereby the expense of nuisonry or iron scarps. (10) Jf this line should ever be adoi)ted it will be m-cessary, in order to connnaml the waters in the best mai*:.. r, to ha\ e a w oik on the west- ern shore north of the entrance to (iig- Harbor. FORTIFICATIONS UTOX PI'GKT SOUND. 39 For this i)nri)osi' a rosiMvatioii of \.\ inilcs on the shore from the eii- triiDce to this liiirhor slioiihl be inailc extending' inliuid oiielialf of ii iniU\ And in or(h'r to brinj; achlitioiial lire to liearcm tlie waters Just ontsi(h> of Point Delianee a work on \'aslion Inland will Ix; necessary. To tliis end a reservation eoverinj;' tlte whole shore of the southern enil of that island v.onid be recpiired. In view of the jjossibility of this delense beiii.y eventnally adopted, rhe J>oard leeoniinends that application be now inaile for fhes(^ two I'eservations. (17) As to the reservations at l-'onlwcather I'oint, the JJoard is of the oi»inion that they had betttn- be retained for the i>resent. Althou^i'h for the icasoiis above ^iven, tlu^ Uoard can not reeoinniend this line of defense, yet it may l>i' tliouulit necessary, at some future time, to close Hood's (Janal. and if so, the jxtsitions of l'\>ulweather Point, Tala Point, and Hood's Head ai'c well chosen for this ])urpose, and in the event supposed the occupation of Double IMulf would <;'reatly strengthen the position. (IS) I'or sin. ilar reasons the P)oard would iu)t recommend the reiin- iiuisliment of the leseivations at the entrance of Adnnralty Iidet. Al- tliouji'h, from the width and (h'pth of this channel, we can not hope to completely close the i)assa^(? by fortilicalions, yet tins Hoard is of the opinion, as before statetl, that we need not therefore necessarily aban- don all control oNcr these waters, riieoccupati(Mi of Admiralty Head, Point N\'ils(Ui. Point Hudson, and 3Iarrowstone I'oint by tenqxnary batteries, to be thrown up (ui the occurrence of war, and canTinj;- a few of our heaviest i^uns, mii4ht be of .i:reat service. ^Vithout their oecujiation the enemy woitld be tree to station a pait of his fleet at Port Townsend, or under the lee of Point Wilson, ov in Admiralty J>ay, and l)lockade all the waters of the sound, ^\■ith their occu])ation as su,ii'^'este(l he could not do so. Let it be suj>pose(l., foi- instatme, that we ha\ c a war with such an enemy as (ireat Britain. Let Keeah Lay and I'ort Discovery \n^ forti- tied as we have recommended, ami let us su])pose that we ha\<' a mival and militarv de])ot at sonic point near Seattle, or above it, also forti- lied. Now, with batt'-ries of heavy .uuns, (;apable ttf throwinji' heavy shells acaoss the waters of this inlet, controlling" all aiudioraycs an free to maneuver ami h(^ would not, where onr crip])U'd a essel oi' vessels would be free to seek a ])lace ot security, lioth within the headlands and outside! of them, at Port Diseoveiy. \Vitliout the aid of any auxiliary means of defense, sucli as torpedoes, which could perhaps be anchored in mid channid between Admiralty Head and the opi>osite shores, it is the o)>inion of the lioard that, with anythinii' appi'oachin.u' an ecpudity oi' naval torce in these waters, the enemy would be slow to trust his licet, much less a jiart of it, inside of the fortified headlands. Xotidnji' less than tlu' destriu'tilan lor the ilofcnse of these waters is linally a(loi)te(l, the J)oar»l would also i«'connu(-nd the leteuHon of the reservations at Deception Pass, 'J'his ])ass is so nariow and diflicult, that one (piite in- expensive work will he sulhcient to close it ajjainst an enemy. Owiny to the steauier upon which the Ijoard was eiuiiarkcd not liavin;;' sulli- eient ]»ower, it was unable, altlioii-^h iiiakini;- exciy effort to do so, to j^'o entirely thr()u,yh this pass, and it can not therelore say which of tlie resei vations at this ]ilace should be retaine(l foi' fortilieation purposes. llECAPm I.A'i'lO.N. (1 ) 'J"he Uoard recoiunieiHlstlieconstru(dion of a military road from the Coluiidiia IJiver to the waters ot' I'uj^et Sound, and that the sum of .'i'lM 10.(1(11) be ai)]>roi»riated for this ]»urpose. (li) The ]}oaid recomuH'uds that >.'e(''ah I lay be made a harbor of r(;fupr()]>riated to make the necessary surveys toeiudile thelJoard to jirepare ])lans and estimates ; also that Wa-addah Island, ivoitlah Point ami the southein shoi'c from Ih'i-adah Point, for the distance of li nules to the westward, be reserved for militai'v i)ur- poses. {'A) The ])oard recommends that Port J)iscovery be also uuule a har- bor of refuge, and that tiie sum of >5'">, (>((() be ap|)r(»priated to make the necessaiy detailed surveys, to enable the J>oard to prei)are plans and estimates. (4) Ihe ]>oard recommends that the resei'vat ions of lands for military purposes which have been made at Xew Dunjifuess JI;irb(»r be with- drawn. (■)) The ]>oard recommends the retention for the ])resent of all the land which has been reserved for military ])urposes at the entrance to Adnnralty inlet; at Foulweather Point and the adjacent Khores; at the Narrows of Puget Sound, and at J)ece])tion Pass; and that two additional reservations be made at tL<' Nairows — one on the southern shore of N'ashon Island, the other on the main shore just north of (ii,y' Harbor. (()) The Uoai'd does in)t recommend the construction of any fortifica- tions at the present time in the waters of Aet Sound, l)ut it does advise that a Joint lioard of Army and Navy Ollicers be organized to select which of the harbors in these waters shouhl be chosen as a naval and nulitaiy dei)ot, and Avhen the selection is made that this harbor be tbrtilied. Kespectfully subnutted. (iEouGK II. Elliot. Major of l\iit/iii(crs. G. II. Men DELL, Major of Eufiinvevs, Jirt. Col., U. S. A. J>. S, ALEXANDKI!, Jh-t. llriii. den.. I . aS. .1.. J'res'nloit Itoartl (f J-J)i<>, tor tlic Tort- A'^v IJoiids. licrciii :i>k('(l loi', should not hf iiiiulc lor tlit- pivs» ,it, as ir is almost certain lliat jirivatr t'litcriirisc will put this road in j;<)od icpaii'. since tialUc upon it is (tonstantiy increasini;. If, after a year or two, ir is found that the actual project of nudcinjia toll plaidcroad is not carried out, or the I'Oiul l»e not otherwise inipi'o\'ed, 1 he appropriation should be made. (illoKliK II. KlMoI, Major <>/' Kiniimcfs, ISAN I'JJANCISCO. Ca-I... Junr C, ISOfl. ( 1i;.m:i?AI,: Desirous of a fiord in, :;■ \(>u all possiitle infornnition concein- in,u' >\diiiiralty Inlet and I'Uiict Sound, and recollect in ^4' that ('aptaiii l^liiot nnide a professional visit there, with (ieneral McDowell in lS(i4. I have ai)i)lied to the captain for a copy ol liis re|)()rt, which I herewitli inclose. J may add that I iuid not read his I'oport until after theiuie I mailed to you two days aj^o was wiitten, and I am .'^lad to see that hi.s views on the sultject are nearly coinculent with mine. 1 lunc the honor to lie, very respect IV.Ily, your ohedient servant. If." S. Williamson, Mtijor of KiHi'niciys. lu-t.' lAriit. Co)., r. ,v. A. 3IaJ. (ien. If. Dklafield, Chit'/ Ell ffincr ('. S. A. ASTOKIA, Orecon, Scpirmhcr !>, ism. Colonel : In ol)edieiK;e to your order ol" the 17th ultiuu) I emliarkeil at San I'l^ancisco on the Sierra .\<'r(ul(( steam-ship on the IStli. for the ])urpose of accompaiiyinjj Major (Jeneral McDowell, commandiuii- this De])artnieiit, on his northern tour of inspect itui. We airived at \'ictoria on the -I'd. lJemainiu;i;' thei«' till the L*4th instant, we pioceeded in the U. S. steam cutter *S7r»/>r/c/.', to the various militaiy positions on l'n<;et Soniid and its wafers. Our route was from ^'ictoria to I'ort .Vn^elos. thepi'esent i»ortof en- try for Pnget Sound district; to San -luan Island, which we o(;en]>y Jointly with the British ; to l-'oi't r>ellin.i;hain, an unoci-upied military l)0st ; to Port ])iscovery, recommendi'd by Whiting' and Stonen an for able 42 FORTIFICATIONS Il'ON ITCiF/r SOIND. tliat li.v tli<' time it is ('oimiiu'IkmmI tlic IiiiiiIkt iiitcirsts will cause the ('oiintry to be iniu^li iii<)i<' tliickly scttliMl than it now is. Ill llic icport of W'liitiiij;' and St<»n<'in;in, wliicli you yav*' iiu' (o read, it is statt'd that the navy-yard should 'ic at I'oit Discovery, wiiicli is nearly oi»p()sito, Victoria, on Vancouver Island. This is a very excelU'iit harbor, but it is Hanked Iiy two others, tlnr waters ot" wliicli approach it closely, as you will sei' by rerereiicc to the nui]). 1 refer to I'ort. Townsend and Wa^^liin^rton harbors, l-'roin the loiiiier I believe shells can be thrown into I'oit J)isc(»very and troojts would be required to protect its inner hariior iViUii parties whieli ini^ht belauded by an enemy in either of the others, l-'or this reason, and becaiisi^ the naval depot ou.'^ht to be 'placi'd in a jtosition where its outer defenses may be multi|ilied if tliou;;lit nei-essai^ , I think some position on Tuiict Sound inside the "Narrows" would l)e a better one. There (!an b(? foi' J'nf^'ct Sound two lines of defenses. The lirst, at the head ol" Admiralty Inlet, between ^\'llidbey Island and tlie main land, and at Deception Pass, between the north cud (tf Whidbey and the south end of Fidaljio Island. The second, at the "Narrows,'* the most fa\(ual)le position <»n Adini- lalty Inlet, which is the only route to I'u;;'et Sound used by commeicial vessels, is so wide, that it will leijiiire a comliination of torts and ircm- clads for its defense. Deception Pass we did not visit, l)it I Itelieve. it is very narrow (say one-half mile), and although the (turreiit is too rapid for sailiuji' vessels, it can be used by steamers. \\\' lia\'e no reserves for fortilications at Admiralty Inlet or at De- ception Pass, These are the two routes of access by water to the '• Nar- lows," the single entrance to Pujict Sound. At the head of the '••Nar- rows"'' we have two rest-rves, one on each side. On tlu^ ri.