Battery Ord

Battery Ord (1898-1917) - Battery Jules Ord was constructed at Fort Columbia between December 1896 and July 1898. The battery was transferred for service on July 16, 1898, for a total cost of $137,298.79. The Battery is named after Lt. Jules G. Ord, who was killed in action at San Juan Hill in the Spanish American War on 27 Dec 1904. Battery Ord Battery Ord Fire Control Station Endicott Period (1890-1910) Part of the Harbor Defense of the Columbia. Battery Ord was the first active Endicott Period battery emplacement in Fort Columbia. This battery is unusual in that it was actually two separate sets of emplacements. The main battery was armed with two 8-inch disappearing rifles and the other emplacement was armed with a single 8-inch disappearing rifle and an experimental carriage. Originally, the third separate gun emplacement was named Battery Neary but at some time the name was dropped and became part of Battery Ord. In 1909 the third gun emplacement was modified to mount a standard M1896 disappearing carriage and the existing M1888MII gun was mounted on it. The replacement carriage came from deactivated Battery Burnham on Fort Mason, California. In 1910, the third rifle emplacement magazine room and the corridor were remodeled and used as a switchboard room. 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 for the battery were ordered dismounted on 24 Aug 1917 and shipped to France later in the year and were never replaced. The gun carriages were sold and removed by 1920. Battery Ord Armament (edit list) Empl No Caliber Type Barrel Length Model Serial No Manufacturer Carriage Service Dates Notes 1 8" Rifle 278.5" M1888MI 20 Watervliet Disappearing Carriage, M1896, #1, Pond 1898-1917 2 8" Rifle 278.5" M1888MI 23 Watervliet Disappearing Carriage, M1896, #10, Pond 1898-1917 3 8" Rifle 278.5" M1888MII 44 Watervliet Experimental 1898-1910 3 8" Rifle 278.5" M1888MII 44 Watervliet Disappearing Carriage, M1896, #32, Lake Erie 1910-1917 Source: RCW Form 1, 30 Sep 1926, CDSG Battery Ord Plan Current Status The battery is in fair condition and open to the public. However, the main emplacement is partially closed due to safety and deterioration issues in some areas of the battery. There is no access to the buried third gun emplacement. No period guns or carriages in place. {"selectable":false,"height":"-500","width":"-500"} Location: Fort Columbia, Pacific County, Washington. Maps & Images Lat: 46.25282 Long: -123.920696 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: Guns 1 & 2 106', Gun 3 146' GPS Locations: 46.25282, -123.920696 Battery Ord Sources: Information displays at the battery Links: CDSG Fortification ID: WA0051 - Battery Ord Visited: 22 Mar 2008, 18 May 2008, 27 Aug 2005 Picture Gallery View of Battery Ord Western look-down view of Battery Ord Eastern side of Battery Ord Western side of Battery Ord Fire Control Station (Front) First gun emplacement shot room Main Corridor Main Corridor Shell Room Second Gun Emplacement Corridor Latrine Second gun emplacement shot room Guard Room Guard Room window First gun emplacement access First gun emplacement Second gun emplacement access Second gun emplacement Third gun emplacement entrance Third gun emplacement Third gun emplacement Third gun emplacement