Const. Freeman letter November 4, 1811
Fort Nelson, Virginia
4 November 1811
Dear Sir,
I have been so much interrupted since I have received your letter of the 18th of last month that I have not been able before now to answer your inquires.
-----------------Fort Nelson ------------------------------
Is a very irregular work, situated on the north western side of Elizabeth River opposite to that part of Norfolk called the Point; It is built of earth, soded on every exterior part, except the rear, where it has a revetement of brick; there is no rampart, except on that line, which is nine feet six inches high and has a parapet of four feet six inches; the revetement is fourteen feet high from the berme; the parapet which encloses the other parts of the Fort rises almost immediately from the terresslein, and is lined with brick is six feet high from the berme, four from the platforms and twenty thick; The whole work is surrounded by a dry ditch, between four and five feet deep, eleven wide at the bottom and twenty at top; The platforms are almost all new, rise three feet from the terresslein, and are twenty four feet wide, two are finished, the brick work of the others is laid. There are now mounted twenty three cannon – to wit – five columbiads, two 32, seven 24, and nine 18 pounders, all these except six 18s fire don on across the river, the others to the southwest and into the Inner Harbour; so soon as the platforms shall be completed, one columbiad, twelve 24s and one 18 pounder will be mounted in addition; seven to fire down the river, the other seven across; the total will then be thirty seven, all enburbette, except nine 18 pounders, which fire through embrasures and are mounted on truck carriages. If materials could have been procured, all the platforms would have been finished before now, however, I hope this desirable object will soon be accomplished. The Magazine, Storehouse and Barracks are built of brick; the magazine will hold on the racks, one hundred & sixty five barrels of powder, and in case of necessity two hundred; this building has been lately repaired; The Store house has two stories and contains four rooms; one is appropriated as a laboratory, one for company clothing, & c and tow for the ordnance and Quarter Master’s department. There are two Barracks, one story high, each containing three rooms below, and three small ones under the roof; one full company and officers might be lodged commodiously in them. Without the fort in the rear, is a large brick corridor, or carriage house in which are now deposited travelling carriages for heavy guns and a pare truck carriages; in the north east end of this building are rooms sufficient for the officers of a company; A few paces to the west are the Commanding officers quarters, built of wood. I have enclosed a sketch of this fort.
__________________ Fort Norfolk _________________________
Is an irregular work situated on the northeastern side of Elizabeth River, one thousand & forty yards NNW of Fort Nelson. It has a brick revetement, except to a curtain in the Rear; the principal Battery is an ellipsis, on which is mounted twelve 24, and three 18 pounders; to the right extends a flank, on which there is a space for a mortar battery, four 18 pounders are mounted on a platform to the to the right; from the salient angle of this line the work is continued easterly for musketry, however, I propose to mount two 18 pounders on part of this line to the north east; There are four 18 pounders on the face of the NE Bastion; On the left of the Ellipsis is the gate, and a short flank perpendicular to it, on this are mounted three 18 pounders; This and the line before mentioned for musketry are connected and form two irregular bastions, the curtain is the officers quarters, the work is thus closed in the Rear; I propose to mount a nine pounder in the flanks of each of these bastions: From the extremity of the first flank is surrounded by a dry ditch, seven feet deep, twenty wide at the bottom and twenty five five at top: The profile of the work in front, i.e. from the gate to the Salient angle to the Right is without a ditch; the wall is twelve feet high, the parapet fifteen feet thick, the interior height three feet six inches, the platforms twenty four feet wide, two feet above the rampart; which extends only five feet within the platforms, and is seven feet six inches above the parade; the interior taliso three feet, therefore the whole mass of the work is forty seven feet base. There are twenty six cannon mounted –to wit- twelve 24 and fourteen 18 pounders; the guns I propose to mount will make the total thirty; Of these six only are on the land side, the rest fire on the River. The platforms on the ellipsis is much decayed and so weak that the Secretary of War has authorized a new one to be laon; a contract has been made accordingly for the materials; it will however, be some time before it can be undertaken. The Buildings within the Works are a powder magazine, one barrack for officers and two for soldiers, all of brick: The magazine will hold on the racks seventy one barrels of powder, but might hold one hundred: The officers barrack is as has been before observed, the curtain which encloses the work in the rear; it is two stories high, and contains six rooms and three small store rooms for company clothing, & c, under the house, are four cellars which are continually wet: The soldiers quarters are one story, have each three rooms below & three small ones above; they are calculated each to accommodate a company. There is not any public land attached to this post; its like is all that belongs to the United States; I also enclose a sketch of this fort.
As respects the implements, the same observations will apply to both; we want several essential articles. We cannot procure here bullock forms of a sufficient size, therefore I request you would send us some from New york, our artificers can dress them, and put in the bottoms: We have not any haversacks, there certainly should be one to each gun; nor tube boxes, nor a sufficiency of tubes; gunners belts are also required; sheets of copper for sadles; sheep skins, or cloth to cover the sponge heads and copper sponge tacks. These things cannot be purchased here, as readily as in New york. I enclose a return. I refer also to my returns of the 7th of March. We have nearly one compliment of sponges hammers, hand spikes, port fire & lintstocks; The artificers are at work to complete these. We have not the convenience of doing every thing within ourselves, as where there is a regular laboratory; and I have not any officer acquainted with this duty: We have lately bought eight pieces of flannel which shall be made into cartridges. You may recollect that two guns at each post were mounted on parallel carriages. These have been replaced by the improved, consequently we are deficient these four and two more since. The improvements in our platforms; If we could obtain from you these six 24 pound carriages, it would be a great accommodation, otherwise we must make them here, which will be a most tedious work.
I am with great regard
And esteem
Dear Sir
Your obedient servant
& friend
Const: Freeman
Colonel Burbeck
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
William L. Clements Library
University of Michigan
Henry Burbeck Papers, 1735-1866