^lit I'ank is Point Defiaii(;e, the most commandin^f position of any inside the Straits of Juan de I'uca. It is so hij;li, however, that, haviuju'deep waterelose to it, then^ will be re(]uired a work on the opposite shore. Should it be necessary to make this entrance to Puj^et Sound still more dililii'ulr, any number of jiuns desired can be plaited still furrher up the "Nai-rows." Above the Straits of Juan de Fuca (towards the (lulf of (ieorgia) I do not see that Ibrtiiications will be recpiired for a loiij;' lime. We have no settlements in that ])art of the country ; and arthouiih the San .Tuaii Group of islands uiidou\)tedIy belonf;s to the United States, I can not see of what yiu'at use it will lie to us ov to (Ireat Britain. We nowoc- iMipy the island Jointly, each having' troo])s npon it. There is a tine basin or harbor between the, islands, which has six entrances. Should we attempt to fortify here, each of these would re- ([uire works, and these works would be commanded by the hills and mountains in the interior of tin? islands. We passed from IMiget Sound at Olvinpia by the portage to the Cow- litz Itiver. We fouml a very excellct military roatl constructed by the Toi)o<;rapliical I'njiineers. This piutaue is either (iO or t)0 miles, depend- ing;' on the staj;e of water in the river, and is an imiiortant line of eom- mnnication, as it nniy be usc'd by ourselves to i)ass troops and supplies to Ptijict Sound in case of a blockade of the Straits of Fuca, or l»y an enemy in his desire to attain the Columbia Piver, supposiii<;' onr works to ]H-event his enterin<>' its mouth. In the last sense all the future works lor the defense of Puyet Sound will add to the security of the Colum- bia Piver, its important cities and towns, and the arsenal at Vancouver. After entering the Columbia I went as far as Walla Walla with the (General, \isitin;;' Fort Vancouver. Fo«t Dalles, ami Fort NValla-Walla. Ivcturniny, I left him, by his iiermission, at Fort \'ancouver, ami came rouTiFicATioNs I'pox rroin' sorxD. 43 to my works at tlic inoiitli of tlit' livor. I noted iKirticiiliiily tlic |tosi- tioiis 1 liavc Itcloic iii('iitioiu'oiiits. 1 lia\»' the honor to he, Colonel, xonr ohcdient sei'vant. ('ii;oi;(iF< II. ICr.i.ioi". Ji'dpltlin III' Kuf/iint rs. Col. M. K. De IJrssv, Corps III' L' II . 'hi„c i', IStJC. (IKNEIJAI, : Your letter of April 'J.j. with its imdosed pajicis. which consisted of your letter to tin- iionorahh^ Secretary of War, with a small mai) of Pujiet Sound attached, and a rci>ort of Lieut. NV. 11. C. W'hitinp', of the Cori)s of Enfjincers, U. S. Army, with a lar;;cr map of the sound and the waters to the north of it, was received. The heavy jiacka^i', havinji' been inclos<'d in a thin enveh)[)e, was broken open, and possibly only a portion of that sent is received. 1 am informed by these ])apers that on the ITtli of September, ISO,"}, api)li(Mtion was made by you to the lionorable Secretary of ^^'i\v for twenty-four military reservations on Pn<>'et Sound and vicinity, and I infer that the applicration liad not been a(!ted upon at the date of your letter (Ajiril -o, 18(J(i), and hence the delay in furnish ini;- nu' tlu' instruc- tions jiromised in your telej^ram of .January 17. As I have made a suivey of the reservation at i;ellin;:h:!m Pay. re- mained two moniliK at Ediz Hook to build there a li,;;lit-liousc. \ isiteernianent works can not be advaiUa^eously located and built there, the only obJcMttion bein<;- the width of the inlet (3 nautical miles), which is not diminished, according- to the ('oast Sur- vey ma]), until as far soutli as Vashon's Island. At the time of Whit- mji's reiiort (which Cidonel De L'ussy sliowe be nnule, but the liist t !i in;; to be done is to close t lie entrance to Admiralty InU-l. and unless that is done Deception Pass is of no value, lor the same reasons lor not Ibrtifyin;;' the mouth of the inlet. viz., its width, will apply as well to all points north of \ ashon's Island. No forei^'ii enemy can opei'ate by land to any cxicnt miles Ion j;', if there were no war vessels there. The fortilicatimis, thou.uh turned, woiihl not be taken, and the enemy m which place it should be removed to I'ort Ttiwnscnd ; at least when the forti- fications are erected. These bays .ire all yood harbors, Imt t here is no c.ommuiiicatiou between them except by water. It appears to me that at some point on l'u;;et Sound, at no distant ible ])oint south of Point Dellance, and that that jioint, or one or more similar ones in tlu; immediate vicinity, should be considei'ed of next importan(!e to be fortified. A ileet, some of the ves- sels of which mijiht succeed in ])assiii«4- the };uns at the entrance to Ad- miralty InU't, would be surely stopped by the ri'ipuKMl tor siti's of hattt'iicM. 'I'lic iicccssity for ciirly scciii iiij^' tlM'.s»> titles is ap- parent, lor as soon as tin- rnattfr is talUctl of he piic^c of the land will ill' ^iTcatly cnlianccd. The lainl alioiit l)rct'ption I'ass is pnlijic; as to tlu^ claimants to tlie other points. I liavr no intorniation, hnr for a Ion;;' time I have nialer- stood a reservation at Point Dellanee was nnide sonn* years a;;o. I would, theret(»r«', reeoinniend that steps he taken to secure. l>y jinr- cliase, the title and ri;;iit of way t(t the lands I'cquired for mi'itary pur- poses at I'oint Wilson ami Admiralty Head, as soon as practicable, and at any(;()st; ami 1 l»elie\'e that if the liar;4ainean he made soon the amount to he paid will l»e tiillin^'. Next in impiutance are the reservations you have indi<'ated at I'oint Dellanee and vicinity : one of which, at least, is of ]»araniount inii)ortance also. 1 would also recomim'nd that the other reser\ atioiis you have nuirUed (»ut. if the lands ari' m»w public, be made, and if the lands are jtrivate, the sites and titles Ik^ »'.\amimMl, to ascertain their value for the jturposes reiiuired. I have the honor to be, veiy respectfully, your obedient servaid, K S, WlI.MAMSON, Miijnr 1)1' Knq'uucrK, llrt. l.i'rut. (V)/., /■. ,s. A. yi.\\. (leu. K. DKI.AI'IELD. Cliirf Kiifiiiurr, U. S. A. r. S. — I lia\e had a coniei'ence wiiii Mr. l/iw son. of the ( 'oast Survey, who has shown me a copyof'his insti lu'tions. tVoni which I copy the I'ollowin^' : Villi will iiiso takciiii tiirly diipuii unit v to iilao' xiiium'U' in rcLit ions with MmJ. IJ, S. W'illiaiiisdii. I.'. S. Iluniiii'iTs, wiio i«) cluujied witli suicc'tiii;^ sites for I'oitilicatidiis III ^\'asilill,i;toll 'IVi ritoiy. aiie I'ound. I su^^est that the reserve be cNteiidi'd to inclose it. NVorljeet may Ite further acted tipiui :'.nd these points .surveyed, and reservations tbrmally made by the I'resident. hi the way of works, 1 would oidy recommend at jtresent those for Toiid Deliance, which are ueetled, thai we may have a safe plac»' for our vessels in tlmse waters to reti'eat to, ami ! iidnk imaiediate measures should be taken with lespect to this ]»lace. 1 ha\e the Iumku' to be, vej'v iesp» ct'ally. your nu)st obedient servant. Mn, lU\IN .McDoAVl'.I-L itinr-dcitciii!, ComnKouliiifj liejxirliiunf. ]>riy. (ien. l:. Di;l.vi-k:li), i'n) ).s <> Ell If in n i-<. r r(»i; I' Am;i:i.os. Wash., Ocinl, H'l I l.SGi. C<>l-<;NKr.: 1 have the honor to report that in obedience to the in- stru(!tions of the (leiieral eonimandin«i' the Department of the I'ai-ilic. 1 handed to Di'. (lunn. ( 'oliector of ( "ustoms at this place, the open letter intrusted to me by ' im, the jturport of which was a recpiest that i should be allowed to make, by means of the ri'veuue (Mitter Sliiibrifh\ a reconnaissance of certain jioiiits to be seU'cti'd as reservations for ndli- lary purposes. '!'1h' ('ollectcu' expressed his uralilication at l)ein,i;" able to Jbrward the \ lews oi t he ^ '(unma'idinu ( iciu-ral in a matter of interest to the public sei\ice. a, id y«'st<'rday 1 ictnrned trom a successful recoil- naissaui-e of th.' points in (piestion. From a eoi:versati»ui with tlie (leneial. 1 understocal him to say lie wi;.iied me to examine the two points, called Point Wilson and Adiui- r.ilty Head, which are at the eiitiance of Admiralty Inlet, and also De<'eptiou Pass; and haviii;: made there a selection of suitable locations for batterivs to » ommand the inlet ami puss, to obtain from the Siir- \ i'yor-(ieneial of 'he 'I'erritor; certilied copii-s ot iik' maps <»f the lands ill the vic'iiity of the points selected, Miat the (Jeneral iiiimht d«'ei reserved for mditaiy purposes, rnfoitunately. just as tlui Sliuhiirl: havin;; leiui iied from other duties of moie imme- diate in.'poitaiiee, became available lor this purpose, orders were re- ceived by the Collector to send her to San I'l aiicisco, and althouj^h he allowed her to be ustd on this leccMiiiaissance alter the (Uiler wa.s re- ceived, lu^ did not fi-el Justiti«' 1. iles. lM'(»in a cai'el'ul examination ol' the (Joast Savvey ciiart. scale v,^,,' ,,,, (which does not materially diilci' llo:n the I'ln.ulish chart), tlie disrancc is found to l>e .'5;^ I'hiulish miles, or sii,inhtly less than .'J iKintica! miles. (li Pu'iif \\'ils<'ii. — This is 111 the \v; stern >ide of the enli anee In Ad- iniralry Inlet, aad - miles liom the setlleci jiorlion of the town ol' I'oir Towns. ■tiii. At thai place 1 sawi'iipt. |]. S. l''o,\ ier. who claiais tiie <;rouiiii ill till' vieiinty of the point, and from him 1 o!)tain"d n traced copy III' ,1 portion of the laml-survey imi]), which I im-lose. On thi-; I hav(; placed a dotted liiu' to indicate the hoiuidaiy (d Captain Fowler's claim. On exannnin.:^' his ground. I /iml that nearly im' hail' is a low sand spit, from to j'J feet above lii;;ii water, and covered with biir^li and small trees, except at the c.xtreme point, which is bare, and c(tm- posod principally of ,ma\('I. Mi'. Fowler has lived lifteen ycarti in this vicinity, dni'ini; which time, he says, the spit has not been chauLicd li\' the action of water or drittinj:;' saml It would be natural to siijipose if" woidd be acted upon in the same mannei' by the forces which cai:sed J)un.ueness si»it t<» increase KM) I'cct in the la>t six yeai's. The !(»w land at I'oint Wilson is terndnated liy a ]trccipitoiis bluff, the iM>>ition of which corresponds on the map nea'ly with the red north and south half section line llironuh the middle of .\Ir. J-'(»wler\s claim. This blutf rises to some b")0 feet in the hi;4liesi part, j^iadnally decreas- inji" towards the south in a mile to one-third that hci.nht. On tin* blutf the laml is timliercd with lir, s|irin'e, I'cdar. et( .. ami, accorilinu to .Mr. I'owlci', compaialively level antl \ery lich. .Inst south of his claim, on the low ;;roniid, is a deserted Imuse ami a well, ami if is snp]iosed j^ood water '-an be fomid anywhere on the spit by di;^.L'inL:'. i'lie land west of Mr. Fow h-rs is co\ ercd l»y a "domition (daim "" of .Mor;:an A: 'J'ibbals. and the south the claimant's nanu^ is !'. W. lN'tej.';rew. Mr. l''ow|i'r"> claim, aeeordiiijn' to the map. is al)out .'SOS acres, a little im)re than halt' of widen is on the blnlf. He >ays he will sell i*- tr, the (loNcrument for ■•?1,(M»<» in ii;(»ld. ami he values 'he low portion ai a hii^her price than that above. I'oint \\'ils(U! is. in character, ipiite sindlar to Point Adams at the month ol' t!ie ("olnmliia. I am told tli" Coast Survey has i)ub- iislu'd a detailed map oi Port 'I'ov nsend and this jioiut on a much laru'ev seale ihan the om- I ha\e seen ami referred to in this I'ejioit. (L*) Ailmiynit}/ llviul. — 1 have m)t b»eii able to se(> a map of this place on a la.'jic scale. On it the (loveriiim'nt has reserved 4 acres i'or a li;;lit liouse. which is located on a bluff .'lo pae«>s from its |>re- cipitons ed}ie, the blulf tiie, ■• beiii;-- t'rom •'.;» to 7i> feet hi;;h. The best place I'or a battery is ou tin' liyht house reservation ami to the north of It. FmU-r the l»li:lf is a small sand sjjir, but too small It) l»e of any military \alue. The resei\e was purchased some yea' • a^o from Mr. .1. C. Kello,:.;;:. who owned '.VIO acres of land, and who now owns Hie unsohl ]»ortioii. The r cservalioii and a space '.iliout : .'