Battery Meigs

Battery Meigs (1902-1915) - Battery Meigs was a concrete Endicott Period 12" mortar battery located on Fort Washington, Maryland. The Battery was named for Bvt Maj. Gen. Montgomery C. Meigs, Quartermaster General, U.S. Army, 1861-1882. Battery construction started 25 Aug 1898 , was completed in FY 1902 and transferred to the Coastal Artillery for use 27 Oct 1902 at a total cost of $ 117,000. Officially abandoned 13 Jan 1915.

Battery Meigs Panorama 4 Apr 2009

Battery Meigs History

Part of the Harbor Defense of the Potomac.

Battery Meigs was a reinforced concrete Endicott Period 12" mortar battery with eight 12" M1890M1 mortars mounted on M1896 mortar carriages. The carriages arrived at Fort Washington in April and May of 1899. The guns and carriages were removed in April 1913 and shipped to Fort Banks, MA.

Battery Meigs Armament (edit list)

Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model		Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates	Notes
A-1	12" Mortar	141.125	M1890MI		110	Watervliet	Mortar, M1896, #208, Midvale	1902-1913	See Note 1
A-2	12" Mortar	141.125	M1890MI		81	Watervliet	Mortar, M1896, #175, Lake Erie	1902-1913	See Note 1
A-3	12" Mortar	141.125	M1890MI		125	Watervliet	Mortar, M1896, #174, Lake Erie	1902-1913	See Note 1
A-4	12" Mortar	141.125	M1890MI		117	Watervliet	Mortar, M1896, #172, Lake Erie	1902-1913	See Note 1
B-1	12" Mortar	141.125	M1890MI		111	Watervliet	Mortar, M1896, #173, Lake Erie	1902-1913	See Note 1
B-2	12" Mortar	141.125	M1890MI		122	Watervliet	Mortar, M1896, #169, Lake Erie	1902-1913	See Note 1
B-3	12" Mortar	141.125	M1890MI		109	Watervliet	Mortar, M1896, #171, Lake Erie	1902-1913	See Note 1
B-4	12" Mortar	141.125	M1890MI		112	Watervliet	Mortar, M1896, #170, Lake Erie	1902-1913	See Note 1
Source: Coast Defense Study Group, RCW Form 1 1 Feb 1919, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 140, 209 Note 1: Mortars mounted Aug 1902. Mortars and carriages removed and shipped to Battery Kellogg, Fort Banks (2) in 1913-1914, later ordered scrapped at Fort Banks (2) 15 Dec 1942, CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA, CDSG gun carriage card collection from NARA.

Current Status

On Fort Washington National Park. No period guns or carriages are in place.

---

{"selectable":false,"width":"500"}

Location: Fort Washington National Park, Maryland. Maps & Images Lat: 38.7096586 Long: -77.0257258 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: '

Sources:

• Coast Defense Study Group, CDSG Press, CDSG Digital Library

Links:

Visited: 2 Apr 2009

Battery Meigs Picture Gallery

Click on the picture to see a larger version. Contribute additional pictures - the more the better!

• Battery Meigs Gun Emplacement #1
  Battery Meigs Gun Emplacement #1
• Battery Meigs Gun Emplacement #2
  Battery Meigs Gun Emplacement #2