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 Fort Norfolk 1858

Fort Norfolk History - 1858

By 1858, the earthen rampart west of the gatehouse had been filled and reconfigured to allow for the creation of a large below-ground cistern or "reservoir."  To effect this change it was necessary to extend the masonry revetment at the northwest corner of the gatehouse.  This work is laid in five-to-one bond and is manifestly later than the masonry from the Army period.

During the three years preceding the outbreak of the Civil War, three significant improvements were added to Fort Norfolk: a stone pier, a seawall, and a short rail way track that connected the magazine and the "filling house" with the new pier.  In 1858, Calvin Brown, the Gosport Navy Yard's civil engineer, produced a plan that shows the proposed construction of the pier and the seawall.  The railroad track appears to have already been built replacing the "plank cartway" that led to the old wooden wharf (Brown 1858) (see above).

Captain Thomas A. Dornin, Commandant Navy Yard Gosport, wrote Commodore Joseph Smith, Chief of the Burrow of Yards & Docks, on August 17, 1858; “I have received a contract for class No. 2 stone, by mail, without any accompanying letter. This contract is signed by E D McClenahan & son only. In the absence of official information I can only presume that such a contract was made, and would respectfully call the attention of the Bureau to conflicting clauses in the schedule and the contract. To whit. The schedule says the stone is “to be delivered at Fort Norfolk”. The contract provides for its being delivered “at such place or places within the Navy Yard at Norfolk as the Commandant there of may designate”.
As by your letter of the 21st may last it is urged upon me to bear in mind that neither I, the engineer, or any other official at the yard is vested with authority to modify a contract I would ask instructions of the Bureau relative to the above.
There is now a vessel load of stone at the wharf on this contract, which I have directed to be landed at Fort Norfolk where it is to be used.”

Commodore Joseph Smith wrote Captain Thomas A. Dornin on September 10, 1858; “The contractor for stone at Fort Norfolk says he made his bid to deliver the stone, but according to usage heretofore, did not include the hauling.
You will therefore require him to deliver the stone on the landing and furnish all his own facilities and labor for the same. From thence the stone will be taken by the government.”

Captain Thomas A. Dornin wrote Commodore Joseph Smith on October 4, 1858; “I enclose herewith a copy of a letter, of this date, from Civil Engineer Brown, to me, respecting the delivery at this Yard, of the balance of the stone on McClevahan & Sons contract, instead of at Fort Norfolk, and respectfully ask instructions related to the same.
I have this day directed the suspension of work on the Sea Wall at Fort Norfolk, in emergency of the low state of the funds under the appropriation for that object.”

Calvin Brown, Civil Engineer, Navy Yard Gosport, wrote Captain Thomas A. Dornin on October 4, 1858; “In the progress of the work on the “Sea Wall” at Fort Norfolk, it has been found unnecessary to construct the apron in front of the wall, on its present location: in consequence of which the amount of promiscuous granite, estimated and contracted for, is much larger, then required, to complete the seawall; and the number of yards already delivered, is quite sufficient. I would therefore recommend that no more stone be delivered at that point; but that the balance due on the contract with E D McClenhan & Son, be delivered at the Yard, and used on the Spar Shed and Ship House over slip No 48; and paid for out of the appropriation for those objects.”

Commodore Joseph Smith replied on October 5, 1858; “With regard to the change in the place of delivery of stone under the contract with Mess: McClenahan & Co, we cannot compel the contractors to do so, if they insist on delivering at Fort Norfolk. These changes embarrass the Bureau exceedingly.”

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Source of Information

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, 30.

Thomas A. Dornin, "Thomas A. Dornin to Joseph Smith", August 17, 1858, National Archives, Record Group 71 Bureau of Yards and Docks, Letters Received from Commandants of Navy Yards -- Norfolk, Jan 1 1858 - March 31 1859, Box No. 159A, Entry 5.

Joseph Smith, "Joseph Smith to Thomas A. Dornin ", September 10, 1858, 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. 15 of 104, PI-10, E. 1, 155 - 156.

Thomas A. Dornin, "Thomas A. Dornin to Joseph Smith", October 4, 1858, National Archives, Record Group 71 Bureau of Yards and Docks, Letters Received from Commandants of Navy Yards -- Norfolk, Jan 1 1858 - March 31 1859, Box No. 159A, Entry 5.

Calvin Brown, "Calvin Brown to Thomas A. Dornin", October 4, 1858, National Archives, Record Group 71 Bureau of Yards and Docks, Letters Received from Commandants of Navy Yards -- Norfolk, Jan 1 1858 - March 31 1859, Box No. 159A, Entry 5.

Joseph Smith, "Joseph Smith to Thomas A. Dornin ", October 5, 1858, 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. 15 of 104, PI-10, E. 1, 205 - 206.