. n'c as lai';:e in tlie icar is cleared, the rt mainder beinji limbered as in the hi;;h yidiind al I'oint Wilson. Water for the li;.;lit house is collected in a cislcrn fiom the roof. The keejicr was absent when I visited it, and I coidd uain little iiifminaiion about this point except from iiersoned iii- si»ectioii. This and Point Wilson are salient i>oints, and batteries at each point would command a lar^e lauL^c of tir«'. The land about the li;.;iit house i.s very rich. Tlie shores on both sides «)f the inlet aio sandy, but from it the w ateideepens \eiy rapiilly. and between the two points there are no intirmediate sho; is or islands. 48 FORTIFICATIONS L'POX PCGKT SOUXI.). (.'») Ihccjituni i'aftn — Tliis is ;i itMiiiu'kabU' passa^ic soparatiii,^" Wliid- Ix-y Isla?i(l from Fidaliifo Island. It is rciiuirkable on accoiinr of it.s small width, deep water, and hold sliores. The Coast .Survey map. scale •.ott'mttih ("" ^vhiell tjiis ])ass is represented with the remark that that p(»rti(Mi was (rojtied from the ehavt of Captain Kellett, li. X.), ,i;ives. not- wit list ami in.u' tlie smafi scale, a nood idea of it, t lion ^-h some inaccnracies have crept in. There are three i.slands in the pass within a half mile of each other. Uesides (»ne called Deception Island, (df the entrance. Two (d' those in the pass are represented on the map as promontories, and the third, which is tiie easternmost one, and opposite the entrance rocpiite a larue bav, is not leprcsented at all, tlionjih the bay is well show.i. I think this third island is represented on the IOii>;lish chart. These islands are important, as they are low, from L'O to oO ieet in heig'ht. While the shores on either side rise to the heijiiit of IVom loO to LMH) t'eet. tin the north side the basaltic roctks rise nearly vertically to that ;4reut heiiiht. On the south side, opposite the islands, is an isolated circular hill abont a half mile in diameter, which is surronntraits of Ilcsario the ground i.s low and either saudy or covered with fra;.i'ments of biisaiTi(; rock. It is covered, thonji'h not tlier. 1 would recommend, therefore, that the south side of the pass, froiii the stiaits around to the bay and as far to south as would secure a mile scpnire, be reserved, and that a correspond inj;' ])ortioii on the north bank, with the islands, be also reserved. The land is ol" little \ able, and not claimed. The whole of Whidbey Island has been sur- veyed, but Fidal<;() Island has not been, as far as I can learn. I regret that the older to send the Sliiihfirk to Han I-'rancisio, has ])ie- veiited my .yoiii;; to Olympia and obtainin^i' (jojiies of the map td' this pa.ss, ami (d Admiralty Head and Wilson's Point. L'nder the circum- stances, I should have taken the ies|)()nsibility in^- there in the IJIiz<( Anderson had it md been that, as my lij>lit house duties will keep me in this vicinity for at least a nioi'Mi longer, there will be; time i'or me to learn your wishes in theiiatter. 'I'liese duties, thou.uli preventing" me Irom iidurnin^i to San l''rancisco, would not prevent my doiii.u .w.y duty yon may wish perlbrmed in this vicinity. 1 inclose, liesides tlu> Land Survey map of I'oint \Vilsoii. the Coast Survey map to wiiich I have icleire«i in tiiis report. 1, espcclfiilly s iibmitt ed Col. K. C. Dia.M, .•l,s'.s'/. .1^/7. (irii'l. Dqtt. of the I'ariji- II. S. Wilma:^!sox, M((joi\ ('. S. F.iuj'mcvrs, FORTJriCATIOXS IPUX PIGET .SOl'M). OFrin: Uoaiid of KN(iiNFER8, Sua Fr((nci.sco, Fihntari/ (J, ISOT. CiEMEKAL : In acc;oi (lance with a resolution of the Doard of l-^njuineers for the I'aciHe Coast adopted .Tanuary lil, ISOT, I transmit herewith a copy of a letter from Jirevet Lieutenant-Colonel Williamson with refer- ence to the immediate ])urchase of certain points in I'uget Sound, and recommend the same to your favorabU' consideration. If the Dejiartment concur witii the views of Colonel Williamson and the l>oard on this sul.'Ject, it will be better tiiat some one mend»erof the IJoard or some other person be authorized to make the conditional ))ur- chases proposed (subject of course to tlie ai)provalof the Department), because if this Loard should move in a matter of this Idnd land specu- lators will move simultaneously. \'ery respectfully, your obedient servant, 1>. S. Al.KXANDKK, r>r(. Bri(). (ifn., r. S. A., Presiileiit Hun id of Env the ritle ide of ,()uld on on litth' u sur- San Fka>ti.sco, Cal., January 17, ISOT. General: I respectfully submit to the Hoard of I'n^ineers the fol- lowing facts and recommendations: The two i)oints at the entrance to Admiralty Inlet are Point Wilson on the west and Aein«j 3^ English miles, or less than 3 nautical miles, according to the Coast Survey chart, the intermediate water being o,, , .. ue the more important in any plan for the defense of those waters, but if r.iii hardly be possil)le to reje<;t entirely the two or three i)oints at or near the entrance, and hence I consider that these points must eventually be in the possession of the United States. Land at Point Wilson, amounting to ilOS acres, including the jjroper site for a work, is owned by Mr. V.. S. I'owler, of Port Townseiid. who oti'ered, in a jjcrsonal interview with me in October, 18(51, to sell his claim to the Government for 81, <»()(> in gold, if to be soon occupied by the United States, the agreement to be ('onsidcred binding for one yeiir from that dale. At Admiralty Head is a light-house reservation of 40 acies, but for military jmrposes the land adjoining it on the north will be rtMjuin'd. The owner of that land is .1. (,'. Kellogg. I ccmsider that these two pieces of h»nd (ami espi cially Point W^il- son) should be purchased foi the Government, and I also consider it exceedingly jtrobable that if the jturchases ar«' not m.ide befoic tlM^ Hoard visit the locality the result will be tiiat the price to be paid will be greatly enhanced. S. Kv. lOo 1 50 rORTIFICATlONS II'ON' ITGET 80UM). .1 tlit'icCoic iccoiimiciKl that ii,>i)li(iiti(Mi be iiiiulc to the (Jliief of Kii- j;iMc('is Jor itullHH ity to lie vestid in tlu' JJomkI toiinike i-onditioiial pnr- cliiiM' of llicM' i)iiv;itt' l:>iiose. J liaxe till' li(>noi' to be, veiy ies]i(.(;tlully, yonr obedient servant, U. S. \\ ILL1A3I.SON, Major of' Eiifiiuecrs, Jilt. Lieut. Col., I . >v. A. General J». S. Al]A'AM)KK, Chairman of lioonl of Eu(jiiHirx for Vactjic Coaaf. STEILACOOM r.ARRAC'KS, WASII.. AviJVst lid, 185,'?. Siu : * * * The situation of I'enn's Cove otleis advantaf;es that can not b«' found at eitlier of tlie others. It is perfectly i>rotected from the ])revailiny' winds, the nortli and southeast. The l.trj^est ehis.s ves- sels can lie at anchor but a few lods from shore, and it is much nearer Admiralty Inlet than eitlier of the others, the island at this point bein«>- about lA miles wide, r'nrthermore, it is directly on (he line of travel. With all these considerations before me, I did not liesitate to tix uj)on renn's (^ove as the most desiiable i»oint for a reservation. Having be- come satisfied that this was not only the ])roper, but almost tl»e only, l»oint at which a military reservecould be establislied, I then endeavored to ascertain wlicre I could best run the lines of the reserve in ord r to lultill the (conditions laid down in your instructions, and at the same time disturb as few claimants as ])ossibIe. I learned that Dr. Lansdale was the oldest settler on the cove, and that all otlier claimants would l)e jioverned by the manner in which he had taken his claim. 1 accord- iiijily commenced at the stake which he pointed out as the most eastern l)oint of his claim on the cove, and ran from it north I mile, Iroiii thence east I mile, and from thence south to the cove, this last line beino- 47 chains. These lines iiiclnded within their limits a little nioie than oOO acies of land, about "JO of which is wooded, the remainder tine prairie. It has a water trout of ^\) chains. On tlie icserve there is one tine si)rinied and claimed Ity .Messrs Ilolbrook, Sliov*'. Smith, Howe, and Allen, tiie two last are livinji" on the same claim, and eai;h believes ///\ thr )»iior ri;.;lit. All hav«' made upon their respective claims slight improve- ments, but so slif^ht. that I «lo not believe in the a.iiiirc'^ale they wonld exceed ><1,LM)(); an e.\ceedin«;ly small sum wlie i compai'cd with the nu- merous advanta^ics that this spot olfers as a military site, lly making a cliai!;ie in the 1:01th and east lines of the reser>'e the wlioU; (itd acies allowed by ('on;iress would be taken in. As they jow run, about 140 are lost. This chaiijic would include a larjicr amount of tin. ber land, aii'i would, 1 believe, be of advantage to the reserve. Tlii.s cl anye would include 'I! < 1 i \' i > li.'i \ •' A'.IIH III (III ;iiii'lii ■J'li I'Xt'l'C .'iiiil t tills ( "it III It •'ILCilil! Illillll FORTIFICATIONS ITOX Pl'GET sorXD. 51 vi j)oition of the claim now liold by a Mr. llastic Noiit' of tlio j) living oil this land have heiil 't for a lon;ier pt'iiod than sovc months, and some of them have located wilhin the last nine. Tin as run are well nnirked by the blazin;i' of trees and i»!antin<;' s [[ad time i)ermitted, [ shonld, after iiinidnj; the ))res(Mit lines, | maeside8 accurate charts and volumim)ns documentary information, the Board has had the advairtage of the results of the jx-rsonal examina- tion of the locality iti (pu^stion l)y the late Chief Engineer of the United States, (Jeneral J. G. Totten. That eminent and experienced oJlicer was sent by the AN'ar Depart- ment to the l'a(;ilic coast in 18")!) tor the exjuess jturpose of making a personal examination to .select sites for military or na\al occupation and to indi(;ate theext«'nr Mid character of fortitieations reipiired. Fre>n his rei»ort we extract the following )»aragraphs: (iiviit liiitaiii, liy Dwiiiii^ tlic whdlc of N'micoiivci's IsImiuI. el' wliicli tlir sunthcru shiirn liDiiiiils till' StlJlits ot I'lICil iill tllt' liortll. liossi-sscs. jll^it wjtllill its sniitliilli cx- tiriiiity, the inliiiiriilili' iii;iii-iir-\viir liiirbor dI" l^M|iiiiiiaiili. .mil sln' now (icrii]>ics it .-is a naval station, liaviii;; iufsciit tln-ri' at tln> lime ol' my visit oin' lim'-of-liatt Ic slii|) .and lonr warstcanicis. Tliis liar')or lias, in Ji liit;lHli'i;ri'i', I'vci'v intii iiiil <>)n\ cnii'nci', t'acilii..' of in;;v('ss ;in(i i';;;rfss at ail times, and iicrfnt dclensililcness at a modfiatu cost liy fortitieations. slionid sneli defenst; he eonsideicd neeessaiy at any fntiii'e time. My tiist remark on these, eirciimsl.'iiH'es is that, |)ossessiny; lvsi|niniaiilt llarlior, thu . 