Battery Potter

Battery Potter (1898-1907) - Battery Potter was a masonry and reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 12 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Hancock, New Jersey. The battery was named in G.O. 78, 25 May 1903, after BG Joseph H. Potter, who served with distinction in the Mexican War and the U.S. Civil War and who died 1 Dec 1902, at Columbus, Ohio. Battery construction started in 1890, was completed in 1894 and transferred to the Coastal Artillery for use 22 Mar 1898 at a cost of $ 357,100.00. Deactivated in 1907.

Endicott Period

Part of the Harbor Defense of Southern New York.

Originally built as an Endicott Period masonry and concrete coastal gun battery with two 12" M1888 guns mounted on M1891 Gun Lift carriages. The gun lift carriages were the first operational attempt by the U.S. Army to field a disappearing gun carriage. This carriage was a massive steam powered hydraulic ram that raised the gun to the firing position and lowered it into a protective well for loading.

The battery was a three story battery with the gun lift mechanism on the first level along with the magazines. The second level was the gun loading level where the gun was locked and lowered into the protective well, aligned with the loading platform. Shells and powder were brought up to the loading level still on the carts by an elevator system and were then wheeled to the gun breach. After loading, the gun was raised to the firing level, unlocked, aimed and fired.

Battery Potter Armament (edit list)

Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model		Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates	Notes
1	12" Rifle	440"	M1888		2	Watervliet	Gun Lift, M1891, #2, Watertown	1898-1907	See note 1
2	12" Rifle	440"	M1888		11	Watervliet	Gun Lift, M1891, #1, Schneider	1898-1907	See note 1
Source: RCB, 31 Oct 1903, 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 130-131, 207 Note 1: CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA

Battery Potter Plan

Current Status

Part of the Gateway National Recreation Area, Fort Hancock Unit. No period guns or mounts in place.

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Location: Fort Hancock, Monmouth County, New Jersey Maps & Images Lat: 40.466864 Long: -74.0018919 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: .....'

Sources:

Links:

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

Visited: 14 Aug 2010

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