[Third indorsement.]

ENGINEER DEPARTMENT,

June 11, 1864.

Respectfully referred to the Chief of Ordnance.

Captain Palfrey is now engaged in arrangements for repairing Fort Pickens. He is about arranging the works for an armament of the existing model of the Ordnance Department and will introduce the guns recommended by Admiral Farragut as soon as the nature of the case permits.

RICHARD DELAFIELD.

Brigadier-General and Chief of Engineers.

[Fourth indorsement.]

ORDNANCE OFFICE,

June 14, 1864.

Respectfully returned to Major-General Halleck, Chief of Staff.

I approve of the recommendation of Admiral Farragut, believing that guns of heavier caliber than are now mounted are wanted for the fortifications of pensacola Harbor. The four 15-inch guns will be supplied by this Department, and with implements, carriages, and ammunition, whenever the arrangements for mounting them are completed and a requisition for them is made to this office.

GEO. D. RAMSAY,

Brigadier-General, Ordnance.

[Inclosure Numbers 167.]

FLAG-SHIP HARTFORD, WEST GULF BLOCKADING SQUADRON,

Off Pensacola, May 9, 1864.

Honorable GIDEON WELLES,

Secretary of the Navy, Washington:

SIR: I would most respectfully suggest that an application be made to the War Department to have two 15-inch guns placed on the Old Spanish Battery at Barrancas and two in an earth-work on the beach, on the western front of Fort Pickens, as I think they would be sufficient to render this port safe against the entrance of almost any enemy.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

D. G. FARRAGUT,

Rear-Admiral, Commanding West Gulf Blockading Squadron.

HDQRS. NORTHERN DISTRICT, DEPT. OF THE SOUTH,
Folly Island, S. C., May 31, 1864.

Colonel L. VON GILSA,

Commanding, Folly Island:

COLONEL: The general commanding directs that you send out a party of 100 men, duly officered, onto Kiawah Island, to be out two nights and two days, and thoroughly to scour the island. They will start either to-night or to-morrow night, crossing to Kiawah Island after dark, and proceeding as far as Vanderhost's farm. The next day they will lie quietly near the farm without showing them-