William Eustis letter December 10, 1811

War DEPARTMENT December 10, 1811
Sir:
In answer to your letter of the 4th instant, requesting “what are the number, nature, and state of repair, of the fortifications of the maritime frontier of the United States, and what will be the number and character of the troops necessary for their defence.” I have the honor to transmit, herewith, a general report, exhibiting the nature, extent, and condition, of the fortifications which have been constructed for the defence of the maritime frontier of the United States, together with the full complement of artillerists, necessary to man the number of guns therein specified.
Part of the cannon, mounted on travelling carriages, not being included in the accompanying report, no estimate is offered of the number of artillerists necessary to man them.
The first intention, of annexing to this report the number of infantry which may be required for the defence of each work, is found to be impracticable.
The description of an enemy's force, and the nature of his attack, may be such, that no corps of the army, except artillerists, will be requisite; they may be such as to require a body of infantry equal to the artillerists; and they may be such, that the number of infantry and other troops, necessary to cover the artillery and defend the works, must exceed, by a great proportion, that of the artillerists.
In this statement, the honorable committee will perceive the reasons which render it impossible to give a more precise and definite reply to this branch of their inquiry.
I have the honor to be, respectfully, sir, your obedient servant,
WILLIAM EUSTIS
The Honorable LANGDON CHEVES, Chairman

of Report the Fortifications for the defence of the ports and harbors of the United States, exhibiting the number and description of troops necessary for their defence, viz.

Number and description of troops Artillerists

DISTRICT of MAINE

Passamaquoddy - A circular battery of stone; with four heavy guns mounted, covered by a block house, with wooden barracks for fifty men and officers, - 52
Machias, - A circular battery of stone; with four heavy guns mounted, covered by a block house, with wooden barracks for forty men and officers, - 52
Penobscot, - A small enclosed battery; with four heavy guns mounted, - 52
Georges, on Georges river, - A small enclosed battery; with three heavy guns mounted, - 39
On Damariscotta river, - A small enclosed battery; with three heavy guns mounted, covered by a block house, which answers for barracks for one officer and twenty men, - 39
Edgecomb, on Sheepscot river, - A small enclosed battery; with six heavy guns mounted, covered by a block house which answers for barracks for one officer and twenty men, - 78
Georgetown, Kennebec river, - An enclosed work; with a battery of six heavy guns mounted, a small magazine, and wooden barracks for forty men and officers, - 78
Portland harbor, - Fort Preble, situated on Spring Point, at the entrance of the harbor; an enclosed star fort of masonry, with a circular battery with flanks, mounting fourteen heavy guns, two brick magazines and brick barracks for one company of men and officers - 182

Fort Scammel; (opposite) a battery of masonry with circular flanks, mounting fifteen heavy guns, is covered in the rear with a wooden block house, mounting six guns, and serves for quarters for one officer and twenty men, a brick magazine, &c. – 273
At the north end of the town is a battery of five guns mounted, also a good brick gun house, with four eighteen pounders mounted on travelling carriages, - 117

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Portsmouth harbor, - Fort Constitution, situated on the eastern point of New Castle Island at the entrance of Piscataqua river, three miles below Portsmouth; an enclosed irregular work of masonry, mounting thirty six heavy guns, two brick magazines, that will contain one hundred and fifty barrels of powder, and brick barracks for two companies of men and officers, - 468
- Fort M’Clary (opposite) on the Kittery; side a circular battery of masonry, enclosed by earth and palisades, mounting ten heavy guns; a brick magazine, and barracks of brick and wood for one company of men and officers, - 130
- In the town of Portsmouth; a brick arsenal with three twenty four and three eighteen pounders, mounted on field carriages, with horse harness and other implements complete, &c. - 78

