376 
THOMAS LINCOLN CASEY. 
arated along a coast at that time slow to traverse, where 
tidal foundations had to be considered, workmen trained and 
organized, water transportation provided, and the rigors of 
Maine winters encountered. But the celebrated General 
Totten, then for many years the chief of the corps, knew his 
man, and that he possessed the qualities of good sense, in¬ 
genuity, and perseverance, as well as sterling ability and 
integrity, warranting the trust reposed in him. These char¬ 
acteristics had been up to that time, and were ever after¬ 
ward throughout his whole career, so evident that his supe¬ 
riors never seemed to feel hesitation in assigning him to any 
duty whatever. 
For six years he carried forward the construction of these 
forts, bringing them within the first three years to a high 
condition of efficiency—excellent progress for works of that 
kind at that time. 
On March 2, 1863, Captain Casey became a major in his 
corps, and in that year was sent on special duty with the 
North Atlantic squadron in the first expedition for the cap¬ 
ture of Fort Fisher, North Carolina. Many other duties of 
an important nature were performed by him during those 
years. 
On November 18,1867, Major Casey came to Washington 
to enter upon the duty in which he was engaged when he 
took part in the founding of this Society. 
At the first meeting of the Society, on March 13, 1871, he 
was elected a member of the General Committee, to which 
he was twice reelected, serving continuously for three years. 
In the early years of the Society he was active in its affairs 
and a frequent attendant at its meetings, occasionally taking 
part in the discussions. In the later years increased duties 
and responsibilities and less robust health combined to with¬ 
draw him from further activit}^ in the Society and keep him 
at home with his family during most of his leisure hours, 
although he continued his membership to the last. 
On March 3, 1877, he was relieved from duty in the office 
of the Chief of Engineers and placed in charge of the con- 
