ALS signed “R. E. Lee,” three pages on two adjoining sheets, 8 x 10, May 21, 1849. Letter to Major Delafield, written from Baltimore while working on a project. In part, “I duly rec’s your letter of the 4th Inst: on the subject of cranes; and last week the roll of drawings arrived safely. I have merely looked over the plans, but shall this week take them up & will no doubt be able to concoct from them, something simple to answer my purpose. I think I have achieved a firm foundation at last. About 45´ below low water mark. An awful distance, but I began to fear it would have been worse. The first 16´ below the shoals is of a quicksand nature. It there grows firmer till you reach 23´, when a shalum of clay 3 feet thick is interposed between the shalum of sand. The bed of sand below the clay is apparently firm and solid. The sand is sharp & mixed with gravel, yields with difficulty to the auger & requires to be broken up by a drill, before the auger will fill. I have not yet penetrated more than 2 ft. in it. But yesterday, attempted to drive a file in it which met with great resistance. The files…were all 30 ft. I had therefore to resort to a punch to drive them underwater…. The hammer rebounded 6″ or more from the head of the punch at each blow. After the file had rec’d 143 blows in all, fearful of accident from the…punch I desisted.” In fine condition, with intersecting mailing folds and a small area of paper loss to right edge of second page from wax seal.
The project referenced in Lee’s letter was for the construction of Fort Carroll, which was originally commissioned in 1847 to protect the city of Baltimore. The original plans, designed by Lee, detailed a man-made island topped by a fortress capable of housing 350 cannons. Serving as a brevet-colonel with the Army Corps of Engineers, he was placed in charge of the fort’s construction from 1848 through 1851. Hindered by inadequate funding and the soft riverbed, progress on the fort was slow and frustrating. The fort would eventually be finished, but without the guidance of Lee, who left to head West Point Military Academy. Unique content as a future Confederate hero works toward the protection of Baltimore Harbor from enemy forces. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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