MASSACHUSETTS

Newburyport, - On the east point of Plum Island, at the entrance of the harbor; an enclosed battery, built of earth and timber, mounting five heavy guns, with a small brick magazine, and a barrack of wood for one officer and twenty five men, - 65
Cape Ann, Gloucester, - At the head of the harbor; an enclosed battery, mounting seven heavy guns, covered by a block house, which will answer for barracks or twenty men and one officer, - 91
Salem, - Fort Pickering, situated on the west side of the entrance into the harbor; an enclosed work of masonry and sods, mounting six heavy guns, covered by a block house, a brick magazine, and barracks for one officer and thirty men, - 78
Marblehead, - Fort Sewall; situated on the west point of the entrance into the harbor; an enclosed work of masonry and sods, mounting eight heavy cannon, covered by a block house, a brick magazine, and barracks for forty men and officers, - 94
Boston harbor, - Fort Independence, situated on Castle Island, on the South side of the inner harbor; a regular pentagon, with bastions of masonry, mounting forty two heavy cannon, with two batteries for six guns, a large brick magazine, which will contain four hundred barrels of powder, and brick barracks for two companies of men and officers, also an old wooden barrack, which has quartered six companies of the 4th regiment, - 624

Fort Warren, opposite, on Governor's Island; a star fort of masonry, mounting twelve guns, a brick magazine, and brick barracks for forty men and officers, - 157
On the West head, a circular battery often guns mounted with a brick magazine, - 130
Also on the South point, a circular battery, calculated for ten guns, a small brick magazine, and a brick barrack for twenty men, - 130
Also at Charlestown, near the navy yard; a circular battery of earth for eight heavy guns, a brick arsenal, one hundred feet long and thirty wide, a large brick magazine, which will contain seven hundred barrels of powder, with a gun shed, eighty feet by twenty, for gun carriages, and a small wooden barrack for sixteen men, - 104

Plymouth harbor, - At the Gurnet Point, the entrance of the harbor; the old enclosed fort has been repaired with stone and sods, mounting five heavy guns, with a brick magazine, and barracks for thirty men, - 65
New Bedford - At Eldridge Point, which commands the entrance of the harbor; an enclosed work of masonry, mounting six heavy guns, with a brick magazine, and brick barracks for forty men and officers, - 78

RHODE ISLAND

Harbor of Newport, - Fort Adams, situated on Briton Point, east side of the entrance of the harbor; an irregular star fort of masonry, with an irregular indented work of masonry adjoining it, mounting seventeen heavy guns, a brick magazine, which is too damp for powder. The barracks are of wood and bricks, for one company of men and officers; also a gun house, - 221

Fort Wolcott, situated on Goat Island, in the centre of the harbor; a small enclosed irregular work, with open batteries, extending from two opposite flanks, of stone, earth sods, &c. mounting thirty eight heavy guns, a brick magazine, that will contain two hundred barrels of powder. The barracks are of bricks and wood, for one company of men and officers, with a wooden gunhouse, one hundred and five by twenty five feet, - 594
Rose Island, situated to defend the north and south passages of the harbor; a regular unfinished work of masonry of four bastions, two of which are circular. Within the works are a range of stone barracks, of arched rooms, sufficient for three hundred men; the officers’ quarters are two small wooden buildings, twenty nine by twenty five feet. There is no magazine or store house. The works were commenced in 1798 – unfinished.
At the north point of the town, on a piece of ground rented by the United States, called Easton's Point, an elliptical stone battery has been erected, but now in a state of ruin, part of the walls having fallen down.
On a bluff of rocks, called the Dumplins, on Conanicut Island, nearly opposite to Fort Adams; a circular tower of stone, with casemates which will contain thirty or forty men; and, with a small expense, there can be mounted six or eight heavy guns; and now in an unfinished state.

CONNECTICUT

New London Harbor - Fort Trumbull, situated on the west side of the harbor; an irregular enclosed work of masonry and sod, mounting eighteen heavy guns; a brick magazine, that will contain eighty barrels of power, and a brick barrack, for one company of men and officers, - 234

Fort Hale, situated on the eastern side of the harbor of New Haven; an elliptical enclosed battery of masonry; mounting six heavy guns; a small brick magazine, and brick barracks for fifty men and officers, - 78
At Stonington; a brick arsenal, with four eighteen pounders mounted on travelling carriages, - 52

STATE of NEW YORK

New York Harbor, - Fort Columbus, situated on Governor's Island, within half a mile of the city; a regular enclosed work of masonry, comprehending four bastions and a ravelin, with sixty heavy guns mounted, a brick magazine that will contain five hundred barrels of powder, and brick barracks for two companies of men and officers, and a furnace for heating shot, - 780

