Battery Pike

Battery Pike (1898-1918) - Battery Pike was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 10‑inch coastal gun battery on Fort St. Philip, Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. The battery was named in G.O. 78, 25 May 1903, after Brigadier General Zebulon M. Pike, U.S. Army, who was killed 27 Apr 1813, in action at York, Upper Canada. Battery construction started in December 1895, was completed in May 1898 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 2 Jun 1898 at a cost of $ 224,335.10. Deactivated 9 Oct 1918. Endicott Period (1890-1910) Part of the Harbor Defense of the Mississippi. Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with two 10" M1888MII guns mounted on M1896 Disappearing 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 Taylor-Raymond back delivery shell hoists. No powder hoists were provided. Electrical power was furnished by the central power plant. Battery Pike Armament (edit list) Empl No Caliber Type Barrel Length Model Serial No Manufacturer Carriage Service Dates Notes 1 10" Rifle 367.25" M1888MII 51 Watervliet Disappearing, M1896, #73, Midvale 1898-1918 See note 1 2 10" Rifle 367.25" M1888MII 54 Watervliet Disappearing, M1896, #74, Midvale 1898-1918 See note 1 Source: RCW Form 1, 26 Mar 1919, CDSG, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 124-125 Note 1: Guns transferred to Watervliet on 22 Jun 1918. Guns returned from Watervliet September 1919 for remount. Guns transferred to Jackson Barracks on 14 Jan 1920, carriages ordered scrapped 13 Dec 1920. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Battery Pike 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. Both guns of Battery Pike were ordered dismounted for service abroad on 25 May 1918 and they were transferred to Watervliet on 22 Jun 1918. These same guns were returned from Watervliet in September 1919 with orders to remount the guns. It is not clear if the guns were remounted before the order came to deactivate Fort St. Philip on 11 Mar 1920 but it seems unlikely. Both gun tubes were ordered transferred to Jackson Barracks on 14 Jan 1920 and the carriages were ordered scrapped on 13 Dec 1920. Current Status Private property, access by boat with permission, in a 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: 29.364121 Long: -89.4628555 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: Gun #1=20.19', Gun #2=21.43' Sources: Links: CDSG Visited: No