Fort Norfolk History - 1808
As of February 29, 1808, All the ports in Virginia & Maryland were put under the direction Captain Walker K. Armistead, Corps of Engineers, who was ordered to take post at Norfolk, and was assisted by Capt Homford and Lieutenant E. D. Wood.
Armistead had graduated first in the West Point class of 1803 and was beginning a distinguished career in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The young captain's work on Forts Nelson and Norfolk in 1808-1809 almost certainly led to his promotion to major in 1810. Two years later, he made lieutenant colonel and directed Norfolk's defenses during the War of 1812. In 1818, he was appointed Chief of Engineers.
Captain Walker K. Armistead, Corps of Engineers, wrote Henry Dearborn, Secretary of War, from Fort Nelson on June 16, 1808; “I have been here for some days and I am preparing to commence the works at Fort Norfolk. I expect I shall be able to have the Workmen on the Ground by the 20th. Capt Sanders has promised to forward the business all in his power, But observes that he is out of funds. I request Sir that you would suffer me to make the completed work at Fort Norfolk more extensive as I think Fort Nelson very deficient as to the defense of the channel to give you an idea of the insufficiency of the present defence. I took the Boat with Lt Wood in company to examine the defence and in going the ship channel from this to Fort Norfolk there were not less than two situations quite undefended and where a ship of war might have layed and not more than one gun from the Fort brought to bear on her owing in great measure to the guns not being mounted on Barbetta - you will suffer me to make this alteration and to give to the present work a reventment of Brick on the exterior, as the Morlons are of sand it would take but a few shot to destroy them in their present state. I like wise wish to be informed whether you contemplate any additional Barracks at this Post, and if there are to be any on the Fort Norfolk side. If sir, you would allow me to erect an adjoining circular Work or Battery to Fort Nelson it would add much to its strength, and protection of the harbor and supersede the necessity of a work on Hospital Point. I shall leave this in a few days for a Hoods and give Lt Wood his instructions on the ground.
Situating the guns "en barbette" meant placing them on platforms where they could fire over Fort Nelson's ramparts rather than through embrasures (Robinson 1977:198).
Henry Dearborn wrote Captain Walker K. Armistead on June 25, 1808; “As soon as you shall have laid out a semi circular battery in front of the temporary Works at Fort Norfolk, for 10 Cannon, and after giving suitable directions to Lieut. Wood & the principal Workman, you should without delay proceed to Hoods & commence the battery & redoubts as proposed by Captn Bomford. As many workmen should be engaged at Hoods as can be employed with advantage.”
Captain Walker K. Armistead wrote Henry Dearborn on July 3, 1808; “the following report of the works under my immediate direction.
Fort Nelson
On my arrival, I found that the work which had been carried on by Capt. Saunders had stop’d by order of Captain Bomford. I have recommenced them and have strengthened the wall that had given away by adding counterforts. The work has consumed about eight hund Thousand bricks; and will take about Hundred Thousand to complete the parapet.
Fort Norfolk
The Battery contemplated in your letter has been planned, and the Materials are now collecting and the contract made for furnishing and laying the brick at Ten Dollars pr Thousand.”
“Lt Wood is on the Ground - with written instructions.”
Captain Walker K. Armistead wrote Henry Dearborn on August 1, 1808; “I take the liberty of reporting to you the state of the works here and at Norfolk.
Fort Norfolk
The bricklayers are employed in laying the bricks I have assurances from them that the work shall be finished by the last of October.
Fort Nelson
The wall and closing the rear is completed, and laborers are employed in finishing the earthen part of the parapet.”
Lieutenant E. D. Wood wrote Henry Dearborn on November 8, 1808; “I have the honor to inform you that the water battery at Fort Norfolk is completed, and when the platforms are prepared, it will be capable of receiving twenty pieces of Canon. We have made some alterations, in the old works adjoining it, and we are now repairing them they will probably be finished by the 1st of next month. Owing to the want of materials (stone in particular) I have not been able to commence any operations at Hospital Point.”
More History
Back, 1673, 1775, 1787, 1789, Army before 1793, 1793, 1794, More 1794, First Fort, 1795, 1796-1800, 1802, 1807, 1808, 1809, 1812, 1813, 1813-1814, 1816, 1817-1818, 1820-1821, 1824, 1827, 1835, 1840, 1842, 1843, 1844, 1845, 1846, 1847, 1848, 1848 Request, 1849, 1849 Transfer, 1849 Planning, 1850, 1851, 1852, 1852 Old Magazine, 1853, 1854, 1854 Changes, 1855, 1856, 1857, 1858, 1859, 1860, 1861, 1862, 1863, 1864, 1867, 1868, 1869, 1870, 1874, 1875, 1880, 1884, 1893, 1903, 1923, Next
Source of Information
Jonathan Williams, "Col. Jonathan Williams Report 29 February 1808", February 29, 1808, National Archives, Microfilm, M417 Roll#1, Buell Collection of Historical Documents Relating to the Corps of Engineers 1801 - 1819, List of Documents (File No. 58510/836, 1801 - 1819), Documents (File Nos. 58510/1 - 283, 1801 - 1811), #144
College Of WILLIAM & MARY, A CULTURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN OF FORT NORFOLK, NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, November 1995, prepared for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District under Contract No. DACW65-94-Q-0075, 15.
David A. Clary, Fortress America: The Corps of Engineers, Hampton Roads, and United States Coastal Defense, (Charlottesville, Virginia, University Press of Virginia, 1990), 33.
Walker K. Armistead, "Walker K. Armistead to Henry Dearborn", June 16, 1808, National Archives, Microfilm, M417 Roll#1, Buell Collection of Historical Documents Relating to the Corps of Engineers 1801 - 1819, List of Documents (File No. 58510/836, 1801 - 1819), Documents (File Nos. 58510/1 - 283, 1801 - 1811), #170
Henry Dearborn, "Henry Dearborn to Walker K. Armistead", June 25, 1808, National Archives, Microfilm, M417 Roll#1, Buell Collection of Historical Documents Relating to the Corps of Engineers 1801 - 1819, List of Documents (File No. 58510/836, 1801 - 1819), Documents (File Nos. 58510/1 - 283, 1801 - 1811), #171
Walker K. Armistead, "Walker K. Armistead to Henry Dearborn", July 3, 1808, National Archives, Microfilm, M417 Roll#1, Buell Collection of Historical Documents Relating to the Corps of Engineers 1801 - 1819, List of Documents (File No. 58510/836, 1801 - 1819), Documents (File Nos. 58510/1 - 283, 1801 - 1811), #173
Walker K. Armistead, "Walker K. Armistead to Henry Dearborn", August 1, 1808, National Archives, Microfilm, M417 Roll#1, Buell Collection of Historical Documents Relating to the Corps of Engineers 1801 - 1819, List of Documents (File No. 58510/836, 1801 - 1819), Documents (File Nos. 58510/1 - 283, 1801 - 1811), #176
E. D. Wood, "E. D. Wood to Henry Dearborn", November 8, 1808, National Archives, Microfilm, M417 Roll#1, Buell Collection of Historical Documents Relating to the Corps of Engineers 1801 - 1819, List of Documents (File No. 58510/836, 1801 - 1819), Documents (File Nos. 58510/1 - 283, 1801 - 1811), #186