The Fayetteville Arsenal-- Part 1: Built in 1838

From Wikipedia.

The Fayetteville Arsenal, in North Carolina, was built in 1838 because during the War of 1812, the U.S. government realized that the existing system of distributing of weapons and ammunition was not adequate for the defense of the entire country.

A program was developed so that no part of the country would be too far away from weapons and supplies of war in case there was a threat.

Bladen County U.S. Representative James McKay introduced House Bill #374 to have an arsenal built at Fayetteville, North Carolina.

The cornerstone was laid on April 9, 1838,  It was constructed of brick and stone and at each corner of its massive walls was an octagonal tower.  Entry to the arsenal was through massive iron gates.  Workshops, quarters and other buildings in the arsenal were constructed of brick and wood.

The Wikipedia article has a nice drawing of the Fayetteville Arsenal at the time Sherman arrived in 1865,

--Old Secesh