George W. Crawford Letter 12 September 1849
War Department
Washington, September 12th, 1849
Hon. Wm. B. Preston,
Secretary of the Navy
Sir:
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 7th instant, inclosing a communication from the Chief of the Bureau of Yards & Docks, respecting old Fort Norfolk, the possession of which is desired by his Bureau as the site of a powder magazine. Commo Smith recurs to a former correspondence on the same subject with this Department, and to the reasons which then rendered it inexpedient, in the opinion of the Chief Engineer, to relinquish the Fort entirely to any purpose incompatible with its use, in case of need, as a defensive position. If the Bureau of Yards & docks can; in the manner suggested by the Chief Engineer, or in any other manner equally unobjectionable, accomplish its objective without interfering materiality with the ultimate use of the fort, this Department will of course accede to your request. The Fort is, as Commo Smith remarks, now in the possession of the Board of Health of Norfolk City, but it is presumed they require it only during the prevalence of the recent epidemic, and do not desire to retain it longer.
I enclose herewith a report from the Engineer Bureau on the subject.
Very respectfully,
Your Obt. Servt.
Geo. W. Crawford
Secretary of War
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 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