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Archive Record
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Metadata
Catalog Number |
MS883H |
Object Name |
Letter |
Date |
May 17, 1812 |
Scope & Content |
"Letter from Lt. Perkins/ 17 May." "Colonel Henry Burbeck" "Washington City/ May 17th. 1812/ Dear Colonel/ I was last evening Honored by the Receipt of/ of[sic] your letter of the 13th. Inst. together with the Samples of Cartridge/ papers enclosed therewith, which I think are excellent, and/ much Superior to what can be expected here. General/ Wilkinson has taken 250 Qrs. of Col.o Williams' papers which/ was yesterday sent down to me, accompanyed[sic] by his/ orders to pay for it. 5/3th of the quanity at s4 + 5/2th at five Dol-/ lars per Ream. Together with Cases + Sheathing paper $1479.90./ This sum will perhaps Repay for some Civilities + enable/ Messrs. W. + Co. to promise their business hereafter to advantage./ The Brig Lydia is now lying here which I have/ chartered to take in arms pr. for Norfolk. Fort Johnson N.C./ Charleston + Savannah, on her way: she has on board/ 2.50pr Columbiads with garrison Carriages, + the 3 Brass Front/ pieces, which go to Orleans, together with 5000 Stand of arms,/ 3000 to be left at Norfolk, 1600 at F. Johnson, 5000 at Charleston/ + 1000 at Savannah, but it seems that fate + the Elements/ have conspired to Ruin the whole; on Sunday Morning the 3d Inst. 6000 Stand of Arms were at once landed on the Shore/ during a Heavy Storn, after having been preciously exposed/ twon days in a Storm on the passage from Harpers ferry/ and yesterday 9000 more, with 1000 [illeg.] + a number/ of Pistols + Swords were at once landed, after having/ been/ been[sic] 24 Hours exposed in a Violent Storm; the first boat imme-/ diately filled, on Striking Shore; four offcers made Ships to/ go Round the point, where they were Sheltered from the wind/ that Blew with great Violence; all hands were at once Em-/ ployed in landing the arms, + piling the boxes on the Shore/ the Boars were not all unloaded untill[sic] near Sun Set, and/ ,y men continued to work with vigor untill about nine/ OClock, they are this morning again employees in taking/ off the Boxes of Arms, and notwithstanding every Effort/ the water has Rose so as to Come at the Boexes on the Shore/ while at the same time it is Raining + the River Rapidly/ Rising. The Store House is full of arms + the floor Ready to give/ way, and the two Gun Sheds were full, and more than/ two hundred boxes in the Vessel, which Cannot be further/ loaded on account of the weather. In fact I never was/ in such perplexity in my life, fifty men would Scarce/ be Sufficient for the duty required at this Moment, and/ I am so Harrassed for want of a good active Non Com-/ missioned Officer that I am nearly exhausted./ The Mortars together with the other pieces mentioned in your/ memorandum have been shipped some days, on board/ the Ceres, Capt. Thorp, the Vessel had dropt down to Alex.a./ Capt Thorp + Capt Coleman yesterday Came up, + agreed to/ Ship the guns +c. to the Sloop Comet, which Sails for N. York/ Soon, + the Ceres goes to the Southward for timber for/ the Navy. Capt Coleman Signed the Bills of Lading/ which I have forwarded to Lt. Van De Vinter. I have also/ put on board a Box, as your [illeg.] but I fear not the/ one you intended, as I Could not Recollect which of the/ ones you had pointed out. I believe the one Sent contains/ Bottles within./ I have not yet Received then Appointment of/ Assistant Dep.t Qr. Mr. and believe not one has been made/ except at N. York. I am promised mine shall take place/ with the date[?] of the Qr. Mr. General's, howver I Care/ littled about it, as I have nearly determined to give up/ my Commission, as soon as my Next Quarters Accounts are/ Closed, as I find it impossible to perform the duties of/ this place without the Asistance of an intelligent Non/ Commissioned Officer./ Recruiting is dull, I have only Enlisted one/ man since you left this, a good Howdy Steady man, by/ trade a Hatter/ I enclose you my Return for April last,/ you will see 23 men present, about 12 do the whole duty of/ the place, which is laborious, and incessant./ I am with great respect/ Dear Colonel/ Your Obed.t Servant/ Sam.l Perkins Lieut/ 1st. Reg.t Inf.ty/ Capt. Johnson has taken his/ Station at F. Washington by/ order of the Sec.y of War./ Mr. Velland[?] has not yet finished/ the Carriages, it will probably be two weeks before they are ready.}/ Col.o H. Burbeck" |
Title |
Letters Received in April and May 1812 |
Collection |
Burbeck Collection |