and canister ammunition. A guard-boat would be required at all times when the bay is free of ice.

The prevelance of stormy weather at this season of the year along the lake shore would greatly retard the work, and I doubt if the necessary buildings could be erected before the 1st of January. Though I propose the heat the rooms with stoves yet brick chimneys would be required for them, and brick furnaces or fireplaces would be needed in the kitchen.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. HOFFMAN,

Lieutenant Colonel Eighth Infantry, Commissary-General of Prisoners.

[First indorsement.]

QUARTERMASTER-GENERAL'S OFFICE, October 23, 1861.

Respectfully referred to the Secretary of war. It is recommended that Johnson's Island, Sandusky Bay, be rented and buildings for the accomodation of 1,000 prisoners be erected immediately, and that First Lieutenant E. W. H. Read, Eighth Infantry, now on parole, be detained as acting assistant quartermaster and commissary of subsistence for the depot.

M. C. MEIGS,

Quartermaster-General.

[Second indorsement.]

ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, October 26, 1861.

Respectfully returned to the Quartermaster-General with information that the Secretary of War approves of the recommendations in the within report and directs him to take such measures as may be necessary for having them carried into execution.

L. THOMAS,

Adjutant-General.

[Third indorsement.]

Respectfully returned to the Adjutant-General with request to order Lieutenant Read, Eighth Infantry, to report to Colonel Hoffman as acting assistant quartermaster and commissary of the depot. Colonel Hoffman is now in New York.

M. C. MEIGS,

Quartermaster-General.

[Inclosure.]

Estimate for depot buildings at Johnson's Island, Sandusky Bay.

Quarteras for eight officers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,800

5 cooking stoves for officers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150

4 two story buildings, to quarter 1,000 men (1,080 men), at $1,400 apiece, each building to accomodate 270 men with sleeping and mess room. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,600

12 cooking stoves, at $50. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 600

36 common stoves, at $12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 432

Hospital. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,100

1 cooking stove. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

6 common stoves. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72