Fort Norfolk History - 1849 Transfer
Joseph Smith Chief of Bureau of Yards & Docks wrote W P S Sawyer on May 21, 1849 for his opinion. “I am of the opinion that the present buildings are totally unfit for the purpose of a Magazine, being neither commodious, convenient nor safe; the location is a very improper one on account of the difficulty of access by water and its proximity to the town & hospital and I would respectfully recommend that measures be taken to effect the erection of a new Magazine upon a more eligible site. I concur with a captain Dornin in the opinion that Fort Norfolk is the best site in the neighborhood for a Magazine; it may be easily be made entirely secure from the depredations of mischievous persons, and the channel runs so near the point, that a very small wharf only would be required to admit vessels of any size to lay along side and receive or discharge powder or other articles. The transfer of this site to the authorities of Norfolk City by the War Department is probably of a temporary character and would not prove a serious objection to it being obtained for a Naval Magazine. My recollections of the site near Carter's Creek, described by Capt Dornin, are not sufficiently clear to enable me to give an opinion with regard to it, but it is my impression that there is a shoal expediting a great distance from the point formed by Carter's creek and the Elizabeth River.”
Joseph Smith Chief of Bureau of Yards & Docks wrote Comm. J. D. Sloat on May 21, 1849; “The Bureau will ask for an Appropriation of the next Congress for building a Magazine, somewhere in the neighborhood, in the mean time, the site will be decided upon.”
The Cholera Epidemic arrived in Norfolk, VA on May 30, 1849.
On September 7, William. B. Preston, Secretary of the Navy wrote George W. Crawford, Secretary of War to request the transfer of Fort Norfolk to the Navy.
Captain Fred A. Smith, Engrs. A.C.E., Engineer Department, Washington, wrote Hon. Geo. W. Crawford, Secretary of War on September 10, 1849; “The enclosed report of the Chief Engineer, dated July 28, 1848, to a similar application, will show that, under the conditions therein stated, no objection exist in this Department to the proposed transfer.
It is proper for me however to call your attention to the fact that the use of Fort Norfolk as a Lazaretto was offered to the Board of Health of Norfolk by the War Department on the 30th March last as will appear from the accompanying copy of the letter to Dr. Cowdery.
There is nothing on the files of this Depart. to show whether the offer has been accepted or not.”
George W. Crawford, Secretary of War wrote Hon. William. B. Preston, Secretary of the Navy on September 12, 1849: “ I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 7th instant, inclosing a communication from the Chief of the Bureau of Yards & Docks, respecting old Fort Norfolk, the possession of which is desired by his Bureau as the site of a powder magazine. Commander Smith recurs to a former correspondence on the same subject with this Department, and to the reasons which then rendered it inexpedient, in the opinion of the Chief Engineer, to relinquish the Fort entirely to any purpose incompatible with its use, in case of need, as a defensive position. If the Bureau of Yards & docks can; in the manner suggested by the Chief Engineer, or in any other manner equally unobjectionable, accomplish its objective without interfering materiality with the ultimate use of the fort, this Department will of course accede to your request. The Fort is, as Commander Smith remarks, now in the possession of the Board of Health of Norfolk City, but it is presumed they require it only during the prevalence of the recent epidemic, and do not desire to retain it longer. ”
George W. Crawford, Secretary of War wrote Hon. William B. Preston, Secretary of the Navy on September 14, 1849; “ I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday, accepting the possession of old Fort Norfolk, for the use of the Bureau of Yards & Docks, with the understanding, that for the purpose of preserving the value of the place as a defensive position, no repairs or improvements will be made without the previous sanction of this Department.
Directions have this day been given to deliver possession of the place to any officer who may be designated by your Department.”
More History
Back, 1673, 1775, 1787, 1789, Army before 1793, 1793, 1794, More 1794, First Fort, 1795, 1796-1800, 1801-1806, 1807, 1808-1811, 1812, 1813, 1813-1814, 1816, 1817-1818, 1820-1821, 1824, 1835, 1840, 1842, 1843, 1844, 1845, 1846, 1847, 1848, 1848 Request, 1849, 1849 Transfer, 1849 Planning, 1850, 1851, 1852, 1853, 1854, 1854 Keeper's House, 1854 Changes, 1858, 1859, 1861, 1862, 1863, 1864, 1875, 1884, 1893, 1903, 1923, Next
Source of Information
W. P. S. Sanger, "Plan of Fort Norfolk, March 1844", National Archives, College Park, MD - Cartographic (RDSC), Record Group 71: Records of the Bureau of Yards and Docks, 1784 - 1963, Series: Bureau of Yards and Docks Plans of Navy Facilities, 1815 - 1966, 557-3-1.
John D Sloat, "John D Sloat to Joseph Smith", May 12, 1849, National Archives, Record Group 71 Bureau of Yards and Docks, Letters Recieved from Commandants of Navy Yards -- Norfolk, Sept 16 1848 - June 29 1850 Box No. 155, Entry 5.
Joseph Smith, "Joseph Smith to John D Sloat ", May 21, 1849, National Archives, Record Group 71 Records of the Bureau of Yards and Docks, Records of the Office of the Chief of Bureau, 1820 - 1946, Letters Sent 1842 - 95, Vol. 05 of 104, PI-10, E. 1, 4.
Fred A. Smith, "Fred A. Smith to George W. Crawford", September 10, 1849, 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.
George W. Crawford, "George W. Crawford to William B. Preston", September 12, 1849, 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.
George W. Crawford, "George W. Crawford to William B. Preston", September 14, 1849, 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.