'I'his leads Iiie to remark, in the second place, that hy the eslahlisliiin'lil oi" tilt) main channel, wlii(di will he the case if tlui liosario 8trait is to liccoine the homidarv. 62 FOKTiriCATIONS Il'OX ruriKT .SOl.'ND. My (;(>n('liisi()iis, IVoin llicsc jiihI hiicIi liki; consiilciiitioiis, art^ tliat tlic jifisscssiou cil" flif. Sail Jnaii j^ioiii) of islaiHls is HtiatcKiciilly nf lii<;li iiij such inllnenc<'s, this iniiiortaiic(! can hardly have too much wei;j;lit j^iscii to it. Ill Wwso. lew ])ai'alis we see iiof only why, in si militaiy point of vii'w, the " Ilitio Channel" shonld he the l)oiiii(hiiy and the istrategie ini- lioitanceof the ISan .Juan gronp of islands, bnt we have es|)eeially pointed luit the ])aiticnlar " military intpoitanee"' of the larjiest ineinber of that , and the one most "elose upon the Haro Channel,'' vi/, ISan Juan Island. Conciiriinf;- fully in these views, tiinl believino- that they lemain at the present moment, as when they were yiven, the best exposition that fiin be given of tin; military importanee of !San .Inan Island in all it.s relations, the J>oard adopts them its its report. The paper.", in the ease are herewith returned. lJesi>ectfully submitted. J. (1. liAHNAKD, Col. anil Brt.Moj. Gin. Geo. W, CiLLUM, t'ol. ilnqrs. and llvt. Ma}. . E. BahcocU, A. I>. 0.. • * « , • « • * I'UGET SOUND. In aeeordanee with the recpiest of the Chief Hngineer, (jeneral ])ela- tield, 1 made an examination of a number ofi)oints on I'uget Sound for reservHtirns for fortifieations. I examined but from the water. As the country is thickly j;rown with trees no Judgment could be formed of the si/e of reservation or the miture of the work. The accompanying small im>i» will show the Chief Engineer where reservations should l)e nuideat once and work commeneeUAUTK1JS AlOriF.S ok rM'I'KI) Statrs, Wasliiniiton, J). ('., Jannarif .'5(», lS(i7. Ifespectfully forwiirded for the information of the Chief JMigiucer. IJy direction of General Grant. U. 10. IlAlK'OCK', Jict. Hrlij. Gin., A. IK C. A ^ ,^ rORTIl'ICATIONS II'OX PUOKT SOUND. 63 I'lvinu-tH from it report from (litwrol -1. (I. Tolfrii, Ch'xf of Eiif/iiwers^ (Ititnl Mdi/ L*S. ISiiO, made In complinnee icith iiisfriictious from the Sec- retari/ (f War. duted Noremher \\ \^7\\). 7, III our I'XiUiiinatioii of the coast tor tlu* selection ol'iioiiits ro(|iiir- iii;:' dctcnsi' by lortilicatioiis, it will l)c coiivciiiciit to hc.iiiii at the north, raUin<: up liist, and as a portion by itself — too remote troin other de- i'ended positions to have thei'cwith mutual relations of aid and sup[)()rt. and I'eqnirin^' to be made self reliant, so to speid-'. Tllli COA.STS AND WATKIIS Ol" 'I III; r.MTKl) STATES INSIDK OF CAl'E FLATTKIJ^. S, The i»ossession by a ;^ieat naval power of the whole of \'ancou- ver's Island (the southern portion (»f which Ixtunds the Stiails of I'\M'a), wherein, at the southern extrennty, theie is t he man-of-war harbor of ICsrpiimauit, haxiii^' in u hi;:h dej;ree every intei'ual coiivenienee, la- <-ility of ingress and e;iress at all times — perl'ect defensiiiU'uess at a moderate cost — at which, with naval mastery, a command iid,uht be maintained at all times over the Straits of I'uca and all \\\v wateis witliiii <'a]>e l-'latteiy, includinjjr, of (;ourse, I'ufi'et Sound and the San »Iuan ArchiiJela-;!). This foreij^in ])ossession, while it obscures somewhat thetiuestion of our defensive jjolicy in that icyion, leaves it very clear that so lon^' as that mastery is upheld all comnui'ce of the iuiiei- waters through these narrow straits must, in time of war, be interru])te(l, or at least exposed to the j^reatest ha/ards. It shoidd bt^ noticed that this control will be independent of any (piestion of o('cui)ation of the San duan Ai'chipelaji'o. ".». These circumstances, not now probably to be chau^ied as re<>ards ("oreiji'n i)ossession, and harilly to be materially altered lor years as i-e- .uards naval stren^^th, will admit, nevertheh'ss, some alleviation, if nothiuji' more, by ))rovidinjj harbtjrs of refu.ue both within and without the ]>robable ran;i«M)f hostile (U-uisers — that is to say, fortith'il anchoi- a}4"cs — where vessels will be safe from lhedans of the straits show that outside (westward) of Cape Church, which is the southern extrennty of Vancouver's Islaml, where the straits are but 10 nnles wide, and where we uu^iht expect to liml hostile <;ruisers, there is no liarlxu- on our side within (Jape Flattery (some (iO miles to the west) hut Xeeah Harbor (Scarboroujjfh Harbor), which is Just within the cape. Outside of Cape Flattery the lu-arest ])ort on om- side is (Jray's Har- bor, believed to be dilllcult and dan^^crous of access even to vessels of inoderate drau.i;ht. It is lO.j miles IVom the cape; too far for w {unl of refuji'e from the ]>erils Ave are considering'. 11. The efleet (»f a defended anchoraj;e at Xeeah Harbor would be to cover merchant vessels aimin;^' to run the passa;^i' of tlu' straits; to ^ive shelter to such as nniy be llyiu;;" outwards from pursuit; to jjive ]»rotection to any of our armed cruisers that nmy be waiting opportunity lor (h'fensive or oli'ensive action, etc. 11'. The doiut lioard report jdaces this harbor not far from tlu^ head of their second class. Hut if it (!au be made to sui>ply safe auchoraj^e foreven a few war >'ess(ds, ami the anchora^^e be securely l\)rtitie(l at a rea- .sonable expense, it should be transferred into the tirst cdass, and the 54 I'OKTIFICATIONS Ul'oN VH.KT SOUND, necessary works be be^Min witlioiit delay. Tosettle llie point definitely a sjiecial l»(»ar(l of enjiiiieers should be Ibitliwitli sent to examine tlie locality minutely, make, if lu'cessary, surxeys, and, ilie icsults beiiif^ faxorable, report at the earliest «lay j>ractical)le their pro.ject and esti- mate. It is Avell here to state that the Coast Survey mai»ol' this harbor yives shallow water for abcait half a mile oil" to thesoutiiwest from Waaddah Island, upon which shoal a breakwater mi;ilit 1m> cheaply foiriied that, together with the islainl itself, would alfoid a li'a of a!)out half a mile scpiare. * » • # • • • 17. The extraordinary increase of poi)ulation in a part of our I'aciliK jtossessioiis may seem to mak*' it probable that the shores ot" these northern wat«rs will soon till up with peo])Ic. and that larj^caiid wealthy towns and numerous establishments of industry and enteipri>e will vastly au^jinent the imiiortance of the Territory, but, until the tendency of the sticam of e mitral ion hi I her shall be siron.ucr than now, or made; more ])robable by de\ clopnients of new sources ot' wealth, the pit'cedinji' leniarks will remain ajiplicable. IS. JJut, if we aie not able there to assume naval supremacy, nor likely soon to he able, the ^-reatei' is the necessity for ]trovidini;'. in due tinu', security aj^ainst the elfccts of this mastery in hostile hands. We must see, therelbrc, what placi's n(»w . Outside of Cape Church thei'c is notliin;^-. \\itliin that cape we liiul, lirst, th(^ harbor of I'ldse I )uii;;('ness ; then Ni'w J)un;;('ncss ; then ISquim, or ^VasllinJLi•^on Harbor; then P<»rr l)isc»»very, which briu.ys us to the mouth oi' Admiralty Inlet. Not one of these Inur harbors has upon it any establislunent or any number of ]K'ople eallin<;' for present protection by fortification. .l*assin,u\\ ithin Admiralty Inlci there are I'ort 'I'owiisend, I'ort Ludlow, Port (iand)le, Seattle, Steilacoom, ()lymi)i;i, and some other places (in- eluding" a number of saw-mills, larjie and small) sciattered upon the shores and bays of the deep, quiet, and beautiful wateis of A(luuralty Inlet and ruj;ft Sound. Souu^ of these, as Port Towusend, Seattle, Steilacoom. and Olymp'ia, this last beinji'the seat of ^oxcinmeut of Washin.n'tou Ti'rritory, thouji'li still numbeiiiifi" few persons, seem to have taken lirm root, and are represented to be increasiuj^' steadily, at a moderate rate. The mining re<;ions are, however, so attractive as to leave only a small i»ly of the shores of tlie I'aeiiic and Indian Oceans, and as a contributor even to tlu; I'^uropean maiket. 22. Considered sejiaiately, there is not, I think, any such establisli- nu-nt insiile of Cape {''lattery (iiu'Iiulinj;' now also the villa-^c of Wat- mau.uh, fln^ site of coal mines in r.illiniisliiii;; a dcfrime of | his nature. I'l. A fort on each shore, and one mi tin* middle of the channel at the narrowest place near ihe nntnth of Admii'ally Inlet, whei-e it rs nbcnit ;'» miles wide, wonjil suj^idy :i pretty ;;doil defense to I his entrance, l»nt as the distance lietwcen these Torts w;sin;;- larji'e armanuMits of i1h^ hea\iest ^iuns, would be i-idispensable. They would l»e very cosily, therelbre, and. moreover, as the lar<;(* middle fort wonld ha\e t(» be founded in water sonu' l.'iO feet deep, not less, aceordin;; to the nntst aulhentic s()iindin;;s we now haxc. this pi'oject may i»e deemed to be, if not iinpraetieable, inadmissible, from the enor- mous cost it would involve, as compareil with the imiMufeet prolection it Would alVord; especially as without one fort at least in the channel — tw(( such forts bein;^' retpiisite to a eomplele «lelense — th(» two forts on the shoi'cs wonld be next to useless. No irnjtroN enients in the lauije and power of artilleiy could, with these alone, make the forcin;; the l»assa miles, the intermediat(^ nuddle soundings varyiiii; frcnu L'o to 4L' fathoms (IT.n feet to L'o'J feet). 'jr». in lelation to forts upon the shore at thi?; place. 1 ouuht to add that one at Wilson's Point woidd partially piotect an imlilfercnt anchor- aj;e in an open roadstead close to I he south of it, and mi^ht thereby be (d' s(Mne service, as aflordinj;' occasional refu^fe tVom an eiu'my's cruisers, but it would, as we have seen, tullill in> other object, and. as we >ihail see further on, this end. besides otheis of importaie'c, may be madi better secured ( Isewhere. This jiarticidar subject of a sinj;le line of defense for all the iuni-r waters btduy' one of which tin- impcutance, fiivat even now, will i»e aun- nu'iitinn" with the advancement of the conidiy in i)oi»ulation ami wealth. L ha V(^ anxiously souuhL loi' sonu- po>itn)n, more within reach ot i»racti- eable nietlioils than that just meiitioaed, and have found one meriting; exact examination and study. This line extends from Foul weather Pi»int,at tiie northern end of the promontory boiindinp' Jlood'sCanal «ni the east, across eastward to Don- 50 KOK'!i)'ICATI()NS ITO.V ITOKT Sol'ND, Mil ijiiill", a Hjilit'iit hi'adlimd oil the soulliwest .slioic ol* NN'liidlic.v's Isl- jiiid — tln> (lisliuicr licin;; iil)iiiit -.\ miles, w i(li (i rallioms jiikI S.