Fort Norfolk History - 1843
In February 1843 John E Simpson once again surveyed the government land at Fort Norfolk at the request of Lieutenant Colonel DeRussy. It was clear from this survey that the government was not clear on the boundaries of the land. Mr. Simpson’s survey exhibited three plans of the Public land at Fort Norfolk, arising from three different constructions which were derived from the Deed. “The plan AIKLMNOS supposed is the mark stone at A to be the end of the second course, and that the beginning stone on the river side mentioned in the Deed, is at O; if this plan be the correct one the undefined course at I must be Easterly, as a Westerly course would be intercepted by the wall of the Fort.”
“Should the lines of the last mentioned plan be adopted, the outwork on the Eastern side of the Fort would be considerably on Taylor's land as the plan will show.
The lines in red ink show the outline of the Fort and the extent of the outwork. The river line shows the location of the lines of the plan with respect to high water.”
When Lieutenant Colonel R. E. DeRussy forwarded this survey to Colonel Joseph G. Totten (the Chief Engineer) on March 10, 1853 he added the Post Script “ What Mr. Simpson calls “Out Work” is nothing more than the counter carp; this is a small place of arms however in front of the Curtain.”
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Source of Information
John E Simpson, John Simpson to Col. DeRussy, (February 24, 1843), National Archives, Record Group 77 (Office, Chief of Engineers),Land Papers, Virginia (Craney Island, Mill Creek Bridge, Ferry Point, Ft. Norfolk, Yorktown Monument, Arlingtron Estate, Willoughby Spit); Washington (General), Box No. 61, NM-19, Entry 171
Lieutenant Colonel R. E. DeRussy, R. E. DeRuss to Colonel Joseph G. Totten, (March 10, 1853), National Archives, Record Group 77 (Office, Chief of Engineers),Land Papers, Virginia (Craney Island, Mill Creek Bridge, Ferry Point, Ft. Norfolk, Yorktown Monument, Arlingtron Estate, Willoughby Spit); Washington (General), Box No. 61, NM-19, Entry 171.