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Henry Knox letter March 28, 1794

Instructions to John Jacob Ulrich Rivardi, Acting as Temporary Engineer in the Service of the United States.
In pursuance of the directions of the President of the United States you are hereby appointed an Engineer for the purpose of fortifying the ports and harbors hereinafter mentioned, viz: Baltimore, in the State of Maryland; Alexandria and Norfolk, in the State of Virginia. You are, therefore, immediately to repair to the ports to be fortified in the said States respectively, and in case the Governors should bo near any of the said Ports you are to wait upon them and exhibit these instructions and inform them that you have repaired to the ports aforesaid in order to make the necessary surveys and investigations relatively to your mission, which you will submit to their consideration and take their orders thereon.
As soon as you shall receive their approbation of your plans you are to construct the works and to execute them with all possible dispatch. The following is an extract of the estimation which the appropriations for the fortifications have been founded. The proportions of expense, therefore, herein stated for the said ports must not be exceeded, viz:

                                              Baltimore 28 pieces.
                                                                                                 Drs.      Cts.
Parapets, embrasures and platforms for batteries for 28 pieces, ..... 2,015       44
A Redoubt with four embrasures, - - -                                               810
Two Magazines, -----                                                                       400
Block-house with Barracks, -                                                             500
Contingencies, -----                                                                         500
                                                                                                  4,225      44
                                    Sub. Srg. Corps. Mus. Privs.
Garrison to consist of        1      2      2       2      24

                                                 Norfolk 24 pieces.
Batteries, embrasures and platforms, -                                             1,727      52
Redoubt with embrasures,                                                                  810
A Magazine, ....                                                                                 200
Block-house or Barracks,                                                                     500
Contingencies, -                                                                                 500
                                                                                                     3,737     52
                                     Sub. Srg. Corps. Mus. Privs.
Garrison to consist of         1     2       2       2      24

Alexandria was inserted by the Legislature and not contained in the Original estimate. It is therefore at present to be fortified with works for twelve pieces.
It will readily be perceived by the lowness of the estimates that the parapets of the works intended to be erected are to be of earth, or where that can not easily be obtained of an adhesive quality, the parapets may be faced with strong timber and filled in with such earth as can be had.
It is, however, conceived that in most cases earth may be procured and that a parapet made thereof will not only form a solid defence, but even be durable, if the earth be tenacious and properly sloped and sodded inside and out and the seed of Knot grass sown so as to bind the sods and earth together.
It is, however, apprehended that the embrasures made in this manner would suffer from the explosion of the powder from the cannon, and that therefore where the batteries are not en barbette that the embrasures ought to be framed with joist and faced with planks of two inches thick .
Where the batteries are to be erected on points of land, Islands or other places at a distance from the towns intended to be defended, they ought to be covered or secured by a redoubt or other enclosed work in which the Garrison should reside constantly either in a Barrack or a Strong Block-house, as shall be judged most expedient. But, in general, as the Garrisons will be weak in numbers, a Block-house mounting one or two small pieces of cannon in its upper story, will be more secure, and therefore to be preferred.
These, however, ought not to be much, if any, exposed to the fire of heavy cannon. A Block-house will not contain more than fifty men. If the Garrison therefore should be enlarged tents must be used.
The redoubts in general ought to be of a size to contain five hundred men, so as to resist a sudden enterprise of an enemy, and perhaps the idea ought to be embraced in the first instance that they should be of such extent as to admit timber casemates to be erected hereafter, so as to enable the Garrison to resist in some tolerable degree a bombardment.
But it is not proposed at present to erect such casemates, excepting for a magazine, which must be formed of massy timber, and be six feet thick on the roof, exclusive of the earth, and jointed and caulked in such a manner as to be perfectly tight. Care must be taken to have these magazines properly ventilated and free from dampness. They are to be of a size sufficient to hold one hundred and fifty rounds of powder for each piece of cannon intended to be served from it. The spot at which a magazine of this nature shall be fixed, will require great judgment so as to combine security against an enemy either open or subtle, or any danger from common accidents.
Your judgment will also direct what parts of your works shall be protected by freezers and what by palisades, or whether your redoubts shall have embrasures or fire en barbette with small cannon. As the redoubts are to cover the batteries they would certainly secure and resist better without embrasures. The batteries are to annoy.
The choice of ground on which the batteries and works are to be erected, with all the combinations and effects depending thereon, will rest upon your judgment, under the directions of the Governor. It has not been intended by anything herein specified, to point out the particular manner in which the works should be executed. Outlines only have been given to serve in regulating the expense, which is limited by the sums before mentioned.
Some person in whose ingenuity and industry confidence can be placed will be appointed at each of the said ports to superintend the actual execution of the works according to your directions. Arrangements will also be made by him or some other person to obtain the necessary workmen, implements, and materials which will be required in the business. But everything must be previously estimated and calculated by you.
Although the Business herein entrusted to your charge is in itself of an highly honourable nature and strongly evincive of the confidence of the President of the United States, and which would probably enhance your reputation, yet it is explicitly to be understood by you that the employment is only temporary and not conferring any military rank whatever.
For a compensation for your services and personal expenses, you will be allowed and paid at the rate of four dollars per day while you shall be employed. For all reasonable extra expenses, such as necessary boat-hire and persons to assist in your surveys, you will be allowed, but for those you must keep regular accounts and take receipts.
You are to deliver to the Governors copies of all your plans, surveys, soundings, &c., and also transmit copies of the same to this office. You are also to make a weekly report to this office of your proceedings.
I have issued my warrant in your favor for two hundred and fifty dollars as an advance of your compensation and personal expenses.
As it is conceived the case of Norfolk is the most pressing, you will stay no longer in Baltimore than is necessary to inform the Governor. Mark out the work, and leave the execution for the present to Captain Strieker, or some other person whom the Governor may appoint for that purpose.
You will please also to give every necessary direction or advice relatively to the mounting of the cannon at those places.
I have written to Captain Strieker at Baltimore, and the Governor will appoint some person for Norfolk. Col. Fitzgerald of Alexandria may have the superintendence of mounting the cannon at that place. A reverbatory furnace for hot balls must be erected for each battery.
Given at the War office of the United States this 28th day of March, 1794.
                                                         Signed     H. KNOX,
                                                                    Secretary of War.

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Source of Information

CALENDAR of VIRGINIA STATE PAPERS and OTHER MANUSCRIPTS, FROM JANUARY 1, 1794, TO MAY 16, 1795, PRESERVED IN THE CAPITOL AT RICHMOND. ARRANGED AND EDITED BY SHERWIN McRAE and RALEIGH COLSTON, UNDER THE AUTHORITY AND DIRECTION OF Hon. H. W. FLOUENOY, SECRETARY Of THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, AND STATE LIBRARIAN. VOLUME VII. RICHMOND: J. H. O.BANNON, SUPERINTENDENT PUBLIC PRINTING. 1888