On a projecting point of the island stands a stone tower, called Castle Williams, with fifty two, forty two, and thirty two pounders, mounted on two tiers, under a bomb roof, and on the terrace above is intended to mount twenty six fifty pound Columbiads. Two stone magazines, which will contain two hundred and fifty barrels of powder, and the arches of the second tier will answer for barracks for three hundred men; also, on the island, a stone magazine, which will hold two hundred barrels of powder, a brick arsenal; a wooden gunhouse, and a wooden barrack for three hundred men and officers, - 1,014
Bedloe's Island, nearly opposite; a star fort of masonry, mounting twenty four heavy guns, a stone magazine, which will contain two hundred barrels of powder; a brick barrack for one company of men and officers, and a brick arsenal, - 312
Ellis's Island, opposite Fort Columbus; an enclosed circular battery of masonry, mounting fourteen heavy guns, with barracks of stone and wood for one company of men and officers, - 182
About one hundred yards in front of the west head of the grand battery, in the city of New York, an enclosed circular battery of stone, with twenty eight heavy guns mounted, with two magazines, and barracks for officers, - 364
North battery, one mile up North river; an enclosed circular stone battery, with sixteen heavy guns mounted, a stone magazine, a small wooden barrack for officers, and furnace for heating shot, - 208
In the city of New York; a brick arsenal, with one brass twenty four, seven twelve pounders, four brass howitzers, and twenty two iron eighteen pounders, all mounted on travelling or field carriages, with implements, &c. also a three story brick store, - 442
Three miles out of the city; a brick arsenal; a stone magazine which will contain five hundred barrels of powder, for supplying the works in the harbor, and a brick laboratory for the making and repairing of ammunition, &c.
At Sagg Harbor, on Long Island, a brick arsenal, with four eighteen pounders mounted on field carriages, with implements, - 52

PENNSYLVANIA

- Fort Mifflin, situated on the west side of the Delaware river, seven miles below Philadelphia; an irregular enclosed work of masonry, defended by bastions, demi bastion, &c. mounting twenty nine heavy guns, with a water battery without the works, mounting eight heavy guns, a good brick magazine that will contain one hundred eighty barrels of powder, with brick barracks for one hundred men and officers; within three quarters of a mile are public buildings, called the Lazaretto, which are good barracks or four hundred men, - 481

DELAWARE

Wilmington - An arsenal of brick, one and a half stories high, and ninety six by twenty six feet interior, with four twelve pounders mounted on field carriages, with implements and equipages complete, - 52

Newcastle; an arsenal of brick, the same as at Wilmington, with four heavy cannon mounted on field carriages, with implements, - 52

MARYLAND

Harbor of Baltimore - Fort M’Henry, situated at the entrance of the harbor; a regular pentagon of masonry, calculated for thirty guns, a water battery, with ten heavy guns mounted, a brick magazine that will contain three hundred barrels of powder, with brick barracks for two companies of men and officers; without the fort, a wooden barrack for one company, also a brick store and gun house, - 520
Annapolis - Fort Madison, situated at the western entrance into the harbor; an enclosed work of masonry, comprehending a semi elliptical face, with circular flanks, calculated for thirteen guns, with a brick magazine, and brick barracks for one company of men and officers, - 169

At the Windmill point, a circular battery of masonry, for eight heavy guns; in the rear of the works are quarters for two companies, - 104

On Potomac - Fort Washington, situated at Warburton, on the east side of the river; an enclosed work of masonry, comprehending a semi elliptical face, with circular flanks, mounting thirteen heavy guns; it is defended in the rear by an octagon tower of masonry, mounting six cannon; a brick magazine, and brick barracks for one company of men and officers, - 247

VIRGINIA

Norfolk Harbor - Fort Nelson, situated on the western side of Elizabeth river, and opposite that part of Norfolk called the Point; an irregular work, defended by whole and half bastions, &c., built of bricks an sods, and enclosed in the rear by a brick parapet, mounting thirty seven guns, a brick magazine, which will contain two hundred barrels of powder; brick barracks for one company of men and officers, a large brick gun house, and a brick store house, which answers for a laboratory and other stores, - 481

Fort Norfolk, situated on the northeastern side of Elizabeth river, one thousand yards distant from Fort Nelson, an irregular enclosed work of masonry, comprehending a semi elliptical battery, defended on the flanks and rear by irregular bastions, mounting thirty guns; a brick magazine, which will contain one hundred barrels of powder, and brick barracks for two companies of men and officers, - 390

