Item No. 9691056

This is an October 1861 autograph letter signed by Union Brigadier General John G. Barnard, Chief Engineer for the Army of the Potomac under General George B. McClellan. Writing to Captain Henry Larcom Abbot of the topographical engineers, Barnard issues a brief order for the transfer of heavy siege guns in the forts south of Washington, protecting Alexandria. Barnard writes that Abbot should move a pair of 24-inch guns from Fort Scott to Fort Lyon. He adds that he will be at “Fort Blank” at 4pm. By this he must mean Fort Blenker, a nearby work that would later be renamed Fort Reynolds. The full transcript reads:

Wash’n Oct 30 / 61

Lieut. H. L. Abbott
Top’l Engineers

Dear Sir
You may send down two of the those siege guns (24”) to Fort Lyon from Fort Scott and substitute platforms for sea coast guns in their stead.
J. G. Barnard

P.S. I shall be at Fort Blank about 4 o’clock.

Barnard’s ink signature appears before the PS. The letter was written on one side of single sheet of 5” x 8” paper. It is in excellent condition with very light foxing. Creased at the original folds.