PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 885/5
5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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MEMORANDA by Lieut.-Col. InwIN, Inspector of Artillery, on the present general condition of the actual Defensive Works in the Dominion of Canada, March 1887.
These works may be briefly summarised as follows, according to locality, viz. :—
Maritime Provinces-
Halifax, N.S.
St. John, N.B.
Province of Quebec-
Quebec and Lévis.
Isle aux Noix.
Province of Ontario—
Kingston.
Toronto.
Province of British Columbia-
Victoria and Esquinault.
PRESENT CONDITION, ARMAMENT, &c. OF ABOVE WORKS.
Halifax.
The defences at this station are under Imperial control, and do not come within the scope of this memorandum.
The defences are as follows, viz. :—
St. John, N.B.
Partridge Island.-Situated in the entrance to the harbour, and commanding all approaches thereto. On the highest part of the island is an old enclosed fort with a ruinous earthen parapet. The fort contains the following armament:-
2 68-pr. S.B. guns.
2 8-in. S.B. guns..
1 32-pr. S.B.
gun.
1 24-pr. S.B. gun.
The carriages and D.T. platforms on which these are mounted are quite unserviceable from decay, and the fort itself having no traverses, magazine accommodation, or cover is quite useless.
Fort Dufferin.-A more modern work than the above, consisting of an elevated Gun Battery with traverses and magazines, and the following armament:-
5-pr. R.M.L. guns.
2 32-pr. S.B. guns.
This work commands the entrances to the harbour on either side of Partridge Island, and if armed with heavier ordnance, mounted on modern principles, would be an important defensive position. It requires, however, very considerable modifications and additions to render it serviceable.
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Red Head Battery.—On the north side of the harbour is an unfinished Gun Battery with emplacements for six guns, and only contains at present four light 32-pounder S.B. guns on unserviceable carriages and platforms.
The above are the only defensive works now existing for the protection of this harbour.
PROVINCE OF Quebec.
Quebec Citadel.-This fortress remains in substantially the same condition as when handed over by the Imperial Government in 1871.
The ramparts over the casemates on the two northern bastions have been roofed in for the better protection of the masonry; water has been laid on, and ordinary repairs from time to time effected.
The armament remains in the same condition, the only additions thereto being
one
and one.
7-in.
68-pr.
8-in.
converted R.M.L. guns, with a supply of ammunition, presented 68-pr. to the Canadian Government by the late Sir William Palliser.
For complete list of armament of this and other works, vide return (D) published for Canadian parliament 31st December 1885. Copy herewith.
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Town lines, land and river fronts.-These fortifications consist of bastioned fronts extending from the citadel round the old town to the cliff over the river. The outworks on the land side have been very nearly all levelled to make room for modern improve- ments, buildings, &c., so that these defences cannot be said to possess any value except against an infantry attack. The scarp wall is about 30 feet, built of masonry with a full revetment. The guns have been nearly all dismounted and removed, and along the northern side of the lines, where the latter overhang the cliff, the parapet has been uniformly lowered to a height of about three feet.
The armament on the river front consists mainly of 32-pr. S.B. guns on iron carriages and platforms, with four pr. rifled guns, similarly mounted.
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The defences on the river front have with the above exceptions been destroyed by the construction of a terrace over them, and extending to the foot of the citadel glacis.
Point Lévis, Forts 1, 2, and 3.—These forts were completed by the Imperial Govern- ment in 1871, and handed over to the Canadian Government in that year, without any armament.
Their general trace and profile is the same, consisting of an enclosed fort with three faces surrounded by a deep ditch, the latter is defended by caponnières adapted for both artillery and musketry. The gorge of all these forts is only protected by a low parapet and wall in addition to the main ditch which is crossed by a drawbridge. No 1 fort is built of cut stone, the others of brick work, and each contain casemated accommoda- tion for the garrison.
Since these forts were taken over by the Canadian Government, one 7-in. B.L. rifled gun has been placed in each, and in No. 1 fort the gun has been mounted on the N.E. angle, commanding the river at long range. Five 32-pr. carronades have also been placed in the caponnières of each fort.
The forts are all in fair condition, and the ramparts over the casemates have been roofed in during the last few years.
No. 3 fort has for several years past been used as a cattle quarantine.
None of these forts have ever been occupied by troops since their construction. Fort on Isle Aux Noix.-This fort consists of an enclosed work on an island in the River Richelieu, and only a few miles from the United States boundary. Its armament was removed to Montreal in 1871, and it has been since unoccupied except by a caretaker.
Its defences consist mainly in a wet ditch and palisading, and it contains two stone barrack buildings. It is understood to be at present in a ruinous condition.
PROVINCE OF Ontario.
Kingston.
Fort Henry. This fort remains in much the same condition as when handed over by the Imperial authorities, with the exception that, owing to the destruction caused by damp, the armament was removed from the ramparts and the latter were covered with block pavement. Stone racers were placed in position, but with the exception of one 7-inch B.L. rifled gun and two 24 pounder S.B. guns the armament has not been replaced, the carriages and platforms being all unserviceable.
The advanced battery, an out-work of Fort Henry, on the south-west or lake point, is used as general magazine stores. Its armament of S.B. guns is quite unserviceable, the carriages and platforms being decayed.
Fort Frederick. With the exception of one 7-inch B.L. rifled gun having been mounted on the salient of this work, no addition has been made to its armament of light S.B. guns.
The parapets and embrasures, earthen, are much decayed and ruinous in some places.
The Martello Towers, on Cedar Island, Fort Frederick, Shoal and Murney Point, are in good condition, and their armament of 32-pounder S.B. guns is in good order.
Toronto.
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Old Fort.-This fort can scarcely be said to possess any defensive value. Its situation commands the eastern entrance to the harbour, but it is in quite a ruinous condition, and with the exception of an exposed masonry magazine, possesses no interior accomino- dation of any value.
Its armament of seven 8-inch S.B. guns is unserviceable, the gun-carriages being decayed.
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