Duff Green Letter 25 September 1847
Washington, 25th Sept. 1847
Hon. Wm L Marcy
Sec. War
Sir:
Mr. A Mahaffer of the Lancaster Penn. has contracted to make the engines and machinery of the war steamer building at Gosport and Monroe, to establish in that neighborhood a machine shop suited for the repairs of the machinery and government vessels. Among other sites that of Old Fort Norfolk has been examined and I am requested to ascertain whether he can obtain it by purchase or lease. It is necessary that he should proceed immediately with his improvements & should you decide to sell, he may purchase and improve adjoining land intending to purchase at your sale.
An early answer will greatly oblige.
Yours
Duff Green
Note on letter
Engineer Department
Sept 27th 47
Report
I respectfully recommend that the government neither sell nor lease the site of old Fort Norfolk to any person. In the event of war with a maritime power, it would be desirable to refit and arm this fort. And as for leasing it, the riffling sum which could be obtained for it, would by no means compensate the government for the injury to the works, and the trouble and inconvenience which would inevitably result from it falling into the possession of individuals for their private benefit.
George L Welcher
Captain Engineer in charge of Dept
Fort Norfolk Documents
1790, 1791, 1792, 1793, 1794, 1795, 1796, 1797, 1798, 1799,
1800, 1801, 1802, 1803, 1804, 1805, 1806, 1807, 1808, 1809,
1810, 1811, 1812, 1813, 1814, 1815, 1816, 1817, 1818, 1819
1820,
1840, 1841, 1842, 1843, 1844, 1845, 1846, 1847, 1848, 1849,
1850, 1851, 1852, 1853, 1854, 1855, 1856, 1857, 1858, 1859
1860, 1861, 1862, 1863, 1864, 1865, 1866, 1867, 1868, 1869
1870, 1871, 1872, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1876, 1877, 1878, 1879
1880,
Source of Information
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