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John B. Floyd and the guns...

For a complete report of arms distributed by Secretary Floyd from December 1859 goto...

http://cdl.library.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/moa/pageviewer?frames=1&coll=moa&view=50&root=%2Fmoa%2Fwaro%2Fwaro0122%2F&tif=00333.TIF&cite=http%3A%2F%2Fcdl.library.cornell.edu%2Fcgi-bin%2Fmoa%2Fmoa-cgi%3Fnotisid%3DANU4519-0122

Note:

it will be seen that after the transfer the six seceding States—South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas had 97,750 muskets and 10,594 rifles- the other slave States, 154,127 muskets and 11,096 rifles; the free States, 309,523 muskets and 27,172 rifles. The six States before mentioned had therefore between one-fifth and one-sixth of all the muskets and between one-fourth and one-fifth of all the rifles in the country.
Very respectfully,
JAS. W. RIPLEY,
Brevet Brigadier- General

For a complete report of arms distributed by Secretary Floyd from January 1860 to January 1861 (pages 27-29) goto..

http://cdl.library.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/moa/pageviewer?root=%2Fmoa%2Fwaro%2Fwaro0122%2F&tif=00039.TIF&cite=http%3A%2F%2Fcdl.library.cornell.edu%2Fcgi-bin%2Fmoa%2Fmoa-cgi%3Fnotisid%3DANU4519-0122&coll=moa&frames=1&view=50

Floyds orders below are for federal arms to be shipped to federal installations. In the case of the fort (Fort Massachusetts) on Ship Island I can witness that it was nearly completed in late 1860 and never did recieve its compliment of cannon. One large order of 115,000 arms was sent South in January of 1860 in response to John Brown's raid in October of 1859.

ORDNANCE OFFICE, WAR DEPARTMENT,
Washington, D. C., January 18, 1661.
Hon. JOSEPH HOLT,
Secretary of War:

Sir: In answer to a resolution of the House of Representatives of the 9th instant, as to “whether any of the arms of the United States at any of the arsenals or armories have recently been removed or ordered to be removed, and, if so, by whose orders, and for what reasons,” I have to state that there have been no removals of arms since the 115,000 muskets and rifles which were ordered in January, 1860*, from the armory at Springfield, Mass., and the arsenals at Watertown, Mass., and Watervliet, N. Y., to be deposited in the arsenals in North and South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Louisiana (other than to meet the regular requisitions of the Army, the requisitions of the States for their yearly quotas, and such as have been sold), except the pieces of heavy ordnance ordered on the 22nd ultimo from the Allegheny Arsenal, near Pittsburg, Pa., viz, twenty-one 10-inch and twenty-one 8-inch columbiads and four 32-pounder guns, ordered to Ship Island, Miss., for a fort in course of construction there, and twenty-three 10-inch and forty-eight 8-inch columbiads and seven 32-pounder guns, to Galveston Harbor, Tex., for a fort to be erected at that place, but the removal of which columbiads
and guns was stopped by your order.

The removal of the muskets and rifles and the intended removal of the columbiads and guns, as well as the sale of the arms, was in obedience to orders from the Hon. John B. Floyd, late Secretary of War.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. K. CRAIG,
Colonel of Ordnance.

By command of Lieutenant-General Scott: B.D. TOWNSEND, Assistant Adjutant- General.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Washington, October 28 1861.

Hon. JOHN F. POTTER,
Chairman investigating Committee, Washington, D. C.:

SIR: Your communication of the 7th instant, asking for copies of certain orders in reference to the shipment of cannon from Pittsburg to Galveston and Ship Island, was received and referred to the Bureau
of Ordnance. I have the honor to transmit herewith copies of orders for supplies, Nos. 666 and 667; also a copy of a letter from Captain Maynadier, dated December 21, 1860, addressed to the lion. John B. Floyd, Secretary of War; also a copy of a letter from Major Symington, of the Allegheny Arsenal, addressed to Captain Maynadier, under date of December 28, 1860. These copies include all the papers called for in your communication. In reference to telegraphic dispatches, you are respectfully informed that the records of this office show no dispatches between December 20 and 30 (inclusive), 1860, to Major Symington or other person in Pittsburg or at the Allegheny Arsenal.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully,
SIMON CAMERON,
Secretary of War.

