| Hd. Qrs. Dept. S. C. & Ga |
| Charleston S. C. Oct 3rd 1862 |
| |
| General Samuel Cooper |
| Adjutant & Inspector General C. S. A. |
| Richmond, Va. |
| |
| General, |
| I have to submit, for the
information of the War Department, the following report of my inspection
of the works for the defence of the position of Charleston: |
| ***** The boom is composed of
railroad iron, strongly linked together with heavy iron links and bands,
protected an buoyed by spars of timber, of the same length with the bars
of iron, and banded closely together with iron. The bars are suspended
four feet under water, and the whole structure is anchored every sixth
section with an anchor. About one fourth of this boom is laid. I am
informed that it has been tested by running against it a heavily loaded
vessel, towed by a steamboat; this test it resisted, parting the tow
line, a ten-inch hawser. It was also proposed to lay another line about
one hundred yards in rear of the one under construction, if sufficient
time is allowed, and enough chains and anchors can be procured. In
addition, a rope obstruction has been prepared, to place in advance of
the wooden and iron boom, for the purpose of entangling the enemy's
propellers, while under fire of our heavy guns, in the adjacent forts
and batteries. |
| It is proper for me to notice
that since my inspection, the plan of the boom was found to be
defective, in at least one particular: the great length of it made it
unable to bear the pressure of the tide, and the boom parted in several
places. This, it is hoped by the projector, may be remedied by breaking
the continuous character of the barrier, and laying it by sections, and
on that plan it is now being carried on. Further modifications will
probably be made, in which connection see to much of the paper herewith
marked "A" as relates to this boom. ***** |
| I have the honor to be, General, |
| Your Obdt Servt |
| G. T. Beauregard |
| Genl. Comdg |
|