Capt. GEORGE MINOR, Chief of Ordnance and Hydrography:
The Armstrong gun, if mounted on a field carriage, with its supply of projectiles, will be of immense importance to us. Can we not have it in the morning. The smaller guns (Parrott) I think we have enough of at present. I am very anxious to have a railroad battery. I wrote to Colonel Gorgas on the subject this morning and asked him to get you and Brooke to aid me. Till something better could be accomplished I proposed a Dahlgren or Columbiad, on a ships carriage, on a railroad flat, with one of your navy iron aprons adjusted to it to protect gun and men. If I could get it in position by daylight tomorrow I could astonish our neighbors. The enemy cannot get up his heavy guns except by railroad. We must bjock his progress.
Very respectfully and truly,
R. E. LEE, General.
OFFICE OF ORDNANCE AND HYDROGRAFHY, Richmond, Va., June 24, 1862.
General R. E. LEE, Comdg., &c., Hdqrs. near Richmond, Va.:
GENERAL: The railroad-iron plated battery designed by Lieut. John M. Brooke, C. S. Navy, has been completed. The gun, a rifled and banded 32-pounder of 57 cwt., has bee mounted and equipped by Lient. R. D. Minor, C. S. Navy, and with 200 rounds of ammunition, including 15-inch solid bolt shot, is now ready to be transferred to the Army.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
GEORGE MINOR, Commander, in charge.