Battery Butler: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 18:24, 3 April 2010

Battery Butler (1898-1942) - Battery Pierce Butler was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 12 inch coastal mortar battery on Fort Moultrie, South Carolina. The battery was originally named Fort Capron in G.O. 112, 6 Aug 1898 after Capt. Allyn K. Capron, 1st Regiment, U.S. Volunteer Cavalry (2nd Lt. U.S. 7th Cavalry, U.S. Army), who was killed at the battle of La Quasina, 24 Jun 1898, during the Spanish-American War. Renamed Battery Capron in G.O. 134, 1899. In 1906 the battery was administratively split into two batteries and the new battery was designated Battery Butler in G.O. 20, 25 Jan 1906, after Col. Pierce M. Butler, Palmetto Regiment, South Carolina Volunteers, who was killed in action at Churubusco, Mexico, 20 Aug 1847, during the Mexican-American War. Battery construction started in 1897, was completed in 1898 and transferred to the Coastal Artillery for use 28 Jun 1898 at a cost of $ 92,678.76. Deactivated in 1942.

Battery Butler History

Part of the Harbor Defense of Charleston.

Endicott Period

Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal mortar battery with sixteen 12" M1886 mortars mounted on M1891 mortar carriages. Originally the battery was divided into four mortar pits with four mortars in each pit. After a series of reconfigurations and mortar replacements Battery Butler ended up after World War I with two mortar pits with two M1890MI mortars in each pit, all mounted on M1896MI mortar carriages.

**Battery Butler (1909) Armament** (edit list)
Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model	Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates	Notes
A1	12" Mortar	120"	M1886-1890MI	7	Watervliet	Mortar, M1891, #74, West Point	1898-1920	See note 1
A2	12" Mortar	120"	M1886-1890MI	3	Watervliet	Mortar, M1891, #75, West Point	1898-1920	See note 1
A3	12" Mortar	120"	M1886-1890MI	8	Watervliet	Mortar, M1891, #79, West Point	1898-1920	See note 1
A4	12" Mortar	120"	M1886-1890MI	2	Watervliet	Mortar, M1891, #76, West Point	1898-1920	See note 1
B1	12" Mortar	120"	M1886-1890MI	5	Watervliet	Mortar, M1891, #81, Watertown	1898-1920	See note 1
B2	12" Mortar	120"	M1886-1890MI	6	Watervliet	Mortar, M1891, #82, Watertown	1898-1920	See note 1
B3	12" Mortar	120"	M1886-1890MI	1	Watervliet	Mortar, M1891, #80, Watertown	1898-1920	See note 1
B4	12" Mortar	120"	M1886-1890MI	4	Watervliet	Mortar, M1891, #83, Watertown	1898-1920	See note 1
Source: RCB, 31 Dec 1909, 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 134-135, 210 Note 1: Guns and carriages ordered scrapped 26 May 1920. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA

World War I

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.

None of the mortars at Battery Butler were involved in the World War I redistribution but all of the mortars and carriages were caught in the 1920 Disarmament Program and were ordered scrapped on 26 May 1920. Four newer mortars were shipped in to replace the eight that were salvaged and they were placed in the two front emplacements of each pit. The two rear emplacements in each pit were filled with sand and capped with 6" of concrete. The reduction of two mortars in each pit improved efficiency and reduced manpower requirements without significantly reducing the rate of fire.
Template:FtMoultrieBatteryButler1925

World War II

All four of the remaining mortars and carriages were ordered salvaged on 6 Dec 1942.

Current Status

Destroyed.

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Location: Fort Moultrie, South Carolina

Maps & Images

Lat: 32.7626386 Long: -79.8396581

Multi Maps from ACME
Maps from Bing
Maps from Google
Elevation: 17.31'

Sources:

Coast Defense Study Group, CDSG Press, CDSG Digital Library

Links:

Visited: 23 Jan 2010

Battery Butler Picture Gallery

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

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-'''{{PAGENAME}}''' (1898-1942) - Battery Pierce Butler was a reinforced concrete, [[Endicott Period]] 12 inch coastal mortar battery on [[Fort Moultrie]], South Carolina.  The battery was originally named [[Fort Capron]] in G.O. 112, 6 Aug 1898 after Capt. [[Allyn K. Capron]], 1st Regiment, U.S. Volunteer Cavalry (2nd Lt. [[7th Cavalry]], U.S. Army), who was killed at the battle of La Quasina, 24 Jun 1898, during the [[Spanish-American War]]. Renamed [[Battery Capron]] in G.O. 134, 1899. In 1906 the battery was administratively split into two batteries and the new battery was designated [[Battery Butler]] in G.O. 20, 25 Jan 1906, after Col. [[Pierce M. Butler]], P[[almetto Regiment]], [[South Carolina Volunteers]], who was killed in action at Churubusco, Mexico, 20 Aug 1847, during the [[Mexican-American War]]. Battery construction started in 1897, was completed in 1898 and transferred to the Coastal Artillery for use 28 Jun 1898 at a cost of $ 92,678.76.  Deactivated in 1942.
+'''{{PAGENAME}}''' (1898-1942) - Battery Pierce Butler was a reinforced concrete, [[Endicott Period]] 12 inch coastal mortar battery on [[Fort Moultrie]], South Carolina.  The battery was originally named [[Fort Capron]] in G.O. 112, 6 Aug 1898 after Capt. [[Allyn K. Capron]], 1st Regiment, U.S. Volunteer Cavalry (2nd Lt. [[U.S. 7th Cavalry]], U.S. Army), who was killed at the battle of La Quasina, 24 Jun 1898, during the [[Spanish-American War]]. Renamed [[Battery Capron]] in G.O. 134, 1899. In 1906 the battery was administratively split into two batteries and the new battery was designated [[Battery Butler]] in G.O. 20, 25 Jan 1906, after Col. [[Pierce M. Butler]], P[[almetto Regiment]], [[South Carolina Volunteers]], who was killed in action at Churubusco, Mexico, 20 Aug 1847, during the [[Mexican-American War]]. Battery construction started in 1897, was completed in 1898 and transferred to the Coastal Artillery for use 28 Jun 1898 at a cost of $ 92,678.76.  Deactivated in 1942.
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 [[Image:Fort Moultrie Battery Capron-Butler.jpg|795px|thumb|left|Battery Capron-Butler Location]]