\ liillioiiis ;;iM'ii :i.s tlic (l(>])tlis ill tlu' iiii(l'dlow, and the anchorages inside and outside of that i»oint thereby .ser ,';;,■; as a ^ood and accessible harbor of refnjic, and exer(!is- inj; an iiiiport.int control over the entrance to Hood's < 'anal, here so nar- row that the jxtwer of this work would deter an enemy at any late fr(»m jiredatory incursions into the canal. (L') A fort on or near the middle (»!' the stiait betweiMi T'oulwcathei' I'oint and ^\'hidb»'y^s Island. Tiiisfort will ol itself yive to this cliaiinel a like protection, causin^i- the forcing of the |)assa;i<' to be too hazard- Otis, except for some jiU'at object and by a formidable ex]>edition, thus {jiviii;^' by a small fortihcafion a security to the ii.])per waters likely for years to »;ome to Ite adequate t(t their need. This loit also should l)elon,!; to the hrst (jlass, the operations l)eiii«; carried on at the same time witli those at 'l''ala Point, ami at such a rate at least that the nnder-water work will be re. lily lor the superstructure by the time thecMlier is ready for ;;iins. (-■J) A fort on I'oiilweather Point (second-class), which, besides com- ])letiiij; the defense of flood's < 'anal, will exercise an important com- mand over the niaiii channel of Puyct .Sound. (t) A fortitication on Double Bliilf, ^Vhidbey's Island. This last will complite the barrier, of which the strength wi'l be «|uite (Mpial to any ct overvthin;;' within the mouth of Admirality Inlet, cxcejit Port Towns- end. .")!. Allowin^i'. meanwhih'. the jutKiticability of this line to be eoiitin- ^••ent on inlbrmation \ct to be acquired, we will retire further into these waters in search of other bairiers. Ibit in quittin^i this ]iosition we should surrender much. W'v should yield at once all the waters behind ^Vllidbey'« Islaml, which, with the aid of a very small work at J)ecep- tion Pass, would thereby be well ])rotecte(> niilos fuitlier down, a juMiiia- nent harrier for the coninion defense of all these waters. ;}.■>. 1 >hall phice the delensc df tin. Narrows of Pn;;('t Sonnd l»y tem- porary liatterie.s in the Mrst chiss, bnt only as regards tiu' snppl.\ ol the necessary .liuns, etc., h'avinji' the erection oftlie Temporary worlis to a time of need, and the constrnct ion of any permant'nt fortilications thi,M e t;ontin;;eiit on the failnre to erect snitable (h-fenses on file su^iu'csted barrier line from I-'tudweather Point to Donlile iUnlf. In case of such failure, a pei'Mianent woik at the Narrows would lielonj;- to the second ss. .'!(;. No position aljove I'oint Deliance (()r the Nairows) outers into the question of defense aj;ainst a foreign enemy. .'37. I turn back, therefore, to tlie ^5traits of Fuca, whole, as 1 have said, there is no establisiiment of any kimi requirin^ion its own account local fortilications, lint where we have to iiuard, as well as we can, against the 58 I'OKTIFH'ATIONS UPON ITCiKT SOUND. lK»\v«'r iiiid iiidiiciicc, of a liostilo v.w.A nivilomiiiancc. I'lidci' siu li as- ccikU'IU'V IIm'Ic can be no cohi.iK'Ico 1km ■'■('cii our ports witliiii, ;iiiil no i'ltcicotirse witli tlii;:a outside of flic sti'ii's — no cxpcilitions nlloal a;^ainst tin; coninicrce or est a 1)1 i slim en ts of an Mn'iny — in> chance nn' the tlarin;;" entei'in is*' oi onr .-piriteil luit inleiinr na\ a! •oice. nnless we sh:ill possess, at favorahle points, foitilied inchorinics as p'aces of resort and iefn;ie. rinlerthe shelter o!' siudi fortilic.nions. onr vessels may — ;is tin c;ise amy he — :i\vait nu)nM'nts for continnin,i;' lli^hl, lor retaliatiii;: npon exposed oitjeets, or for enterin}; npon actions ot' enterprise or \ ioop. Willi sncli shelter, the)'.' may be some chance of ;.'ivin;; an offensive cjiiiracter to thewiir — of impart in j^' some ener;:y (<» it — of lorciiiu' an enemy ii!t(> incessant employnu-nt of ;i,' his lorccs. into a \v»Mi.\in,^ vi^i lance ;it id! his ])orts, and an e\hiinsli\ e nse of his nii'.ins. Without it and with an <'ncmy"s ciiiiser or t wo Ueejun;; easy watch iilon^r onr shori's, all conunercijil " and e\ eiy ni;ii t lal eiier;:.\ would be stilled. .■'»S. LooUin;;' for posil i(Mis lik«'ly lo I dli!) tin' reipnsile conditions of haibors of i-esort and refn;;e, it is exideni tli;it vessels about lo cuter the Stiuits (tf !'"ucii will be approiichin;^- closelx the - rciit lisks proehled by itn enemy's na\ al stiit i(Mi within t he capes. Si^^naliu;:. with a harbor oi" refny«' there (;is at Xeeah), she w(»uld learn whether lo ii-lire from the coast or come forw ;ird into 'he fortilieil unchuiM .;e, m lo prr'ss I'lirther forwaid. So. bein.u' outward boiiml, and havinu' elu .ed the biockade lliu.s tai'. a passin;!' vi'ssel could learn by siuiiiil (or ot hci'wisc) olf the same pl.u-c whether ■"■ not ciuiseis were lyinu' in w;iit oulside of ( :ipe I'laltci'N . riie a to L'(» miles') to w Itch they nmy be expected to take ofleii, if not eeiie'ally, positions alfurdiiiL; \ iew s also of (he iippi'oacli of tin- st raits, and of the several chaniu'ls of the San diian Archipelauo. lleie. then, wheicall our lloatinu' interesls c(ninected \>!ih /vdmiralty Inlet and I'uuci Suund must pass, and n<'ar euoujuh, inoreo\«'r. to be jnoliicd nf by tlio>c ct)ii neeted with the San Juan Ari'ldpela;io. slion'd l>e prepared another Jilai'e of rel'u,ue. ■b>. \\ itli an enemy's cruisers 1\ in;^ within the inlet, .such a place out side thereof w (Uild he indispensable to \ essels coming from sea — if l.vln;; outside o| the inlet, onr vessels vent in in.; h,.yond lis moulii would need to liiid til. shelter close al haml, should they find i iie enemy's cruisers in a positltui t»> iiitercept their p; ssajic to Neeali llarboi'. It is a condi- tion, theielbre. that a iiarhor ot rcfuiit' there slioiihl fa\oi- iioth aiiivinu antl depaitin.L; vessels. ■H. Kor these objects, lalse I )nn,i;«'iiess Harbor, thonj;li e\ceilcnt as a Inirbor, ami liable possibly to become one day an interinediate resort, is too far (al> int .'id miles) I'rou. Admiralt> Inlet. New hnnec'iiess Har- bor is lather too far. about is miles; but as to this. I have some tnrlher remaiks to make. Sipdin or \\'ashiii;;toii 1 larboi- ( IT) ndles ofV), tlionnh well incl '«;ed, appears to be too >lioal al its month. Theie remain^ Port I )iscoveiy. about s miles liom I'oint Wilson, or the month oi the inlet. 4:.'. This is a very well slidicred haiboi'. extendinu S or 10 inile^ into I FOUriFle'ATKt.N.S i;r(»N I'UCJF.T souni 59 tin couiitvy. Iriviii;;- jiiTiit (l.-jtlli of water, its two <'ii|»('s itcniiitliii;.'' a ;,Mi(»(l (li'lfiise (if liic ciitiaiii'i', \v!!v;i('\ IT tliat, may l>i_' louiid iiccfssaiy. Ill Iroiii (iftlic iiioiit'n, but allowiiiji' ail easy «'iitraii('e on (■!;!• side to tlif main iiarboi'. lies rrotcM-tion Island, ilmiit I .', miles Ion;:' ami oin-lialt' mill' wide. Tills island, oeeii I lietl Ity a lort and batteries, will ;ii\ e. el.tse under its soiitli shore, a siielleied aiieliora^e to vessels arriviii;^' liom either direction. It presents itself l.ivoraltly. therefore, as the del'eiided aiichoraue we are seekin.n' near the month ol' .Vdmiralty liilel. i.'i. Its advantages as such over I'ort 'I'ownseiid, or tiie aiieliorane over Point Wilson, are, it.s aeeessibility to vessels bound we^twartl, iiort liward, or inward : its bettei' onih»oU iii>oii tin' Stiails ol 1' ilea ; that while cruisers lyiiiu' within I'oiut \\'ilsoii w.tiild perfeeily close I'ort Townseiid, as Well as Admivah.v Inlet, odier ciiiiseis than these em- idoyed within that inlet wciM be iiecessai'.x to shut this ancliora;;e : that its fortilicd anchora.n'e would ln' a portion '-f ihe entire defen-^e of the best harbor on the scuitli side of these straits, one that, from its ;^reat extent, line water, and defeiisilileness, must become id iiiii»or- taiice, and one that has been iiineli s|»o|. t-n of as i he site oi a iia\ a! .\ anl aii;! station, ami a ill certainly have strong- claims to be taken into ae- eoniit whencNcr cii vMnnstances shall have so ehaii^cd as tv> m ike such an establishment necessary oi' proper within these straits. 14. < 'oinpaiiii;^ I'rotectioii Island with New l>iiii{;'encss Ilarlior, I lind that tlioii.iih rat iier far iroin Admiralty Inlet as a refuse tor vessels Ixiiind t hither, or escapiii';" t hence, the latter is tlit^beiiei- siinated ol" rlie tW(». by its advanced position in Ine straits. Tiie two should, tlu-relore, Ite eaiefidly compared by tiie Hoard ol' Iji^ineers, afier local examination, and, if necessary, surveys (»t" t he localities and deicrmiiia- iion of t he nature, extent, and cost o)' t he foitilications thai wmild l)c necessary in each case. It is jjioltable that a stron;;' batti'ry on Iii;;ht House Point would be so siiiiated as to prote<'t \essels anchored close to the soi'.t h sImu'c ssary, and as beloiiLiin.u' to liie lirst class of works. 1<». The 1 w <• liarlitMs i.|' 'ii;;!' thus deemed indispensable in t he St rails of I'ue;', ill IIm' stide of tliiiiLi's :i- oi ner near the iiMtiitii ol' .\i I mi rally Inlet, will be well situ ili'd as r«';;ards important relati l'"il I.'h'.I'Uv. .\ I'l'it III r"i(l-cliaiiiicl, t'^.-wi'i'ii i-'niilwrailii-r I'oiiU ami \\'Iiii1Im-\'n Inhiinl. A fitlliTi inn I't' lit avy ictiiis at Su-iluciii'iii l.ir |fui|ii iialicrii-t at tip' Nar- row s of I'ligit ^ouiid. €0 FORTIFICATIONS T'l'ON PUGET SOUND. f l» 4!). KN'lyiiiji' on tlic ])rol)i)l)ility of lixiiiu' n (M)iiii>lt'tt' Imi rit»r acioss frotii Foulwciitlu'i' I'oiiit, 1 would assiyii to the st'(!oii(l class a loit on J'oiil- Avcadici' Point and a f'oit on Douldf IJInll', \Vliidl)('y".s Island. .")(). ^Vitilont any doiil)ls as to the concjt ncss of tlic piv('('din,<:- p'neral views — allndin,u' now csin'c-ially to the Straits of Fnca and tlic iiitciior waters, and to the fi'cneral (uniclnsions to which I have been led — 1 have nevcrtiiclcss fonnd almost e\crywhcr«' a want of that specific informa- tion that is indisix'iisahlc to an acfnal determination of the form, extent,' and even ])i'ecise site of the fortilications tliat ninst be i)ro\ ided ibr the seveiiil cases. Sometimes the want tonchcs even the (picstion of i)rac- ticability. Thonjih scM-ral times menl ioncil, 1 mnst here icnew nrjicntly the reeomnicndation as to a IJoard (tf l']n;^ineers for this coast, and jiress its imn.cdiate oruanizat ion :i::d entrance n]»nn the dnl.\' of makin;^' ex- aininati(»ns. snrv«'ys, ])roJe miles in Icnjitli be tbrtilied as placi's of iefu.m' tor vessels iuidaniicred by an enemy's cruisers, although they may not contain set- tlements of impoitauce; tills includes t he immediate s<'lection and de- fense of t wo harbors on the St raits of Fuea — probaVdy >«'eeali Harbor and Kew hnn.'niness llarboioi- Port l>isco,\ cry. # * # •« * # ' • ' lis. I'il'thly, that a call U|tiin Coni^rcss be made for early ap|»ropiia- tioiis Ibi- the commencement of fortilications at the mouth of Columbia lliver. and also witiiiu Cape I'l.itlery, in addition to apitiopriations for defenses already bc;;un on tlie Pacilic toast. CLA.