60 
affairs, could not be constantly present at the Academy, and 
it ultimately became apparent that the immediate superin- 
tendency of such an institution was incompatible with his 
proper functions. In 1817, an officer selected from the 
corps (Brevet-Major Sylvanus Thayer, to whom allusion 
has already beén made) was appointed permanent Superin- 
tendent of the Academy, and made subject only to the 
orders of the President of the United States. + 
Major (afterwards Colonel) Jonathan Williams, a near 
relative of Dr. Franklin, whom he accompanied, as Se¢- 
retary, to France, where he studied the military sciences, 
and made himself acquainted with the standard works on 
fortification, was the first Chief Engineer of the United 
States under the law of 1802. He was an officer of de- 
cided merit, much beloved by his subordinates, and is justly 
styled the father of the Corps of Engineers and of the 
Military Academy. 
While exercising his superintendence of the Academy, he 
devoted himself personally to the fortification of New York 
harbor, and most of the forts which constitute the inner line 
of defence of that harbor — Fort Columbus, Castles Williams 
and Clinton (Castle Garden), and a work similar to the last 
named, located two or three miles higher up the river (Fors 
Gansevoort) — were planned by him, and built under bis 
immediate supervision. 
Castle Williams was the first “ casemated ” battery erected 
in this country (built in 1807~— 10), and was planned after 
the system of Montalembert, with which, as we have see” 
Colonel Williams had made himself acquainted in France 
This and other works of Colonel Williams, though they 
_ have been superficially and ignorantly criticised, were really 
Meritorious, and do not suffer by comparison with Europe” 
structures of the same or even much more recent dates. 
