Battery Bayard

Battery Bayard (1907-1917) - Battery Bayard was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 6-inch coastal gun battery on Fort Lyon (1), Cow Island, Cumberland County, Maine. The battery was named in G.O. 194, 27 Dec 1904, after Brigadier General George D. Bayard, U.S. Volunteers (captain, 4th U.S. Cavalry), who died 14 Dec 1862 of wounds received in action at Fredericksburg, Virginia, 13 Dec 1862, during the U.S. Civil War. Battery construction was completed and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use on 27 Dec 1907 at a cost of $ 122,921.95. Deactivated in 1917. Assigned Location ID ME00095. Endicott Period (1890-1910) Part of the Harbor Defense of Portland, Maine. Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with three 6" M1903 guns mounted on M1903 Disappearing carriages. This was a single story battery with the guns located on a raised gun platform and the two magazines between, and slightly below the gun platforms. Shells were moved from the magazine level to the gun loading platform by Hand. No shell or powder hoists were provided. Battery Bayard Armament (edit list) Empl No Caliber Type Barrel Length Model Serial No Manufacturer Carriage Service Dates Notes 1 6" Rifle 302.9" M1903 9 Watervliet Disappearing, M1903, #64, Wellman 1907-1917 See note 1 2 6" Rifle 302.9" M1903 12 Watervliet Disappearing, M1903, #65, Wellman 1907-1917 See note 1 3 6" Rifle 302.9" M1903 16 Watervliet Disappearing, M1903, #66, Watertown 1907-1917 See note 1 Source: RCB, 31 Dec 1910, 31 Dec 1916, CDSG, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 98-99 Note 1: Guns transferred to Watervliet 6 Dec 1917, carriages ordered scrapped 26 may 1920. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Battery Bayard Plan World War I (1917-1918) The U.S. entry into World War I resulted in a widespread removal of large caliber coastal defense gun tubes for service in Europe. Many of the gun and mortar tubes removed were sent to arsenals for modification and mounting on mobile carriages, both wheeled and railroad. Most of the removed gun tubes never made it to Europe and were either remounted or remained at the arsenals until needed elsewhere. The guns of Battery Bayard were transferred to Watervliet for modification to a mobile configuration on 6 Dec 1917. All three guns subsequently made their way to France and all three made their way back to the U.S. in 1919. Battery Bayard was not rearmed and the carriages were ordered scrapped 26 May 1920. Current Status No period guns or mounts in place. Battery Bayard Magazines Battery Bayard Gun Emplacement #1 Location: Fort Lyon, Cow Island, Cumberland County, Maine Maps & Images Lat: 43.691696 Long: -70.184199 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 63.5' Sources: U.S.Army, Supplement to the Harbor Defense Project of Portland, Maine, (HDPB-AN-45), 11 Apr 1945, CDSG Links: CDSG Visited: No