Commandant John D Sloat Letter 17 May 1848
Commandants Office
Navy Yard Gosport
17 May 1848
Sir,
The dilapidated state and the exposed and inconvenient situations of the Powder Magazine at this station has been a source of great anxiety to me ever since I have been in command of the station, and I have several times called the attention of the Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance & Hydrography and Yards & Docks to the subject verbally. From recant occurrences my solicitude as well as the of the inhabitants of the neighborhood has been increased to such as extent that I consider it my duty for the interest of the government as well as to receive myself from responsibility to lay the state of the establishment before the Bureau in order that such action may be taken by them as may seem the best.
The Bureau are aware that there is not any residence for the Keeper of the Magazine belonging to the establishment. He resides half a mile distant, and is I am informed a man entirely useless either for protection or any other purpose as he has not been out of his bed for several years.
In order to ascertain the exact situation of the establishment I directed Comm. Dormin the senior officer of ordnance attached to this station to make a thorough examination of the building etc etc and to make to me a written report of their condition and the fitness of the locations. I enclose herewith copies of the locations. I enclose herewith copies of my order to him and his report which is respectfully submitted not knowing exactly which Bureau has cognizance of the subject. I have sent a copy to the Bureau of Ordnance & Hydrography also.
I am Respectfully, Sir
your obedient servant,
John D Sloat
Commandant
Comm Joseph Smith
Chief of the Burrow of Yards & Docks
Washington
Comm. Sloat 17 May 1849
Magazine - calls attention to unfitness of present one - with report of Comm Dormin
letter to engineer
I am of the opinion that the present buildings are totally unfit for the purposes of a Magazine being neither commodores, convinced not safe; the location is a very improper one; on account of the difficulty of access by water and its proximity to the town & Hospital and I would respectfully recommend that miss use be taken to effect the erection of a new Magazine upon a more eligible site. I concur with Capt. Dormin in the opinion that Fort Norfolk is the best site in the neighborhood for a Magazine; it may easily be made entirely secure from the depredations of mischievous persons, and the channel runs so near the point, that a very small wharf only would be required to admit vessels of any size to lay along side and receive or discharge powder or other articles. The transfer of this site to the authorities of Norfolk City by the War Department is probably a temporary character and would not prove a serious objection to its being obtained for a Naval Magazine. My recollections of the site new Carters Creek, described by Capt. Dormin, are not sufficiently clear to enable me to give an opinion with regard to it, but it is my impression that there is a school extending a great distance from the point formed by Carters Creek and the Elizabeth river.
WPS Sawyer
21st May 1849
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,
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 71 Bureau of Yards and Docks
Letters Recieved from Commandants of Navy Yards -- Norfolk
Nov 3 1846 - Sept 15 1848
Box No. 154, Entry 5