This amount can be probably increased by ten or twelve thousand by a vigorous system of collecting the arms scattered about through the country.

Importations--We have hitherto had no difficulty in importing arms though the blockaded seaports. The total importations for the year have been--

• Rifles ........................................................................39,798
• Pistols.........................................................................1,716
• Carbines.......................................................................4,740

There is machinery enough under the control of the Bureau to manufacture 55,000 rifles and carbines per annum, provided a sufficient mechanical force be employed, as follows:

Richmond Amory -- 25000 rifles, with 450 workmen Fayetteville Amory -- 10,000 rifles, with 250 workmen Columbia, S. C. Armory -- 4,000 rifles, with 125 workmen Athens, Ga. Armory -- 10,000 rifles, with 250 workmen Tallahassee, Ala. Armory -- 6,000 carbines, with 150 men

The proviso is the workmen, and these must be permanently attached to those establishments and excused from the performance of all military duty, except, perhaps, local guard duty. The number actually employed is about 425, about 300 less than were employed say twelve months since. Defection from service in the local forces and losses on the battle-field have thus greatly reduced our fource of workmen. By General Order No. 82, over 700 men were placed in the ranks. Of these, perhaps, on-half were competent mechanics, many of them valuable for the service of the armories. The product could not at once be raised to the maximum figures above indicated, but could with the 800 additional workmen be so raised, allowing for the time it would take to teach and organize them.

For our cavalry arms we have chiefly to rely on importations, although pistols are being made at several points with success. Want of workmen alone prevents additional results.

Sabres can be produced in sufficient numbers and of pretty good quality by the detail of a very few workmen in the field.

2d. As to powder--

The manufacturing capacity at the disposal of the Bureau is ample for al purposes, viz:

• Augusta Mills ............................................................... 5,000 lbs. per day
• Selma Mills ......................................................................500 lbs. per day
• Raleigh Mills ....................................................................600 lbs. per day
• Richmond Mills (in a few weeks) ..................................1,500 lbs. per day

The quantity of small arms ammunition in the hands of the troops in the field is about eighty to ninety rounds to the man. The most obstinate and protracted battles, such as Chancellorsville and Gettysburg exhibit an expenditure of about twenty-five rounds per man for the former battle and about thirty rounds per man for the latter. The quantity of small arms ammunition on hand at the several arsenals and depots shows an aggregate 5,376,034 small arm cartridges on the 12th November.

There are 50,480 rounds of seige and seacoast projectiles and 133,962 rounds of field artillery ammunition on hand same date. No uneasiness is felt on this head, provided the supply of powder (dependent on saltpetre) is kept up. As to the means of keeping up the supply of saltpetre, and the date in reference to production and importation, I beg leave to refer you to the Nitre and Mining Bureau.

The chief detriment the operations of the Bureau has had has arisen from interference with its workmen for military purposes.

(Signed)

J. Gorgas, Brigadier-General,

Chief Of Ordinance