Commandant John D Sloat Letter 12 May 1849
Commandants Office
Navy Yard Gosport
12 May 1849
Sir,
The dilapidated state and the exposed and inconvenient situation 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 “Ordinance and Hydrography” and “Yards & Docks” to the subject verbally. From recent occurrences my solicitude as well as that of the inhabitants of the neighborhood has been in accord to such an extent that I consider it my duty for the interest of the government, as well as the to relieve 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 out of his bed for several years.
In order to ascertain the exact situation of the establishment I directed Comm Pornin the senior officer of ordinance attached to the station to make a thorough examinations of the building &c &c and to make to me a written report of their condition and the fitness of the location. I am close here within copies of my order to him and his report which is respectfully submitted. Not knowing exactly which Bureau has cognizant of the subject I have sent a copy to the Bureau of Ordinance and Hydrography also.
I am Respectfully, Sir
your obedient servant,
John D Sloat
Commandant
Comm Joseph Smith
Chief of the Burrow of Yards & Docks
Washington
(Notes written on the back of the letter)
Comm Sloat
17 May 1849
Magazine call attention to unfitness of present one with report of Comm Dornin.
Letter to Engineer for opinion.
I am of the opinion that the present buildings are totally unfit for the purpose of a Magazine, being neither commodious, convenient nor 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 measures be taken to effect the erection of a new Magazine upon a more eligible site. I concur with a captain Dornin in the opinion that Fort Norfolk is the best site in the neighborhood for a Magazine; it may be 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 of a temporary character and would not prove a serious objection to it being obtained for a Naval Magazine. My recollections of the site near Carter's Creek, described by Capt Dornin, are not sufficiently clear to enable me to give an opinion with regard to it, but it is my impression that there is a shoal expediting a great distance from the point formed by Carter's creek and the Elizabeth River.
W P S Sawyer
21st May 1849
Fort Norfolk Documents
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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
Sept 16 1848 - June 29 1850
Box No. 155, Entry 5