Walker K. Armistead Letter 3 July 1808

(Extract.)
Fort Nelson July 3, 1808

Sir,
Conformable to your favor of the 20, of June I beg leave to lay before you, 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.

Hood’s Bluff.
This last place I had just returned from when I received your Orders. When there I directed the Number of Laborers. Made the contract in part for laying and furnishing the Brick at eleven Dollars pr Thousand. Likewise the contract for the stonework at Two Dols fifty cents pr perch - purchased One Hundred Barrels of Northern lime for the Stone Work, and agreed to have built a warf for two Hundred Dollars which had commenced when I left there.
Lt Wood is on the Ground - with written instructions. I shall leave this in a few days for that place where it will give me infinite pleasure to receive your Orders - and execute them to the best of my knowledge.

I am Sir Respectfully
your obt. servt
W. K. Armistead
Capt Engineers

Genl H Dearborn