Battery Key (1900-1927) - Battery Key was a concrete Endicott Period 12" mortar battery located on Fort Howard (1), Maryland. The Battery was named for Francis Scott Key. Battery construction started in 1897, was completed in 1898 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 8 Jan 1900 at a total cost of $ 112,999,43. Deactivated in 1927.
Battery Key Mortar Pit ABattery Key Mortar Pit B from Above
Battery Key was a reinforced concrete Endicott Period 12" mortar battery with eight M1890MI mortars mounted on M1896 Carriages.
The battery consisted of eight 12" mortar emplacements arranged into two mortar pits of four mortars each. The two mortar pits were separated by the main battery structure which housed a power plant and the munitions storage areas.
The carriages were sent to Fort Howard in July and August of 1897 from the manufacturer, Robert Poole. The Battery was deactivated in 1927 and the guns were removed in August and September of 1927 and shipped to Aberdeen Ordnance Depot. The carriages were all shipped to Aberdeen on 31 Oct 1927.
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 140, 208 Note 1: CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA, CDSG gun carriage card collection from NARA.
Current Status
On Fort Howard County Park and VA hospital grounds, Maryland. No period guns or carriages are in place.
U.S. Corps of Engineers, Engineering Journal from NARA, CDSG file EngBalt.pdf, pages 7, 14-18.
U.S. Corps of Engineers, Report of Completed Batteries, Etc. (RCB) from NARA, CDSG file baltimoreRCB.pdf, pages 3-4 (1903) (correctly assigns guns & carriages to emplacements)
Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 140, 208.
Links:
Visited: 3 Apr 2009
Battery Key Picture Gallery
Click on the picture to see a larger version. Contribute additional pictures - the more the better!
