Battery Seymour

Battery Seymour (1902-1942) - Battery Truman Seymour is a concrete Endicott Period 12" mortar battery located on Fort Casey (1), Washington. Named in G.O. 84, 12 Jun 1903, after Major Truman Seymour, 5th U.S. Artillery, bvt. Major General USA, who rendered distinguished service in Mexican War and the U.S. Civil War, and died 30 Oct 1891 at Florence Italy. The Battery was begun in 1898, completed in 1899 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 16 Jun 1902 at a total cost of $46,603.50. Four mortars were removed in 1918 during World War I and the four remaining mortars were removed in 1942 during World War II. Battery Seymour Pit B Battery Seymour Mortar Pit B Battery Seymour, Pit A from Above History Part of the Harbor Defense of Puget Sound. Designed to protect both the Straight of Juan De Fuca and the Admiralty Inlet to Puget Sound. Originally built with eight 12" M1890 MI mortars on M1896 MI carriages in a concrete battery with two mortar pits. Each of the mortars was capable of firing a seven hundred pound shell nine miles and proved accurate enough to hit a moving practice target seven miles away in 1913. This battery was a continuation of Battery Schenck and the two batteries were joined by a earthwork topped with common a set of storerooms. In May 1918 two mortars were removed from each pit leaving two mortars remaining in each pit. The mortars were removed because it proved difficult to load and fire four large mortars simultaneously and there was a requirement for mortars in the World War I European theater. Even with the removal of two mortars from each pit the rate of fire did not significantly drop. The mortars were prepared for shipment and transported on U.S. Barge #5 towed by the U.S. Steamer Wilson to Seattle with the intent of shipping them to the war zone in Europe. This shipment arrived in Seattle on 30 May 1918 with sixteen 12" mortars, two mortars from each mortar pit of the following batteries: Battery Brannan, Fort Worden, 4 Total Battery Powell (1), Fort Worden, 4 Total Battery Seymour, Fort Casey (1), 4 Total Battery Bankhead, Fort Flagler, 4 Total The four remaining Battery Seymour mortars were removed in 1942, during World War II. Battery Seymour Armament (edit list) Empl No Caliber Type Barrel Length Model Serial No Manufacturer Carriage Service Dates Notes A-1 12" Mortar 141.12" M1890MI 19 Niles Tool Works Mortar, M1896MII, #115, Providence 1902-1942 A-2 12" Mortar 141.12" M1890MI 18 Niles Tool Works Mortar, M1896MII, #113, Providence 1902-1918 Removed 1918 A-3 12" Mortar 141.12" M1890MI 59 Watervliet Mortar, M1896MII, #134, Am. Hoist & D. Co. 1902-1942 A-4 12" Mortar 141.12" M1890MI 17 Niles Tool Works Mortar, M1896MII, #114, Providence 1902-1918 Removed 1918 B-1 12" Mortar 141.12" M1890MI 60 Watervliet Mortar, M1896MII, #136, Am. Hoist & D. Co. 1902-1942 B-2 12" Mortar 141.12" M1890 5 Watervliet Mortar, M1896MII, #117, Providence 1902-1918 Removed 1918 B-3 12" Mortar 141.12" M1890 8 Watervliet Mortar, M1896MII, #138, Am. Hoist & D. Co. 1902-1942 B-4 12" Mortar 141.12" M1890MI 53 Bethlehem Mortar, M1896MII, #135, Am. Hoist & D. Co. 1902-1918 Removed 1918 Source: CDSG, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 140-143, 217 Battery Seymour Plan Current Status Part of the Fort Casey (1) Washington State Park. The Battery is accessible to the public and the rooms are clean and dry but empty. No guns or carriages are in place. {"selectable":false,"height":"-500","width":"-500"} Location: Fort Casey, Island County, Washington. Maps & Images Lat: 48.162216 Long: -122.676642 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 49' GPS Locations: 48.162216, -122.676642 Battery Seymour Sources: Coast Defense Study Group, Press, Digital Library, Forums Links: Battery Seymour Virtual Tour Fortification ID: WA0060 - Battery Seymour Visited: 18 Jul 2008 Picture Gallery Battery Seymour Pit B Telephone & Signal Booth Battery Seymour Pit B Shell Gallery Entrance Battery Seymour Plotting Room Pad Battery Seymour View Along Back of Battery Battery Seymour Mortar Pit A