Letter, 1863 September 15, Baldwin to Major Brooks [Recto]

TitleLetter, 1863 September 15, Baldwin to Major Brooks [Recto]
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CreatorBaldwin

CollectionsThomas Benton Brooks Papers

Dates

Descriptive InformationLetter to Brooks from Baldwin, reporting results of Baldwin's experiments with the boat and oars constructed at the Engineer Depot.  Baldwin reports that the 1000 pound boat can be carried with difficulty by twenty men.

Transcription[Letter] Morris Island SC [South Carolina] Sept [September] 15, 1863; Maj [Major] TB Brooks; Sir; I have the honor to report the following, as the result of experiments made by me this morning with the boat and oars constructed at the Engineer Depot. I. The weight of the boat is 1000 Lbs; it can be carried with difficulty by twenty men, owing to their inability to retain their hold upon the bottom, and face squarely to the front. [Question] Suppose they can't be square to the front. Can they carry it? [Answer] They can just carry it short distances under the [????]; II. A distance of two feet was found to be sufficient between the seats. [Question] for rowing or paddling? [Answer] either; III. A seat four feet wide gave sufficient accommodation for two men with sufficient room to use the oar efficiently. [Question] Can they stow their equipment in this room? [Answer] [can?]; IV. The paddle and oar can be combined. The length of the resulting instrument should be about six feet and six inches (6'6"). [Question] What form of blades and handle [Answer ????]; V. The boat draws three inches light, and Eleven (11) inches loaded. [Question] with how many men? [Answer] twenty; I have the honor to be major; Your Obedient Servant; James S. Baldwin; [????] N Y [New York] V [Volunteer] Engs [Engineers]

LocationsMorris Island, Charleston County, South Carolina, United States(32.71573,-79.89037)

TopicsUnited States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
South Carolina--History
Naval operations
Fort Sumter National Monument (Agency : U.S.)

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RightsU.S. Government Work Learn More