Battery Stuart

Battery Stuart (1900-1917) - Battery Stuart was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 5 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Totten (3), New York. The battery was named in G.O. 78, 25 May 1903, after Capt. Sidney E. Stuart (Cullum 2829), Ordnance Department, U.S. Army, who was killed 29 Apr 1899, in an explosion at the Du Pont Powder Works, Wilmington, Delaware. Battery construction started in 1899, was completed 11 Dec 1900 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 11 Dec 1900 at a cost of $ 9,300.00. Deactivated in 1917. Fort Totten, Battery Stuart Gun Emplacement #1 Fort Totten, Battery Stuart Gun Emplacement #1 Fort Totten, Battery Stuart Overgrown Endicott Period Part of the Harbor Defense of Eastern New York. Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with two 5" M1897 guns mounted on M1896 balance pillar carriages. This was a two story battery with the guns on the upper level and the magazines on the lower level. No shell or powder hoists were provided. Battery Stuart Armament (edit list) Empl No Caliber Type Barrel Length Model Serial No Manufacturer Carriage Service Dates Notes 1 5" Rifle 225" M1897 5 Watervliet Balanced pillar, M1896, #27, Detrick & Harvey 1900-1917 See note 1 2 5" Rifle 225" M1897 4 Watervliet Balanced pillar, M1896, #28, Detrick & Harvey 1900-1917 See note 1 Source: RCW Form 1, 15 Apr 1920, Coast Defense Study Group, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 88-89, 207 Note 1: CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Battery Stuart Plan World War I 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. Both of Battery Sumner's guns were ordered dismounted for use abroad 24 Aug 1917 and by 18 Jul 1918 they were reported transferred. Both guns were transferred to Morgan 31 Dec 1917 and eventually ended up in France. Both carriages were ordered scrapped 26 May 1920. Current Status No period guns or mounts in place. Location: Fort Totten, Queens County, New York Maps & Images Lat: 40.795301 Long: -73.780253 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: Gun #1=62.28', Gun #2=62.29' Sources: Links: Coast Defense Study Group, CDSG Press, CDSG Digital Library Visited: 21 Aug 2010