106 



connection, reference may be made to a Report on 

 "The common lands of the city of Salem," prepared 

 by Hon. C. W. Upham, during his mayoralty, and printed 

 in the Reports for the financial year 1852. 



Several forts and breastworks have from time to time 

 been built, but only two now remain, Fort Lee on the high- 

 lands of the Neck, and Fort Pickering on Winter Island^ 

 According to tradition, Fort Lee was originally planned 

 by Gen. Charles Lee, who gave instructions regarding 

 its construction, and that it be designated by his name. 

 Charles Lee was a major general in the Revolutionary 

 army, born at Dernhall, Cheshire, England, in 1731, 

 died at Philadelphia, 2 Oct., 1782. He accompanied 

 Washington to Cambridge, where he took command of 

 the army 3 July, 1775 ; at this time he was employed with 

 others in arranging for the defence of the. harbors along 

 this coast. 



Fort Pickering was built soon after the settlement ; 

 frequent allusions are found in our Records. In 1699, it 

 was called Fort William, sometimes Fort Ann. Oct. 30, 

 1799, the name was changed by order of the war depart- 

 ment to Fort Pickering, in honor of T. Pickering of 

 Salem, a member of Washington's military family during 

 the war, and of his cabinet during his presidency. It has 

 been several times put in order, when war was pending, 

 mounted with cannons and garrisoned with troops ; on 

 the return of peace, the guns were removed and the 

 troops disbanded. 8 



Perhaps the most interesting of these earthworks, be- 

 cause now threatened with obliteration at no distant day, 

 though still easily traced, is the one at the Juniper. 



There seems to have been an old block house there in 

 1758. Barracks had been erected there, April 22, 1776, 



8 See Hist. Coll. Essex lust., vol. V. 



