Fort Rosecrans
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Fort Rosecrans (1852-1959) - Established 26 Feb 1852 as the Fort at Ballast Point and renamed Fort Rosecrans in 1899 after Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans. The military reservation was transferred to the U.S. Navy Department 1 Jul 1959.
Fort Rosecrans History
Established to protect the entrance to San Diego Harbor.
The initial fortifications were planned for Ballast Point about the location of the old Spanish Fort Guijarros but actual construction of earthworks didn't begin until 1873. Plagued by a chronic lack of funds, the first batteries weren't completed until 7 Feb 1898. Five Endicott Period Batteries were constructed and remained active through 1943. Two Taft Period batteries, three World War II temporary batteries, and four 1940 program batteries were constructed over the years. On 1 Jul 1959 the reservation was transferred to the Navy Department.
Endicott Period
| Battery | No. | Caliber | Type Mount | Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Calef-Wilkeson | 4 | 10" | Disappearing Carriage | 1898-1942 | |
| Battery McGrath | 2 | 5" | Balanced Pillar Mount | 1900-1943 | Guns replaced in 1919 with 2 - 3" Guns from Fort Pio Pico, Battery Meed |
| Battery Fetterman | 2 | 3" | Masked Pedestal Mount | 1899-1942 | Destroyed 1940 |
| Source: Coastal Defense Study Group | |||||
Taft Period
| Battery Click on Battery links below | No. | Caliber | Type Mount | Service Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Whistler | 4 | 12" | Mortar | 1916-1942 | Mortars from Battery Laidley, Fort De Soto, modified |
| Battery White (2) | 4 | 12" | Mortar | 1916-1942 | Mortars from Battery Rodney, Fort DuPont |
| Source: Coastal Defense Study Group | |||||
World War II
| Battery | No. | Caliber | Type Mount | Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Zeilin | 2 | 7" | Pedestal Mount | 1937-1943 | Naval Guns Buried |
| Battery Gillespie | 3 | 5" | Pedestal Mount | 1937-1943 | Naval Guns |
| Battery North | 2 | 10" | Disappearing Carriage | 1897-1920 | |
| Battery Strong | 2 | 8" | Barbette Carriage | 1937-1946 | LR Navy Guns |
| Battery Ashburn | 2 | 16" | Casemated Barbette | 1943-1948 | LR Navy Guns |
| Battery 237 | 2 | 6" | Barbette with Shield | 1943-1946 | |
| Battery 238 | 2 | 6" | Barbette with Shield | 1943-1946 | Aka Battery Humphreys |
| Source: Coastal Defense Study Group | |||||
Current Status
Active military reservation and Cabrillo National Monument.
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Location: Point Loma, San Diego, California. Maps & Images Lat: 32.676012 Long: -117.237682
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Sources:
- Hart, Herbert M., Tour Guide to Old Western Forts, Pruett Publishing Co., Boulder CO, 1980, ISBN 0-87108-568-2, page 33
- Frazer, Robert W., Forts of the West, University of Oklahoma Press, Norman OK, 1965, ISBN 0-8061-1250-6, page 29-30
- CABRILLO: The Guns of San Diego Historic Resource Study, NPS
- The Journal of San Diego History
Links:
- California Military Museum
- NorthAmericanForts.com
- Coastal Defense Study Group, Press, Digital Library, Forums
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