Order for supplies, No. 666

ORDNANCE OFFICE, WAR Department,
Washington, D. C., December 22, 1860.
Maj. J. SYMINGTON,
Allegheny Arsenal:

SIR: You are hereby required to issue to Lieut. F. E. Prime, Corps of Engineers, at the fort on Ship Island, Miss., the following ordnance stores, viz: Twenty-one 10-inch columbiads; twenty-one 8-inch columbiads, and four 32-pounder guns. Lieutenant Prime’s post-office address is Biloxi, Miss.
W. MAYNADEIR,
Captain of Ordnance.

Order for supplies, No. 667.

ORDNANCE OFFICE, WAR DEPARTMENT,
Washington, D. C., December 22, 1860.
Maj. J. SYMINGTON, Allegheny Arsenal:

SIR: You are hereby required to issue to Lient. W. II. Stevens, at the fort in Galveston Harbor, Tex., the following ordnance stores, viz: Twenty-three 10-inch columbiads, forty-eight 8-inch columbiads, and seven 32-pounder guns.
W.MAYDADEIR,
Captain of Ordnance.

ORDNANCE OFFICE,
Washington, December 21, 1860.
Hon. JOHN B. FLOYD, Secretary of War:

SIR: I have the honor to report that in compliance with your Directions I have ordered forty-two columbiads and four 32-pounder guns to be sent to the fort on Ship Island; also seventy coluinbiads and seven 32-pounder guns to the fort in Galveston Harbor. These cannons have been ordered from the arsenal near Pittsburg, and directed to be consigned to the engineer officer in charge of the respective forts, viz: Those for Ship Island to Lieut. F. E. Prime, and those to Galveston to Lieut. W. H. Stevens, of which these officers have been advised. These pieces of ordnance belong to the regular armament of the respective forts.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
WM. MAYDADIER,
Captain of Ordnance.

[Enclosure No. 4.]

ALLEGHENY ARSENAL, December 28, 1860.
Capt. WILLIAM MAYNADIER,
In charge of Ordnance Bureau:

SIR: I have respectfully to report that the contractors for the transportation of the heavy guns destined for Galveston Harbor, Tex., per order for supplies No. 667, commenced hauling them to-day from the arsenal to the steamer Silver Wave, lying at time Pittsburg landing, and that another steamer is engaged to transport the guns, per order No. 666, for Ship Island, Biloxi, Miss., but for want of a sufficient number of suitable wagons the loading of this steamer cannot be entered upon until the Silver Wave has had her freight all on board. The order for Ship Island required twenty-one 8-inch columbiads, but there being one gun less of this caliber than the order called for, only twenty 8-inch will be forwarded. The newpattern 8-inch columbiads have not yet been brought down from the proving ground.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JOHN SYMINGTON,
Major of Ordnance.

---------------------------
* In response to John Brown's Raid in Oct. 1859 the following was done.

WAR DEPARTMENT, December 29, 1859.

The Colonel of Ordnance will give the requisite orders for supplying the arsenals at Fayetteville, N. C.; Charleston, S. C.; Augusta, Ga.; Mount Vernon, Ala., and Baton Rouge, La., with the following arms, in addition to those on hand at those arsenals, viz: 65,000 percussion muskets (caliber .69) and 40,000 altered to percussion (caliber .69) from Springfield Armory; also 6,000 percussion rifles (caliber .54) from Watertown Arsenal and 4,000 percussion rifles (caliber .54) from Watervliet Arsenal. These orders will be given from time to time as may be most suitable for economy and convenience of transportation. The distribution to the five first-named arsenals will be in proportion to their
respective means of proper storage.

JOHN B. FLOYD,
Secretary of War.

______________________
David Upton

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Herters was great! *NM*