Totten, was given the task to answer the Senates request. His report indicated that it was important to defend the anchorage at Ship Island, but funds and resources had been dedicated to Forts Pickens, Barrancas, and McRee to guard the Navy Yard at Pensacola. During the next year, the Board of Engineers discussed the feasibility of building fortifications on Ship Island. In March of , The Fortifications Bill was signed into law which included , dollars to build fortifications on Ship Island.
A commission of engineers was tasked with determining an appropriate location, reported that it was extremely cost prohibitive to build any fortifications on Ship Island. General J. Totten, promptly rejected this notion, and established a new board who provided a more favorable opinion. With the favorable report in hand, Secretary of War John B. Floyd approved the construction of The Fort on Ship Island and the project to defend the Mississippi coast and its commerce lanes finally began.
Alexander to oversee the construction of the fortifications on Ship Island. Over the course of the next year Lt. Alexander ordered supplies and equipment to construct the fort and stored them with the Ship Island Lighthouse keeper until the land was secured from the state.
However, before he could obtain the transfer, Alexander died unexpectedly. Bearss, A new superintendent, 1st Lt. Frederick E. Prime, was assigned to the project. The fall and winter storms of hit Ship Island played havoc on the construction. In January the State of Mississippi passed its secession order and militia forces took control of Ship Island on January 26thand held it for several months while trying to fortify the island with cannons and continue construction of the fort. In September , General David E.
Twiggs, Confederate Army, ordered the evacuation of the island, setting fire to the partially constructed for and other facilities.
