Screwpiles: The Forgotten Lighthouses

Restoring the Lights – Letters from Lighthouse Service Engineers, May–July 1862 43 The U.S. Navy and the U.S. Army helped the Lighthouse Board’s district engineer inspect and repair damaged lights at the Naval Hospital, the U.S. Custom House in Norfolk, Craney Island, White Shoal, Point of Shoals, and Deep Water Shoals in May, June, and July of 1862. On June 23, 1862, Commodore W. B. Shubrick, chairman of the Lighthouse Board, ordered the Lighthouse Service’s assistant lighthouse engineer, G. Caster Smith, to assess damage to lighthouses on the Elizabeth and James Rivers and make plans to put them back in service. In his letter to Shubrick, Smith wrote that he was advised not to risk visiting Cape Henry Light Station or Jordan Point as “the secession sentiment is very strong through this part of the country.” The army officers also said that he had “taken quite a risk in landing at New Point Comfort.” Smith reported to Fort Monroe on June 26 and had the use of the steamer tug D. L. Stetson for his inspections and repairs. Smith found Craney Island Lighthouse destroyed except for nine pilings. The Naval Hospital Light Station was in good repair except that the lens and pedestal were gone. The U.S. Custom House wharf was piled with debris from Craney Island and the Custom House was “in a mess.” Smith was told that several of the cast-iron floor plates were used on the Merrimac and that all of the lenses from Craney Island, Naval Hospital, and Custom House were carefully boxed up and sent away by the Confederates a short time before they left Norfolk. Next, Smith boarded the flagship Minnesota to discuss going to Cape Henry and the James River lights. He was advised not to go to Cape Henry or back to Mathews County as it was “infested by very disloyal and dangerous people.” June 27 Smith next went to repair New Point Comfort and Stingray Point Lights. The pilot on board the tug was from the area and was worried about their safety. Smith found both lighthouses “dirty” but not destroyed. Again, the lenses had been removed. An attempt to burn down the Stingray Point Lighthouse had been unsuccessful. June 28 Smith traveled up the James and found the White Shoal, Point of Shoals, and Deep Water Shoals Lighthouses damaged. Coal, lamp oil, and the lenses from all of the light stations

were gone. He reported that the day beacon off Glover’s Bluff at Day’s Point was “standing somewhat out of perpendicular. It however answers the purpose intended, very well.” At Old Point Comfort, the fog bell and the striking machinery were taken and the bell framework was broken. Smith inventoried equipment and damage and returned to Fort Monroe, where he filed reports and ordered lenses, oil, and supplies needed to equip and relight the stations. The reports detailed oil stands, lumber, buckets, oil pumps, and tools. Repairs were made at the U.S. Custom House and it was used as the depot for supplies coming from Baltimore. July 6 Smith visited the light station on Back River and found broken glass and damage to buildings. He was told that the illuminating apparatus and revolving mechanisms had been shipped to New York for repair. The next step was to man the stations. Smith was referred to James Millward, captain of the port at Fort Monroe. July 7 Smith reported that repairs began to the platform at Craney Island. A tower would replace the cottage lighthouse and the keepers would stay on Craney Island and travel daily to the light by small boat. July 11 Smith left Fort Monroe at 5:30 a.m. by steam tug Lioness to light the houses. Two well-armed men and a sergeant in charge from Fort Monroe accompanied his team to each lighthouse. “Have in tow, three canoes, and a landing boat. Stopped at New Port News, where two small stoves and three frying pans were purchased. Arrived at White Shoal Lt. House and landed one oil stand with oil, lens lantern and accessories, fuel, stores xc [sic]. Put up the lantern and explained the lighting, cleaning, trimming, cleaning lens xc [sic] and then left the keepers with orders to light-up at sunset and put out at sunrise.” Smith repeated the setup routine at Point of Shoals and Deep Water Shoals and headed back to Newport News. He reported, “White Shoal light operated very finely, and was in view until I reached New Port News, at 12.h Midnight, a distance of about 7 ½ miles, it being a bright-moon light night.” July 9 Steamer lenses arrived from Baltimore.

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