Battery Merrill

Battery Merrill (1907-1920) - Battery Merrill was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 6 inch coastal gun battery on Fort St. Philip, Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. The battery was named in G.O. 78, 25 May 1903, after Captain Moses E. Merrill (Cullum 465), 5th U.S. Infantry, who was killed 8 Sep 1847, at the battle of Molino del Rey, Mexico. Battery construction started 10 Jun 1901, was completed 8 Jul 1907 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 1 Oct 1907 at a cost of $ 97,328.15. Deactivated in 1920. Endicott Period (1890-1910) Part of the Harbor Defense of the Mississippi. Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with four 6" M1900 guns mounted on M1900 Pedestal carriages. This was a two-story battery with the guns located on the upper level and the magazines below. Shells were moved from the magazine level to the gun loading platform by four hand-operated Taylor-Raymond ammunition hoists. Electrical power was furnished by the central power plant. Battery Merrill Armament (edit list) Empl No Caliber Type Barrel Length Model Serial No Manufacturer Carriage Service Dates Notes 1 6" Rifle 310.4" M1900 6 Watervliet Pedestal, M1900, #32, Builders 1907-1920 See note 1 2 6" Rifle 310.4" M1900 35 Watervliet Pedestal, M1900, #37, Builders 1907-1920 See note 1 3 6" Rifle 310.4" M1900 39 Watervliet Pedestal, M1900, #38, Builders 1907-1918 See note 2 4 6" Rifle 310.4" M1900 41 Watervliet Pedestal, M1900, #39, Builders 1907-1918 See note 2 Source: RCW Form 1, 26 Mar 1919, RCB, 31 Dec 1909, CDSG, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 96-97. Note 1: Transferred to New Orleans on 4 Oct 1921 for storage. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Note 2: Transferred to the east coast 23 May 1918, wound up in Battery Montgomery (2) at Fort Monroe. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Battery Merrill Plan 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 two guns and carriages of emplacements #3 and #4 were dismounted and shipped to the east coast on 23 May 1918. The guns and carriages wound up in Battery Montgomery (2) at Fort Monroe. The remaining guns and carriages were transferred to New Orleans on 4 Oct 1921 for storage following the 11 Mar 1920 deactivation of Fort St. Philip. Current Status Private property, access by boat with permission, in very dangerous condition. No period guns or mounts in place. {"selectable":false,"height":"-500","width":"-500"} Location: Fort St. Philip, Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana Maps & Images Lat: 29.3649532 Long: -89.4615144 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: Gun #1=22.03', Gun #2=21.77' Sources: Links: CDSG Visited: No