Battery Nicholson

Battery Nicholson (1900-1927) - Battery Nicholson was a concrete Endicott Period 6" gun battery located on Fort Howard (1), Maryland. The Battery was named 11 Feb 1902 for Joseph H. Nicholson who commanded the volunteer artillery at Fort McHenry when it was under British attack in September 1814. Battery construction started in 1899, was completed in 1900 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 8 May 1900 at a total cost of $ 37,028.73. Deactivated in 1927.

Battery Nicholson Gun Emplacement #1

Battery Nicholson Gun Emplacement #2

History

Part of the Harbor Defense of Baltimore.

Battery Nicholson was a reinforced concrete Endicott Period 6" gun battery with two M1897 guns mounted on M1898 Carriages.

The battery consisted of two 6" gun emplacements 125' apart separated by the main battery structure with a separate shell and powder room for each gun emplacement. The plotting room for Battery Nicholson was relocated 19 Nov 1920 to emplacement #1 of Battery Stricker which had been deactivated by that time.

The carriages were sent to Fort Howard on 6 Jan 1900 from the Philadelphia Engineering Works. The Battery was deactivated in 1927. The guns and carriages were removed on 4 Aug 1927 and shipped to Aberdeen Ordnance Depot.

**Battery Nicholson Armament** (edit list)
Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model	Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates	Notes
1	6" Rifle	276"	M1897	13	Watervliet	Disappearing, M1898, #23, Philadelphia Engineering	1900-1927	See Note 1 Rounds fired 30
2	6" Rifle	276"	M1897	26	Watervliet	Disappearing, M1898, #22, Philadelphia Engineering	1900-1927	See Note 1 Rounds fired 60
Source: Coast Defense Study Group, RCW Form 1 1 Jan 1920, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 94, 208 Note 1: CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA, CDSG gun carriage card collection from NARA.

Current Status

On Fort Howard County Park, Maryland. No period guns or carriages are in place.

Location:On Fort Howard County Park, Maryland.

Maps & Images

Lat: 39.1964011 Long: -76.4444804

Multi Maps from ACME
Maps from Bing
Maps from Google
Elevation: 32'

Sources:

Coast Defense Study Group, CDSG Press, CDSG Digital Library
U.S. Corps of Engineers, Report of Completed Works - Seacoast Fortifications (RCW) from NARA, CDSG file: HowardRCW.pdf
- Form 7, page 10, dated 1 Jan 1920.
- Form 1, page 9, dated 1 Jan 1920
CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA, CDSG file: 6in M1897 Guns 001.pdf, page 3,5.
CDSG gun carriage card collection from NARA, CDSG file: 6in DC M1898 001.pdf, page 3.
U.S. Corps of Engineers, Engineering Journal from NARA, CDSG file: EngBalt.pdf, pages 14-18.
U.S. Corps of Engineers, Report of Completed Batteries, Etc. (RCB) from NARA, CDSG file: baltimoreRCB.pdf, pages 3, 11
Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 94, 208.

Links:

Visited: 3 Apr 2009