-^SIIICATION OF Tilt; I'nltTlFICAIlONS IJKijfllMn) H)\l Till: DE- FKNSF OF Tin; PACIFIC CoAST OF TIIK INFIKI) STATKS. I.';!. The detens«s comprised in the two foilowinf; classes an* iinj)or- tant las to the mder ol timc^ aceordiny to tin* ;:ieneral arranji'eineiit in roRTiKir.VTio.T.s UPON i'i'(n:r solind. 61 esu'li class; Imt. it" iiossihlc, tlio works within the saiin' lirackct slioiild all hv Xn'iiun at tlic same tiiii' : ii' .iiat can imt 1m', tiieii in tlic unlcr in wliioli tlicy stand in tin' bracket. l.")4. The works in the si'(^(>n«l class should await, i>r at any rate should not lessen. ai)pro|>iiat ions necessary to the coinplctictn ot'tlii' (iist (-lass. l.V». ["jiNt class. 1. V I'liit KM I'lPi't J'oitii San I'laiici.-ro llarlmr ",'. liai tfiii's on Alialias Island San I'lancisco llailmr :!, ( Matt fries on Liinr I'nint and I'nint Cava I In San Krain'isco Ilarlxn' 4. r S \V()rlf|Misit ot lieavy ;;nns at StiMhK'ooin lor tiMni>orar,\- liattciics at tlx' Narrows 1 ( of Pnnct Sound. loO. Second class : 1. Aii^i'l Island San I'rar.iisco Hay ','. [ S Montcny l.'oadstcad. :i. ] ( Santa Cataliiia Island. •I. 1 S llnnilioldr Hay. r>. I ( rniii(|na JJivrr. ti. ( ( San Pedro l!a\ . 7. I j Koiil weather Point Pii^et Son ml s. i Santa Itarliara liarlioi-. ;». 1 l,I5:>.v of Ivstero. 1(1. < C'liyler's llarhoi- San Mi^ml Island 11. [ ( Prisoner's iiarli.r Santa Crnz Island \'2, ( IJarraeks on Aleatras Island San I-'raiiciseo llarhor i:!. ; JSoden;,, r.ay. 14. I Donlde HI nil'. Whidhey's Isi.uiil Pny,-et Sound i.'i. Sail .(ose Po'iit San I'raneiseo llarlior Exti'ttctH ft'otii iu'i>iiit of (t jolnf ci>in)nissiiin ot' ([tHcct'n of the Corp.s af Eniji- neers, l'. S. .1., ((nil oljirers oj' the Nari/, lUited Xovembir 1, 1S.">(). This eoininissioii was constituted I)y the President of the I'nitec States, and receiv«Ml instructions timn the War and Navy Department.' under date of Noxcndier .'><►, ISiS, * • * » • • • It. rti^ict Snnnd and llond's Canal are braiuthes of Admiralty iidet, antl the lat ter joins the Straits of I'lica, which separate «»ui' teriitory IVom N'auconver's Islatid hetween the point of junction ami the (»cean. riie.se waters •,\iv navigable for any draiioht of water throiiyhoiil their whole extent, and contain iniiiieroirs liuc hai'bors well sheltered. 17. 'I'he dc>iunatiiin of sites for fortifications, as re»piired under the lirst head of the joint instructions, will be commenced at I*u;;'et Sound, as bein;,' the inn>t remote part of th«' coa>t (»f Orc^i'oii, and «'<)ntinued soiithwartlly to San l)ie,i:'o. in California. IS. 'I'he " Narrows" at the entrance o\' I'lio'et Sound ar<' less than a mile in width, and a work there wotdd bar the [)assay<' ot h(»stile ves- 02 FORTIFICATIONS UPON PUGET SOrND. .sols and alVoifl st'ciuity to the interior of tlic sound. I f tlic eastern l)ank l)e oeetijiied, it would Ite lavuiahh to the maintenance of t'oniniunieation with New Market ami the ("ohunltia Itiver. Hat tlie oeeupaticui ot'tlif western bank is ])refened, as faeilitatiu;:' coniuiunii-ation and mutual support with a work at the entrance nl' Hood's Canal. 11>. A work at the entiance of Hood's < 'anal, upon a ton.uue ol' land on the southeastern batdi, would tolerably well command the eidraiu-e. which is here about 1.] miles wide, and also theentrani;e to Port (lamide, throujih wlii<'h vessels drawi;iy,' IL' to I,") feet mijiht pass, and anchor within the port beyond th'' reach of an enemy's lire. L'O. I'ort Lawrence, ojn'iun;; into Admiialty Inlet, and Port Townsend into the Straits of Fuca, arese])arated by a narrow, low baid<,ainl miyhr at a moderate expense be made to communicate with each other by means of a canal. The distance across the baidc from .'5 fathoms sound- ings of one of these ports to the sanu' (h'pth in tlu^ other is three-tburths of a mile. A canal of that len^jth and .'5 fathoms deej) woidd atlbrd a jjassa^e lor vessels of the jireatest drau^^ht at hijih water, the rise of the tide beiiiii' li fathoms, ani'. No {juard- locks or masonry to i)rotect the banks would be necessary, as the latter, with a sl()i)e of two to one, and i)aved a foot or two below low water and above hiyh water, includin.u' the intervening space, would be sulUciently protected aj»ainst abrasion from the tide, and also Irom the waves, which could not have much force in a ])osition sowed sheltered. These i)orts. connoctei lilt I (I nil 1 1 ."^ nil ^ in^ l \^ <> t-ii i i fi in.;i-,'> iii t- iiii \ it n i ii^t n ill i ('^ iii \ im , bill tli;- it'sults of tlie smvcvs of both iiiav (b'vclop ;i(lviiiit;ij;('s in lavor ofllif hitlc! (>r«'(|iiiil or jiivatcr valii ', aiid tlic sclfctioii lict wccii tln'iii is tlicrt't'orc (h't' four for tlie rate to w Inch the <^osi may be reduced when the works sliall in- built, the rale of cost at this t ime, jud,i;iii;4' of it l>y the estimates ol Iniiideis and mechanics in this coniitry. lu-iii;; doiil>le t!ie rates assumed ill the estimates, or ei;;ht to one. .">7. The works that would be re(|iiired for I'oit l)is(;i)Very are speci- fied in the estimates, but their cost is omitted, and the cost ot the woik. for I'oits Lawrence and Townsend is included. If I'ort Discov- ery lie itrelerred as the position to l»e defeiide I, the esti'.iates for the other position may l)e applied to it. as it is not intended that both positions shoiilil be defV'inled. -JHl G4 FOlMirifATIONS UruN PUOtT .SOUXD, Ad.iutant-CIenkrai/s Ol-riCK, Wdsliiinjttni, Moij !>, ISSS. 8i u : I Iijive the iioiior to tiansinit Iioiewitli Soiiiite n'.soliitioii of .March 1'7, 18SS,(lin'ctiii, to the Assistant Adjiitant-deneral, IIead(piarters of the Army, New York C'ty ; letter of Sl.i}. (ren. JL W. Halleek to Adjutant (leneral L. D. Townsend, Washi'ifiton, D. C, dated IIea<|uarters Military Divis- ion of tiie I'acific, Sjin Francisco, (Jal., Anjiust !>, 18'l«>; letter of MaJ. Gen, IL W. llalleck, commandinjj Military Division of the Pacific, San Franrisco, Cal., November 2li, 18(57, to the Adjutant-General of the Army, Vviishinyton, D. C. ; letter of F>ri;j:. Gen. A. A. Humphreys, com- mandiiiii C n'ps of lOnj^ineers, Washington, NovenduT L'.'{, 18G7, to Gen- eral r. S. Grant, commandinjj armies of the United States, Secretary of War ail interim. I have the honor to be, sir, verv respectfullv, vour obedient servant, ■ n. C. Dhi'M, , A(iJHtnnt(icn(ral. 11EAD(JUA11TKKS DEPARTMENT OF ()UE(J()N, Fort Vaiivoiirrr, Wash., 'fnii/ 19, 1S5!>. SiK : I have the honor to report, for the iidbrmation of the General- in-(.'hief, ujy return to this place from an ollicial visit to the posts on Pu<;et Sound, made in the L'. S. Steauier Ma-ssacltusetts. • *••••• From the <;reat width of the sound in many i>arts, suitable locations, combiniii}; advantaj^eous sites for batteries, with proper shores for wharfs an«l anclioran Fuget .^oiiiid, retpiiring vnrh day more impt'riously its piopcr defense, • *«««#* I would respectfully «all thr attention of our GovernuuMit to the fact tiiat we have neither a ship of war on Piigt't Sound or near»'r tlian Cali- lornia, nor is there a gun in this department larger tiian a (i pounder. With a .sea(!oast of greater extent than tliatof the Atlantic; from .Maine 8S,S. .Aliircli orts of tinent, shinj,'- copies fouiul valrj-, Town- Frmi- aniev, ily 10, Army, iMieral l)ivi«- f Maj. c, San of tbo <, com- I) Geii- retary ■ivaiit, < ml. Sod. Mieral- st.s oil itions, I's for ore re- estab- ivafti'r I, some or tliis a mile I1i(!ieiit lattery arjxe.st iff tlii^ ar;;eiit le fact nCali- iimler. .Maine I FOUTiFICATlUNS ri'OX IM' upon nie the duty ofurf^iujUf a speedy action tbi- the establi.sliineiit of i»ern>a- nent woi ';s to ])rotect the mouth ol' the Colunihia River and tin' various sections of I'uget ^outmI, In the mean time I feel assured the (ieneral-inChief will use his best etforts to secure for this command at an early day a suitable sup|»ly of heavy ordnance, with the i)roper ammunition, that the means of defense may be available in the event of a ne(!essity demanding it. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Wm. S. IIahnkv, BrigadicrGeneral, CnmmnwUng. The AS.SISTANT ADJUTANT-(iEN'EUAL, Jleadqimrters of the Army, New York City. This report is highly interesting, and I respectfully invite to it the Secretary's attention. W INFIELD Scott. August 29, 18.v.>, IJespectfulI}' submitted to the Secretarv of War. E. J). TOWNSENI), Ansit,tiiitt Adjutant-General. Adjutant-General's Office, A»/f/»f««.'}l, l.s.v.». Ofhcial. .1. C. Kelton, Assistant Adjiitantdeneral. Adjutant-General's Jffice, May 8, 1888. Headquarters Corps of Engineers, }Yashin(jton, Xoremher 2',i, I8ore gnus (two witli center, eight with iVoiit pmtic caniii^es), tor (i«'l'ensi's of eiitranci' to Cohiinbia Uiver. I-'ive iriinch smoo'hbore guns (two with cent«'r and tiiiec wi;li front l)intU' ciiiriiiiies). I'ive liiij^e nlled guns (tw(» with center and three with front pintle cairi;iges) for defenses at San Diego. <'al. The proper impletiients and equipments and 100 rounds of aniinuni- tion foi' eiicli gun to W sent in eacii case. S. Ex. 105 5 ('>{') K(Ji; nilCATIONS ri'OX IM.s foi' rii<;cr SoiiikI to Ik; sent to Slcilacooin, to he sttMctl tlu'i'*' ill cliaryt' of tlu' i'oniiiiiiinliii;,' olliccr of the ;iiurison; those tor tli«' < 'oliiiiibia liivci- to iNtiiit Ailiiiiis, and tliosrt'ur San Die^^o to that liail)or; in each ease to be plaeed in eharj^e of the ollicer eoni- inandin;,' tlie (^anison. Instiiictions eoveiin^j this j.eneral sultjeet liave, from time to lime, been eoinmunieated from this olliee to theenj;in»'er otliecrs on the I'aciitlc eoast ; Imt, in view (»f the sjieeilie eall now made by (icneral Ilalleek, l)artienlar instructions will be sent out at onee to the iJoard of lOnjfi- ne«'rs for that coast to jjrepare projects tor temporary batteries at the places desi;inated for the reception of the ordnance; spccilied abctve, to the end that, if tin; occasion re«iuin's it before llic jirepaiation of pj-r- nianent detcnscs at those i>oints, the temporary works may l)e prepared within the sliortest ])()ssibl(; time. This provision of ordinince and of projects for temporary delenses in advance is in accordance with the views that have been rcj^arded as most suitable lor years past, and it is the method proposed by the late (len- eral ToUen in his report upon a peisonal examination of this coast made in l.sr)«)-'(50. There ai'c now at San I'rancisco twenty l.l-inch {^uns and several large ;illes (i'arrotts); but I do not reccunmend that any of these be removed li'om that place to be approiiriate«l to the uses contenii)lated herein. ''''»y letter of (lencral llalleck is hciewith returned. ^\.i.y respectfully, your obedient servant, A. A. Htm I'll rtKvs, Ijritj. licit, of Engineers, i'ouiinnndinfj. General V. S. (iRANT. Commit lul'nui Armlts vf (lie I'liiled tSliitcs, iSivyctari/ «;/" War lul interim. Onicial. J. C. Ki:i,T(»N, Assistant Af the I'acilic. as an exolbcer of the Jlngineer Corps, and as the lii'st ollicer who ever investigated and reportecl upon the military de- tenses of this coast, to «>tTer to the War Dt'partment the results of my long residence in the country and very careful study on this subject. As stated in my letter of l.")th ultimo, 1 think that Point Detiance shonld be innnediately fortified with temporary works, armed with heavy guns, so as to prevent the jiassage of any hostile man-of-war. 1 think this should be done witlnmt any further delay. KnliTIIMCATlO.VS ITON ITiiHT sol'M). 