Fort Delaware - John Sanders

John Sanders - Engineer

Brevet Major John Sanders was 48 years old when he arrived on Pea Patch Island to assume Chief Engineering duties for the construction of Fort Delaware. A Mexican War veteran and top engineer, Sanders was assigned the daunting task of raising the nation's largest defensive fortification on a Delaware River mudflat.

Ever efficient and determined, Sanders developed a floating steam pile driver that made construction of the enormous fort on the muddy island possible.

Bvt. Maj. John Sanders as portrayed in "Waterbound"

His brilliant techniques were employed as late as WWII, were they were once again employed in the construction of the defenses of Corregidor. They became "textbook material" for West Point engineers in ensuing years.

Sanders worked on the site from 1848 until the day of his death ten years later, spending only a brief period from 1856 to 1857 away from Pea Patch, organizing the construction of Fort Zachary Taylor in Key West, Florida.

He finally succumbed to malaria in 1858. His final breaths were taken on Pea Patch Island, before he could witness the completion of his masterwork.

Excerpts from Sanders' writings while stationed at Fort Delaware:^⁶

October 6, 1851
Now that the foundation of this important work is completely prepared for the commencement of the masonry, it can be pushed toward completion as rapidly as the means rendered available will permit. I will ask for an appropriation of $150,000 to be applied to the prosecution and continuation of its construction during the fiscal year commencing July 1, 1852.

October 21, 1853
In March last, after the appropriations for the fiscal year was made, I organized a small force and resumed (building) operations.
I found it necessary to remove some of the concrete put in last November. It had failed particularly from the action of the early frost but mainly from the cement sent me, being the refused stock accumulated through the season in the manufacturer's warehouse. The loss, however, was but trifling whilst the result was satisfactory as it enabled me to bring the manufacturers to submit their cement to stricter and more decided tests of quality.

Wages have advanced all over our country this season. I have slowly followed the movement, both as a matter of principal and as one of expediency. I have good men and do not want to lose them. At the commencement of the season, I continued the old rates of wages, 10 cents an hour heretofore given on this work to men performing nothing more than common labor. At the same time, they pay 10 cents a head for board.

1853 (undated) ^⁽⁸⁾
One would think that with such favorable wages offering at a quarter like this on the seaboard and in the vicinity of so many large cities, that I should have found no difficulty in enlarging and expanding my force as the success of my operations would enable me to do so. It has not however proved to be the fact in this instance, for I never experienced greater difficulty in procuring labor. It would seem that there must be ample employment everywhere offering to everyone who is willing to work.

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