Fort Norfolk History - Army before 1793
During the American Revolution the Federal Government was run based on the Articles of Confederation passed by congress on July 9, 1777. After the American Revolution the United States Army was disbanded. Trouble with the Native American tribes resulted in Congress passing a resolution on April 12, 1785 to raise one regiment of troops from 4 north east states. Then on October 3, 1787 a resolution by congress increased the size of the army.
After the current Constitution of the United States was created, the first congress passed a law "Chapter XXV - An Act to recognize and adapt to the Constitution of the United States the establishment of the Troops raised under the Resolves of the United States in Congress assembled, and for other purposes therein mentioned." which was approved by George Washington on September 29, 1789. This law only recognized the current force under the new Constitution.
Congress soon passed a law "Chapter X - An Act for regulating the Military Establishment of the United States." which was approved by George Washington on April 30, 1790. This law created the Legion of the United States which consisted of one Regiment of men consisting of 65 Officers and 1,281 enlisted for a total of 1,216 men. This Regiment was organized into four battlions (3 Infantry and 1 Artilery).
When this Legion of the United States proved to be too small congress passed "Chapter XXVIII.- An Act for raising and adding another Regiment to the Military Establishment of the United States, and for making farther provision for the protection of the frontiers." which was approved by George Washington on March 3, 1791. This law raised an additional regiment of infantry, which, exclusive of the commissioned officers, consisted of nine hundred and twelve noncommissioned officers, privates and musicians.
The Legion of the United States continued to be too small congress passed "Chapter IX.- An Act for making farther and more effectual Provision for the Protection of the Frontiers of the United States" which was approved by George Washington on March 5, 1792. This law raised an additional three regiments of infantry.
More History
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Source of Information
A CULTURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN OF FORT NORFOLK, NORFOLK, VIRGINIA prepared for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District by the College Of WILLIAM & MARY, November 1995 under Contract No. DACW65-94-Q-0075.
David A. Clary's Fortress America: The Corps of Engineers, Hampton Roads, and United States Coastal Defense (1990)
William Bradshaw and Julian Tompkins's Fort Norfolk, Then and Now (n.d.).
The Norfolk Public Library vertical file of recent newspaper articles on Fort Norfolk. Including articles by James Melchor of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that describe archaeological and architectural findings on the fort property.