67 I do not tliiiik that any pciiinuM'nt fortitlcations slionld In* planiu'd or constrncfcd in I'li^ct Sound, or ;iii\ of the i'lianncls l«Mia, and lorlitv [\u^ liarhor of ICs(|ninianlt. This \v(Mihl control the .Straits of I'lic.a and all it.s auxi'iary or ilcpcndcnt watcis. Hut in the mean time our uiililary an transportation of troops and supplies in case of war. Verv res|»eetfnllv, voiir oliedieiit servant. II. W. IlAi.i.r.rK. MaJDrdcmi'iiL (JDumtinilinii. The Ad.HTANTC.KNERAL ^)l• TUV. AUMV, Ivesi)ectfully .siil>niitte(l to (Jeueral (Inint. K. I). Towns KM). Assist (III f Ailjitfi' ntiliurrttl. Ai:».U TAM'-CJknkuat.'s Offick, Perrmhrr IS, 1S( M . The Secretary of \Var desires CnMieral (Irant to ;;ive his ojiinion on the within recommendations, War Dkfartmint, January 2'2, 1.S08. KD. SfllRIVKK, Iiisprrh)r(i''lirrt:AR'J'Ki:s AUMV L'MTI-^U STATES, r. S. (llIANT, (if'nentl. -fauxary L'l, 1808. Appi'ovcd liy the Secretary of \^'ar, -laniiaiy 117, !.S(»8. Olticial Hi). Scilliivi.it, fnsiievtnr-iii'nvra!. J. C. Ki:i.T()N, Assistitiit Ailjntau ^ (tcurral. ADrtTANT-CiliNERAl/S OFFICE, May S, ISSS. IlF.vlXjrAlM I'-US MlLlTAUV DIVISION' Ol" Till', rACIIIC. San Franciscii, CuL, Ainjusf'.^ 180(1, (li:NKUAr, : On my return from an cxtentled tour of inspection in Nevada, Idaho. ()re}j;on, and Washington Territory, I found >oiir letter of .Inly 10, inclosing' (icucial Dclalield's a;i|»Iication ot' Scpicmlier 7, 180,"», for eeitain military reservations in Washiu'^ton Territory. I re- plied hy teleiiiaph, acc(»rdiu;;" to your direction, I hat I saw no ohjcctious tomakiii}^ I lie reservations asked ftu-, althoniih I con.sidered mr.st of them useless. l"erha])s 1 was hasty in sa\ in;;' there wort' no (ilijections to makint; these reservations, it has oeciined lo me that as some ol" those really reciuired aie now owned liy individuals, the fact of thtMi- l)einj4' «lesijiiiatetl 68 FORTIFICATIONS l.'l'ON PIJGET SOUND. by the Pn-sMU'iit ns militiirv icstTN atioiis may imliico tlu^ owucih to aHk I'xoihitiiiit prices lor tlicir laud. I'or example : I am iiilormed that the setth'i' at \\ ilson's I'oiiit, eiitimu'e to A«lmiralty Inh't, lias pei(»'(rte«l his title, and has oti'eied to sell at u low rate; but uow tiudiu^' that it la wanted lor toi titl<-atious he will probably raise his pi'i(;e. iu uiy opiuiou the first aud uiost imptutaut poiut to be tbrtilied is the entiaiiee to Admiralty lidet. I''or this purpose eartheru Itatteries of heavy jiuus, like F(ut Stevens, at tlu', MH)Uth of the Columbia Itiver, Hhould he eousnu(;ted without delay at I'oiut Wilson and Admiralty Head. I'erhaps <'ventually another should be eonstiin-ted on Marrow- Ktone Point. On these three points all the fortitications required for the protection of Admiialty Inlet ean be i-onstinc-tcMl ; and these points ou^iht to he secured and works commenced without furthei- tlelay. Sluadd a !ui\y-yard la* «'stablished in I'uyet SSouiul (which I think is lujnlly ]»robable), some batleiies may be I'eiiuiicil on the Narrows at I'oint Defiance, «'tc. The reservations rccouMuended (ui Deception Passage will probably not be useatteiy here of a few heavy puns lirin;; across and iij) the jjassaye would etlectmdly close it. No vessel can stop or anithor in the passap', and it is at all times hazardous to ])ass tlii(ai^h it, unless under steam aud moving with grt'ut spee«l. Otherwise it woidd bo dashed against the rocks by the whirls aud tremend(uis rush of tide-currents. Possibly, at some future time, it may be uecps.sary to fortify Port Dis- covery. Washin^ftou Harbor, New Dungeness, and Port Anueb's are not worth fortifyin;;-. The ectfulIy r«'feri'ed to (leueral Humphreys, Chief Engineer, L'. S. Army, for remark. K. 1). Townsknd, A usistd n t A ilju tu )t t- GcHcnd. Ai).JiTTANT (1i:.nkual\s Oi'i'iCK, t^t'ptcmln'i- S, 1800. OtHcial. J. C Kklton, AHsistaiit A«r/uhtnt-(jentral. Aij.jutantGknkhai.'s Office, May 8, 1888. s. it i KnlMIMCAl Ions ll-oN lU'CJKT S.HND. t?AN FitANCl.SCc, (."AI... -////// ."», l.S.j.j. Milj. 1^ 1). ToWNSKNii, ANsif(t(i)it A(IJiittinf(lt)ifya}, l\ii[f\r J)rp duly iissi;;ii('(l tlinii hy Ifitcior ilif < "oiiiiniiiMliiii^Cu'iH'nil ;. wc rracliiMl Olyiiipia. tli«' lica'l nf navi- t olihinc. 'I'lic i»(»st is located 1 mile iVoni the villa;;e, in an exccciliiiuly lu'aiitil'id situation, it CMiiiniunicales with the !andin;r by an excellent road, which is ;;ood at all seasons of the \ear. 'I'his place was loiinerly a la nn ot' tlie I'li^ct Sound A;;iiculluial ( 'onipan> , a l)ranch ot the i lud- son Day (.'oiupany. Additions havclicen nia\e this post to a p()sitioii r> miles distant, Uncuu as the " ( lardcns.'' i^e clncl' reason for su«;h <'han;;e is the couvenieliceol I he post gardens. v\ hich can not lie made Ut the harracUs from t lie nature ot the soil. As i he troops Iia\e now a res< r- ^ at ion at the proposed spot and cultivate a ;iardeu there, we do not think there is sulhcii iii reason to justity tiic expen.'»e of removal, the i red ion of n»'W iiiiildin;;s, and the increase of distance from the laniiin;^. more ♦'Specially since ii is prohahle that as the country hec.imes more settU-d the post of Steilacoom will he altandoned altoL;cther and c tai)lishcd either ianher to t he east towaids The Cascade Kan^^e and the Indian triites or I'arthcr muthward upon the sound. rhou;.vh we do not re;.:ai-d it :is u ])i'rmanetit militar.\ position, it is tlioui^ht iha' the post mav he con- tinued with ad\ ant a .^c for the present, at least until the stipulations of the treaties made by (iovenior 8te\eiiK with tic Indians of the Terri- tory are cariied (uif. Some apprcheiisioii appe; i>, to exist lest they may j>rov«' restive and uniul\ u hen retpiiicd to remove to their reservations. Ill any event the etrect of a milit;vry jiost upon the natives of tli'» sound is very jii'cat, and this w ill serve as a sullicient checii. I'or its jirt'seiit purposes, imue particularl.v as to our I iidiaii situations, we are of opinion that no more tliaii one company is necessary. Arran;:emeiits lia\ iny been made b\ the (piai'i'iniaster. Lieutenant Nuitcut fI"oiirtli Infantryj, Ibi' our conveyance tiirou;4h the s.iiini . wclefl Steilacoom thine .J. Kefeirin;:' to the accompanyin;.;- skrieh.ihe red line upon it shows our route. I'uj^et Sound is the yelieial name applied follie ;;reaf bod\ of American waters lyiii;; southeast t.t \ .iiiconv ei's Isj.ind. It in e(»mprised between rlio forty-.sevciith and t'ortyiiiiith parallels of lati' tinU'. Its outlets to the ocean i re li\ the sir.otsof .luiin ile I-'iic.i oil the west, and thidii;;h the ( lulf «>f Stiail.s and liie north t'lid of '.'.tiicoiiver's Island miles ill extent and receivf the waters ol the iiasiii l\iu^: between the cl.aiii ol the Cascade on iiu- ••as| and the (H\mpia ian;:c on tin' west, l-'ortlie numlter, variet.N , and capacity of its liart>or.s it is nn- eipniled. No »f her K iiown arm ol (he sea |ilit may li«' witliiii a lew (cct ol its slioi'cs. Tlic ;;it'at liscaiid fall of the titles, iVoiu 1LM<» L'l' tict, and the snionthncss of the waters afford advantages i'-n- the repairs of \ i-ssels npoii t he beaches. Theconnt ly foruliich it fo>ins the cfniinnuiic.ttioii totlit^sea is I'icii in inexhaiist ili.'e foicsrs of linJu'i', lar^^e beds of coal and otln r mineral iirodn('tioiis, line lands, tcinp -rate clinnite and ;iliinidance of water. Its islands aic reniajUaiilc io! their nnndier. beauty, and res iirces, i is slioies |)re>enl Ibrthcir whole ex- tent SI succession ofdce|t landlocked liarbors, perfeclly acce->iltle. di- \ ided fnuii each of her by peninsni.is. pronionlitries and islands. <>i' thw northuesi lies the i^rt-at island ot \'anc(»n\ «'r, .'!(»(> miles in lcn;.;tli, unfor- tunately a for«'iy;n po-session. A jilance at the accdiiipanyin,^" slcetcth will show the position (»f tin' s(»iind and its channels ol access. One of the most in;iMtrtiin! <»!' these is known as the Narrows, and i> thf only eoinninnication ' t\\eeii tiie upper or southein watersand those towards the north. '' . -. j .issa;;e is a narrow srrait aliont ll! mdes Ion;; ami var.Niii;; \n\\t '..eelourths of a nnle to - le positions for defense, of which i>y far the niosi im- portant is Toini Detiance. 'J'he naniral ad\;Mita;^es of this position are \try ;ireat ; it is susceptilde of beinj;' easily and stronj;l.\ tbrti- lied, and peri'ectly commamlin;;' all approaches to the upper sound; it jndiecis the svateis about Sledaco(nii and (Jlympia and those known as North J>ay and ('arri's Inlet. In the evenr of the establishment of arsenals or ot hci' < ioveiiiment works in tlie '!'( iiitory, the occupation of Point Deliance is of the last importance. We rccotunu'inl that imme- diate steps i»e taken to secure a reservation of at least ;{LM) acies at this I)hic«' for nnlitary purposes. Tlie sooner it is done the better, for obvi- (uis reasons. The waters of the ujjper souml may be approa< hed by a western iidet called Hood's (Jamil, but a poita^^je by land separates this from North Jhiy, and the advam-e of an enemy in that dii'ection mijflit readdy be airestcd. When the icmoval of tlie post at Steilacoom l»e- (•(Hues lU'cessaiy, either 1».\ should occupy I'oint l>ell- am-e. Ihdov the Nairows lies NN'hidbey's Island, a lai'^c autl fertile pieces of laud already taken npaml occupie(l by;.ettlcis thron;^hout nearly its whole extent. This islaml divides the '.(hilf sIkmc. oiiteiopitinji' in insnly an *'asieily di- rection, and havinu a dip to the iiuithwai'd of linty-tive de^-nes. This al has been relciicd to the teiiiary sy>teiii, and, like ail coal «>!' that l)eriod, is interior to that (tf the j;reat eual measures: it is, ho\vr\ ei, ex- <'ellent Ibr doinestie purposes, ;iiid is eiieaply and readil.v pioeiiicil. Several shafts hav e been opened and miners are at pi'esciil at work. No one in dese,ribin>4- tiie sound can tail to mention those two lofty ran;;('s of mnimtains on the east and west, which capped with eternal snow and visible iVom all parts (d' its waleis. lorm one of the most re- iiuirkuble features of the country. .Moiini Olympus, hi^hesi of the east ranuc; Mount IJak cr, .Mount Stewart, Mount St. Ilelcus, altove all Mount liannier of the Cascade chain, present e\--'n to those lamiliar with tiie liiountaiii screiiery «)f Mexico, views of unri\aled beauty and .grandeur. With this des. • is to lie leared litmi them. 