On James River - Hood's Bluffs; an unfinished work of masonry, intended for thirteen cannon, &c.; there are now barracks for one company of men and officers, - 169

NORTH CAROLINA

Wilmington - Fort Johnston, situated on the right bank of Cape Fear river, twenty eight miles from Wilmington; a flank battery of tapier, mounting eight heavy guns, a brick magazine, a brick barrack for one company of men and officers, and a store house, - 104
Beaufort NC - Fort Hampton, of a circular form in front, and enclosed with a straight line in the rear, mounting five guns, a brick magazine, and brick barracks for one company of men and officers, - 65

SOUTH CAROLINA

Harbor of Charleston - Fort Johnston, situated in the harbor of Charleston; properly a marine battery of an irregular form, built of brick and wood, mounting sixteen guns; two brick magazines that will contain one hundred barrels each. The barracks are built of wood and tapier, and are sufficient for two hundred men and officers, 208

Fort Moultrie, situated at the entrance of the harbor, an irregular form, built of brick, presenting a battery of three sides on the sea front, and the whole is enclosed with ramparts, parapets, &c. mounting forty guns; the magazine is brick, dry, and calculated to hold five hundred barrels of powder. The barracks are of brick, and sufficient for five hundred men and officers, - 520
Castle Pinckney, of an elliptical form, built of brick; has two tiers of guns, and has thirty mounted. There is also in the castle a good magazine, which will contain two hundred barrels of powder, and quarters for two hundred men and officers. The work is considered the most important in the harbor, - 390

In Charleston - Fort Mechanic; a temporary battery, built on the point of the city; it makes a cross fire with the Castle at a distance of nine hundred yards; it mounts seven guns; has a small magazine for forty barrels of powder, and barracks for forty men and officers - 91

The site not ceded to the United States and is falling to decay. Also a brick arsenal in the city, one hundred feet long and forty broad; the lower part for artillery carriages, & c.; in The upper is a rack for small arms, and other articles of various kinds,

Beaufort - This work is of a circular form in front, and a straight line in the rear. It is, at present, only in its foundation four feet high above the ground. There is a comfortable house on the public ground, containing two rooms and a kitchen. The work itself is entirely of tapier.

GEORGIA

Savannah - Fort Jackson, situated in the marsh on the west side of the Savannah river, three miles below the town, and twelve hundred yards from the nearest dry land; an enclosed work of masonry and mud, mounting six heavy guns; two small brick magazines, and a wooden barrack for one company of men and officers. The work is in an unfinished state. There is in the town of Savannah a range of two story wooden barracks, sufficient for two hundred men and officers, - 78

MISSISSIPPI

Fort St. Philip, at Placquemines, near the mouth of the river; an enclosed work of masonry and wood, calculated for twenty guns, with a magazine and barracks for one company, - 260
English Turn; an enclosed work, with two bastions and a battery of masonry, for nine guns, with a magazine and barracks for one company; nearly finished.

New Orleans - Fort St. Charles, in the city of New Orleans; an enclosed redoubt of five sides of masonry and earth; mounting nineteen guns; a magazine and barracks for thirty men, - 247

At the Bayou St. John; a strong battery of six guns, which commands the passage of Lake Pontchartrain, with barracks for thirty men, - 78

Total 12,610

Fort Norfolk Documents

Before 1794, 1794, 1795, 1796, 1797, 1798, 1799, 1800, 1801, 1802, 1803, 1804, 1805, 1806, 1807, 1808, 1809, 1810, 1811, 1812, 1813, 1814, 1815, 1816, 1817, 1861, 1862, 1863, 1864, 1865

Source of Information

AMERICAN STATE PAPERS
CLASS V
MILITARY AFFAIRS
VOLUME 1
DOCUMENTS
LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE,OF THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES
FROM THE FIRST SESSION OF THE FIRST TO THE SECOND SESSION OF THE FIFTEENTH CONGRESS INCLUSIVE:
COMMENCING MARCH 3 1789 AND ENDING MARCH 3 1819
SELECTED AND EDITED, UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF CONGRESS
BY WALTER LOWRIE, Secretary of the Senate, AND MATTHEW ST CLAIR CLARKE Clerk of the House of Representatives,
VOLUME
WASHINGTON:
PUBLISHED BY GALES AND SEATON
1832