Lot 284

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John D. Kurtz Autographe Letter Signed Report on the Progress of the Work on Fort Sumter and Estimates for the Cost of Work on Forts Moultrie, Sumter, and Johnson for the Year ending 30 June 1852.
Charleston, S. C. 16 September 1850; 25 September 1850. To Capt: A. H. Bowman, Corps of Engineers. Lieutenant Kurtz reported that the "work at Ft: Sumter has progressed steadily" during Captain Bowman's temporary absence from Charleston. "The course of brick work on the gorge being now completed through its length. The concreting is advanced to the middle of the North face." Along with the progress made, Kurtz also described problems that he had encountered. "Walker's Lighter starts this morning for bricks, having been unable sooner to obtain a crew. Johnson is sick with 'broken bone fever.' Mulvaney has not arrived, the two lighters, in consequence, are idle. The Ft. Sumter men are all at work again. Mr. Rabaski is still confined to the house." In his second letter to Captain Bowman, Lieutenant Kurtz discussed the projected costs for work to be completed during the next fiscal year, which included "Fort Sumter, Dike to Drunken Dick, Breakwater[s] for Ft: Moultrie, [and] Ft: Johnson," and repairs of quarters at Fort Johnson. As in his previous letter, Kurtz mentioned the status of work on Fort Sumter. "We are nearly out of cement. I have ordered a shipment. Two lighters are on duty. Walker is sick."
Lieutenant John D. Kurtz graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1842 and was assigned to the corps of engineers as a second lieutenant. And sent to Charleston, South Carolina where he remained until 1852. He was then transferred to Washington, D. C. where he worked in the office of the Chief of Engineers. During the Civil War, he continued to work on engineering project and remained in the army until his death.

Captain Alexander Hamilton Bowman (1803-1865) had graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1825 and was assigned to the corps of engineers. After working for nine years on projects along the Gulf coast and two promotions, Captain Bowman was sent to South Carolina in 1838 to supervise military construction in and around Charleston harbor, a position he retained until 1851. For three years, March 1861-July 1864, Bowman was the superintendent of the United Sates Military Academy at West Point, replacing G. T. Beauregard who had been offered the position, but resigned from the United States army when Louisiana seceded from the Union.
each one page, on blue paper, W8" L10" (2dcs)

Provenance: Dr. & Mrs. C.G. Hopper, Jr. Collection

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February 10, 2023 11:00 AM EST
West Columbia, SC, US

Charlton Hall

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