ROBERT E. LEE AND THE FORTIFICATION OF NEW YORK.
LEE, ROBERT E. 1807-1870. Autograph Letter Signed ('RE Lee') to Captain G.W. Collum, Chief of Engineers, discussing fortification of Fort Hamilton and Battery Hudson, with a small engineering drawing by Lee, 2 pp, 4to (258 x 205 mm), Fort Hamilton, NY, April 16, 1842, integral address to verso of 2nd leaf, filing notations to central horizontal panel verso of first leaf, old folds.

A YOUNG ROBERT E. LEE DESIGNS FORTIFICATIONS FOR BATTERY HUDSON. Captain Robert E. Lee arrived at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn in April of 1841 to assess the condition of the fort and surrounding batteries. Though the fort was built only 10 years earlier, Lee found that he had to redo all of the drawings for the structures, and essentially turned himself into a general contractor for their repair and improvement. He noted the prime location of Battery Hudson in particular, and thought it would 'prove more power­ful in the defense of the passage than any other at the Narrows ... [and] afford the first fire on an approaching enemy, whom it would force within range of Fort Hamilton and Fort Lafayette' (Freeman, p 189). Lee urged strongly the extension of the Battery and the addition of 50 guns.

The War Department agreed to the extension and 13 guns, and Lee set to work on the construction. In this letter he is trying to arrange for the 13 'Barbette hauses' for those guns. Characteristically, he does everything himself, arranging for the maker, negotiating the cost, and even arranging the delivery, 'it is not furnished with a crane, so the stone would have to be hoisted with the rigging of the vessel.' More importantly, he designs the hauses themselves, 'the hauses for those situate on the straight face would intersect thus...' and here he supplies a small drawing of his design, '... which intersection I should like to have in one piece....'

A fascinating engineering letter illuminating a little noted aspect of Lee's life and career designing and constructing the fortifications in New York Harbor.
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