'J'hey seem aiixi(uis Ibr friend 1,\ icla- tioitti : I atiiy of them live in the nei^ihborhood of the settler and freely liire their services to him as boatmen and laborers. The elfcci of troops «ui these people is very ^ireat, and a small Ibrce is sniliciciit to kcfp them in check. It is cidelly from the Indians of the north, livin;^' in the Ihiti.-Ii '\\d Itiissian |»ossessioiis, that dan;.it'r to our )>eople is to be a]ipiehentied. J''or the pii!p;!S" ol obtaining;' ndiable kiio'.rled^ic of these Indians, we visited Vancouver.' Island, where we were recei\«'d at \'ictoria, the l»rincipal depot of the Hudscui \\:\\ Company, with ;.;reat kindness by ids excellency (ioveriior J)(»u^ias. The ollicers of the lludsoa Hay (.'ompaiiy readily {jave us all the inlbrmati(»n in t.ieir power. TIm' northern tribes a|tpear to be of a supeiior race in Mitelli;:ence and i'oiiraye. They are numeidiis, brave, and warlike. Ti'tir number in tiie liritish ami IJnssian territory is moder.mdy computed ai Iti.iMiu. They are noted for their wt'alth, in,ii<'nuity, and darin;; na\ i;;alioii. Their skill and woi kiiiaiiship is shown U) advaiita^ic in their caiioe.>, the model of which, nearly identical with (hat of our clippers, i> the admiration of all saihds. These canoes are the liue.««t boats in the world, ami are ot' all si/es, Iroiii the small river canoe to the ^ficat war boat of 8b to KKI leet in len;"tli, hollowed from a sin;;le tree ol the j-'iant forests of the muth. I''or ex(|uisiie linish ami beauty .-f iikmIcI. caiiacity, spe»'d, and wcatherly (pialilies, these lar;^c canoes surpass niiythiiij^ we iiave seen. I'ropelh-d by .")(> to (i(» paddles, provided with lar^^i' arm chests abundantly snpplie fbifiiidalde. They lia\«' been known to capture lar^'e xewiHels; they readily make coast jiij;' \'oya;;'es of from I to 7ot' wliilo we wfic llierr. Two «»f thr'ii were li'oiii SO to 1(KI Irct in l('ii;rlli ami (•allied from .')(> to ly of loaded }jnns. As the remainder of our Journey, «lurin;i whi(^li we weic «'xposed to some severe weather was i)erlorined in «»ne of these lar^e canoes, we can speak from experi- etice of their weutherly qualities. Tiie ^ireat skill displayed in their mana^reiiienr was a constant subject of a4 (b'j;re«vs 40 minutes. Tiiese are all powerful tribes, embracing numerous bands. Some idea may be formeii of thn power of the last named trom a fact of which (lov- ernor J )ou up the sound in small ])arties, and on the main opjiosile iierha]»s as many more. We are iniormed by the (Jovernor that these Indians do not c«»me sout!: for the purpose of trade. They do all their barter with the ui>per tradiiij^' posts. Their object is in fieneial theft. He ai)|>rehemls that they will becay (Company Inm no ))ower to do this. The comjKiny is jK'rhaps able to i)rotect itself, and this only by the exere'ise «)f the utmost vigilance. Its posts are stronjily fortitied stocka«les, with tiank defenses, and are kept constantly lead lo yrave results. Morj* than a year since a. Tonj^ass Indian was killed in the Tenitoiy liy a white man, wlieilier justitialtly oi not we ar«* unable to say. In eonsnpience, a year a^-o I wo iar^ie war <-anoes of the Tonjia.ss tril>e ellin},'liam l»a\ . kiliol two white men. broke into and pliindercd li(»u.4'>, and threw the wiiole «'oast into ;iieat alarm. The dwellings of the sefl lers beiny usually at yreat distaneis apart and their cDinmon means id inte-.'conise heini^f ilinost eiitivelv by w.ih-r, the dillifulties of eoiu-eiiti at ion and delense aie\er\ j^reaf. and with ihe ample means and iiiunliers at command o| tlu' enemy his power to ilo niisclin-r put- portionately increased. It is not too much to say that in event n| an oniiu'eak tlie northern Indians are able to exterminate every whiti- man dwellinfiim ihe wateis ot i'nj;vt .Sound. It is evident that any force stiiti<»iied in this > o 'nir> r ^»^ FORTIFICATIONS UPON FUGET SOUND. 73 for its protection, unless provided with iiuiplo iuul upjiropriate nieinis of transportiition, will be able sini[>ly to i)ii)teet itself, nothing more ; indei'il, nnirder may be committed in si^^ht witlioutthe power to i)reveiit or to punish. To render tllectual any ellbrts for the security of the set- tlers the troops must have steam transportation. Tliis condition is in- dispensable and can not be toostrony;ly urged. The nature of the sound itself, its extent, islands more or less inhabiteil, its shores of i)eninsu- liir and deep imlentations render hind communication out of the ques- tion. The enemy invariably attack by sea. Nor is it sullicient that the trooi)a should be provided with row-boats and sail-vessels of whatever speed. The large war canoes of the north propelled by fifty i)addles can bo caught by no such means. Even could our whale-boats succeed in overtaking them, it is plain that their crews must be in great force to have anything like equality in fight. Sails are out of the qnestioa against boats which are independent on the wiml. It is matter of rec- ord lluiL the English have twice sent sloops of-war against these Indians, and they have returned effecting absolutely nothing, leaving the enemy emboldened and dehaut. Steam is the only sure means, and this can be rendered elfectual. A small and swift steamer, well provided with boats and boat howitzers, would enable a single garrison to sullice for the com- l»lete protection of the whole sound by reason of the ease with which troops could be moved in a few hours to any part of its waters. Theie is no part to which she could not penetrate, and once on the track of the canoes there is no escape for them. The Indians are well aware of this, and while they laugh at sails, have a wholesome fear of asteamboiir. Tliu presence of one well armed and api)ointed would do more to hold tliem in awe than a thousatid nu'ii. A saving in numbers and conse- (luent expenses would ensue. Fuel is abundant and cheai). The ves- sel might, in addition, transport all the supplies for the sound from San l''ianeis«;o, which would save a heavy item of expenditure. While the adoiition of this measure is beli<>ved t<» be economical, we are well con- viiiced of its necessity and efliciency. The position to be oceui)ied by iIh' {;nrrison should boon liellinghauj Bay, at any ])oint suitable for the wants of a post. The chief reason for this selection is that there are our nu)st northerly settlements, anil the enemy in a hostile raid would have the post and steamer in his rear to cut oil" his retreat. IJapid in- lelligence of the movements of the iioithcrn Indians may always be de- pendeil on. This is obtaini'd from' the natives of tlii' sound, who hold the natives of the north in great dreati, and invariably on their appear- ance in force either retreat to the m< ntains or seek the prott«tioii of tlie whites. Supplies for this part of the country should be sent directly by water. The eommunieation between the sound and ('ohnnbia l.'iver is by ilif- lieult canoe travel on tlu' Cowlitz Kiver for JO mih'>, thence (jverland hy a road which in wet weatht r is almost impassable. Trocjps also destined for posts on the sound should take passage dirtt tly in prefrr- (Mice to coming by the river. imi)ressed by the im|ioi lance of the sub- ject, we have ilwelt at some length upon th*; Indians ol the North, the iielpless eomlition of our settlers, and the nianile.est position l)(!lonj:inj;' to us to secure our comtuand of this front iei'. The width of the Straits; of I'^uca (some 2.1 miles) and llu' «'\lent of the sound inns*, of course render the Navy the chief nu-ans oi" del'cnse; VmU. it must be acknowledi^ed that, altliou;;h tin' «i('<'upa!ion of tlu-se noiiits by land and sea i'orces would obli^ic an enemy to a .mciiler dis- play of force on this coast lli:iii wouhl otherwise be required to bJocUade or atlack < 'idirorniii, no system of defense e:in be eoiiiplete wiilioiit the possession ol N'anconvcr. So liui;;' as this ri'uiains wiili the f-n^lisli it n»ay be made the means oi' paraly/in;; our wlude we.^teiu c( ast. It has a iertile soil, a temperate climate, imnienso resources in timber, coal, and water, and line harbors, '^riie Aj^ricnllural Company has b(\i;iin its eoloni/.ation ; beef and mutton aie readily obtain«'d, as well as bread- stull's. 'I'liese considcriiliims make it important that it shonld pass into our hands. The settlers appear di'sirons that it should, it belongs, however, to the llmlson IJiiy Company, ami as yei lCn;:land seems to have taken no steps eilhei- for its assisiamu-, defense, c.olitiii/.ation or ;>()veniment. It is true that the o(.-cupation of I'oint Detiiince and the aiil «)f a naval force mi^ht prevent vir ;;re;illy retard the adv ,ince into a ;d occnpiition of the teriitorv , but oti II le part u\' [Uv enem.v tins vv<»ii! NN'est, from ils iiainral characteristics, and we ma.v hope fli:ii at no distant d;iy its innneiise resources may be so developed as to warrant llie name in all senses. In the mi'antime our northwestern frontier, from its ]>eculiar impoitam-e and isolated conle sn;^^iS- tions. lie is a •^i-nthnntn well l.nown for Ins exact information and yreat researches inlo the lanj^iia^e, habits, and character of the Imliaiis, alid for his extensive explorations of the country. \\ c al.so aeivnowled;;i' the dislin;;nislied eivdily with which vvi; were welcomed by his excellency (Jovei nor Dt.u^his ami ilie ollicers of tho f FORTIFICATIONS UPON PUGET SOUND. 75 Hudson Bay (/ompany, nixl tlio loadiiicss with wliicli tlioy snppliod lis with assistaaciiaiid iiirunnatioii. t)ii t)nr rc'tmn to l''ort VaimonviM', with but liiiiiti'd time, at our dispo- Hal, wo (ionsidt'icd our joint diilii's as having: liccn coiiiphMi'd, Lieut- ant Whitiii;; riviiaiiiiiiff at this post iiiilil the (k'pajtiire ol th(> steamer, while Captain Stonemaii proeeeded to The Dalles to cany out further instructions of the coniuiaiMlin^; general. Wo returned to this city ou thoL'Sth ultimo. Gko. Stonf.man, Captain Scconil Cavalry. \\. n. 0. wiiiTiNfi, F\r»t Lieutenant, Corps JJnyinccrs. A true copy. E. J). TOWNSKND, Assistant Adjutant-General. Headquarters of the Army, Scptiinber 11, 1S05. "Respectfully forwarded. JJy command of Hvt. LicutonantGeneral Scott, Irwin McDowell, A.A.G. Respectfully submitted to the Secretary of War. S. Coopini, Adjutant Ccncral Adjutant-General's Offk-'e, i-lj^r/no, lS5j. Ofllcial. .I.e. K ELTON, Assistant Adjutant Ocncrah Adjutant-General's Office, May 8, 1888.