Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 37.djvu/21

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Work of the Ordnance Bureau.
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921,441 Rounds of field, siege and sea-coast ammunition.

1,456,190 Friction primers.

1,110,966 Fuzes.

17,423 Port-fires.

3,985 Rockets.

323,231 Infantry arms (chiefly arms from battle fields repaired).

34,067 Cavalry arms (chiefly arms from battle fields repaired).

44,877 Swords and sabres (chiefly arms from battle fields repaired).

375,510 Sets of infantry and cavalry accoutrements.

180,181 Knapsacks.

328,977 Canteens and straps.

72,413,854 Small-arm cartridges.

,115,087 Gun and carbine slings.

146,901,250 Percussion caps.

69,418 Cavalry saddles.

85,139 Cavalry bridles.

75,611 Cavalry halters.

35,464 Saddle blankets.

59,624 Pairs spurs.

42,285 Horse brushes.

56,903 Curry combs.

Beside the immediate work of the Ordnance Bureau, it had to undertake a great number of most onerous outside tasks rendered necessary by the disorganized condition of society. While indispensable help was obtained from the railroads, they had in turn to be helped, and largely, in making repairs to their rolling stock and tracks. In fact, a silent partnership grew up, and materials and labor had to be used almost in common for a common end. It is easy to see how vitally necessary it was that the railroads should be kept going; but few people now seem to be aware how nearly exhausted at the close of the war the railroad system of the South had become. Almost every yard of siding that could be spared had 'been taken up to patch the main lines, less important roads had been despoiled to help out the greater ones, fractional parts of wrecked loco-