Battery Benson

Battery Benson (1904-1943) - Battery Henry Benson is a concrete Endicott Period Battery located on Fort Worden, Jefferson County, Washington. Named in G.O. 194, 27 Dec 1904, after Capt. Henry Benson, 2nd U.S. Artillery, who died 11 Aug 1862 from wounds received at the 2nd battle of Maven Hill, Virginia, 5 Aug 1862, during the U.S. Civil War. The Battery was begun in 1904, completed in 1907, and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use on 24 Apr 1908 at a total cost of $142,500. The guns were dismounted in 1943 during World War II. Battery Benson View Battery Benson Gun #1 Position Battery Benson Gun #2 Firing, 1915 (University of Washington Archive) Endicott Period (1890-1910) 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. Built with two 10" M1900 guns on M1901 disappearing carriages in a concrete battery at a cost of $142,500. The 10" guns could fire a six hundred pound shell 9 miles. Battery Benson Armament (edit list) Empl No Caliber Type Barrel Length Model Serial No Manufacturer Carriage Service Dates Notes 1 10" Rifle 420.6" M1900 12 Watervliet Disappearing, M1901, #6 1908-1943 See Note 1 2 10" Rifle 420.6" M1900 14 Watervliet Disappearing, M1901, #7 1908-1943 See Note 1 Source: RCW Form 1, Aug 1921, 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 128-129, 217 Note 1: Guns and carriages ordered salvaged 7 Jul 1943, Battery Benson Plan World War II (1941-1945) The guns and carriages were ordered scrapped on 7 Jul 1943. Current Status Part of the Fort Worden State Park Conference Center. The Battery is accessible to the public and the rooms are clean and dry but empty. No guns or carriages are in place. Emplacement #1 has been painted by park and museum volunteers in the original U.S. Army battery green. {"selectable":false,"height":"-500","width":"-500"} Location: Artillery Hill, Fort Worden State Park Conference Center, Port Townsend, Jefferson County, Washington. Maps & Images Lat: 48.141335 Long: -122.768108 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 257' GPS Locations: 48.141335, -122.768108 Battery Benson Sources: Fort Worden Guide, The Puget Sound Coast Artillery Museum, 2005, page 20-21 U.S.Army, Supplement to the Harbor Defense Project, Harbor Defenses of Puget Sound, (CCA-AN-PS), 12 Aug 1945, CDSG Links: Seacoast Defense Photos Battery Benson Virtual Tour CDSG Fortification ID: WA0034 - Battery Benson Visited: 19 Jul 2008 Picture Gallery Battery Benson Gun #2 Position Battery Benson Corridor Battery Benson- Groupment Control Post (1943) Battery Benson Groupment Control Post (1943) Observation Slit Battery Benson view From Groupment Control Post (1943) Battery Benson Gun #1 Position, with restored battery green paint Battery Benson original battery commander station, just south of the main battery