Commandant V F Johnston Letter 21 January 1848
Commandants Office
Navy Yard Gosport
21st January 1848
Sir,
I have to report to the Bureau that some evil disposed or mischievous persons have been apparently attempting to force an entrance into the Magazine; they succeeded in scaling the outer fence, and by means of a plank which they ripped from the floor of the Shell House managed to get over the brick wall & into the yard;; where they have make considerable progress in enlarging the air holes in the main building, by picking at the bricks; they also attempted to force the lock at the main gate.
The isolated position of this building containing such large quantities of Powder is well calculated to produce apprehensions particularly on the discovery of efforts, whether real or imaginary to effect an entrance into it.
I am Respectfully, Sir
your obedient servant,
V F Johnston
Commandant
Comm Joseph Smith
Chief of the Burrow of Yards & Docks
Washington
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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