To the Senate and House of Representatives.
I herewith transmit a report of the Secretary of War, supplementary to a report heretofore submitted by him, and referred to in that document.
Richmond, Va., March 20, 1862.
To the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Herewith I submit a letter from the Secretary of the Navy, with an estimate for an appropriation to enable him to purchase or construct ironclad vessels.
Though it is certainly doubtful whether a change in the present condition of affairs in Europe will occur which would render it practicable to effect the object in the manner proposed, it may be proper to put the Department in a position which will enable it to take advantage of any opportunity which may be presented for the rapid increase of that class of vessels which are believed to be the best suited to coast and harbor defense.
I recommend, therefore, that the appropriation asked for be granted.
To the House of Representatives, Confederate States of America.
In reply to the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 24th ultimo, requesting the President to furnish certain information in reference to the James River defenses and the defenses of the city of Richmond, with his own opinion thereon, and to cause a survey to be made of the Chickahominy and its branches, with reference to its being occupied as a defensive line, I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of War, submitting a report of Capt. Alfred L. Rives, in charge of the Engineer Bureau, on the subjects referred to, so far as the information obtained will admit.
The report of Captain Rives states the facts in regard to the state of the defenses of the James River and the city of Richmond; and in the views presented by him I generally concur. It may be
