The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1860-01-11
Aiming the State.

AEMInS the state.
In the Senate on Saturday,
MIR. August presented the following re-
port, and it was laid on the table aud order
ed to be printed
The undersigned, under the instructions
of the Joint Committee on Military Affairs
of the Senate and House of Delegates, have
had under consideration the following reso-
luton of the committee
"Resolved, That Col. F. H. Smith, Major
W. Gillian, Captain G. Dimmock, Col. A.
M. Barbour and Major A. NJ. Ball, be re-
quested to make an estimate of the cost pro-
viding the most approved arms and equip
ments for corps of five, ten or fifteen thou
sand men; consisting OF proper proportions
of Artillery, Cavalry and Infantry. They
are also requested to make an estimate OF the
cost of said arms if purchased, and the cost if
manu- featured in the State, and report the
cost of altering the arms now owned by the
State, with the view of rendering them
more efficient"
And have the honor 20 submit the follow
ing report
l. A corps of five thousand,men, organized
into five regiments of II companies each,
might be constituted as follows:
Thirty companies of Infantry, twenty
companies OF Riilemen, five companies OF
Cavalry, five Batteries of Artillery of six
pieces each.
so Companies of Infantry, armed
with Minnie muskets, 2 400 mus
kets at Sl3 Csc. S32,7GO
20 Companies of Rifemen, armed
with Minnie Rifles, 1900 rifles at
SIG Csc. 26,6ss
r &c
with revolver pistols, 400 at $2l, S,400
And 400 Cavalry sabres at S., 1000
5 Batteries of Artillery, would re-
quire Is gun carriages and Gals
sons complete to mount Is field
pieces, now owned by the State,
at $500 each, 1900
IS Navy Howitzers at $500, 5000
1900 cartridge boxes, pouches and
belts, at So, 1900
400 pistol belts, at $l.25c. 500
400 Artillery sabres, at SIS, 1000
at $2l, $500
400 Dragon sandles, &C., at $35, $4,000
zoe Siby tents, at $3S, 1900
Ammunition, $4,000
Total Sl48, 342
2. For corps of 10000, or for one of
$1,000 men less Artillery would be required,
and more Infantry and Riaemen, but the
proportionate cost for purchasing the arms,
&C., would be about the same, viz: $l49,-
342 for every 5000 men. The above prices
are fixed at the government charge for the
Minnie musket and Minnie rife, but it is
doubted whether these arms can be purch-
ased at this price. 1t is recommended that
proper Commission be appointed by the
proper authority to decide what arms should
be purchased, should it be decided to pur-
chase any.
2. With the view of giving more satistac-
tory information with reference to the cost
OF manufacturing the Minnie musket sand
rife ia the State, the undersigned have
made a careful examination OF the Armory,
and the accompanying report of Colonel
Barbour is given as the result of that eX-
animation. The comparative cost Of ma
in favor of making them; being in the pro-
portion of $40 to $13 Csc. when 10000 or
more are annually made.
4. The cost of altering the Virginia or
Harper's Ferry flint lock musket to percus-
sion locks and threading is estimated not to
exceed $l.50 each.
All OF which is respectfully submitted,
FRANCIS II. SMITH,
WILLIAM GILLIAN,
CHARLES DMMocE,
A. NJ. BALL,
ALFRED NJ BARBOUR
December 20, 1859.
This document was accompanied by re-
port from Alfred NJ. Barbour and A. NJ.
Ball, addressed to Col. Smith, Chairman of
the Committee, by whom the above report
was drawnu up.