Battery Crenshaw

Battery Crenshaw (1900-1920) - Battery Crenshaw was constructed at Fort Columbia between April of 1899 and June of 1900, with the third emplacement being completed in October of 1900. The first and second emplacements were transfered to service on June 28, 1900 and the third emplacement on Oct. 29, 1900 for a total cost of $15,462.51. Battery Crenshaw was named after Captain Frank F. Crenshaw, who died 5 Jun 1900, of wounds received in action at the Philippines during the Spanish American War. deactivated in 1920.

View of Battery Crenshaw, Feb 2008

Side view of Battery Crenshaw, March 22, 2008.

Endicott Period (1890-1910)

Part of the Harbor Defense of the Columbia.

A concrete Endicott Period battery that, along with Battery Smur, protected the Columbia River Minefield between Fort Columbia and Fort Stevens. The battery was armed with three 3-inch rapid fire rifles that sat on Masking Parapet mounts. The battery was active for only eighteen years.

Battery Crenshaw Armament (edit list)

Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model		Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates	Notes
1	3" Rifle	154.5"	M1898MI		97	Driggs-Seabury	Masking Parapet, M1898, #97, Driggs-Seabury	1900-1920
2	3" Rifle	154.5"	M1898MI		98	Driggs-Seabury	Masking Parapet, M1898, #98, Driggs-Seabury	1900-1920
3	3" Rifle	154.5"	M1898MI		104	Driggs-Seabury	Masking Parapet, M1898, #104, Driggs-Seabury	1900-1920
Source: CDSG

Battery Crenshaw 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. Battery Crenshaw was unaffected by the World War I redistribution but was caught up in the following 1920 disarmament program that saw all of the M1898 gun batteries deactivated and disarmed. The battery was deactivated in 1920 and the guns were transferred back to Watervliet in June 1920. The carriages were ordered scrapped on 20 May 1920.

Current Status

The battery is in excellent condition. The collars and pedestal mounts still remain.

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Location: Fort Columbia, Pacific County, Washington Maps & Images Lat: 46.251531 Long: -123.920544 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 80'

Sources:

Links:

• CDSG

Visited: 22 Mar 2008, 16 Feb 2008

Battery Crenshaw Picture Gallery

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

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  Side view of Battery Crenshaw.
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  First and second of three gun emplacement
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  Battery Crenshaw
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  First gun emplacement
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  Close up of the first gun platform.
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  Gun platforms two and three.
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  Close up of the second gun platform.
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  Stairs to first magazine room
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  Stairs to second magazine room
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  Stairs to third magazine room
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  Stairs to third magazine room from the top
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  Third magazine room entrance
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  Right side view of Battery Crenshaw.
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  Entrance to the third magazine room from terreplein
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  Observing station
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  Bomb Proof Room: Entrance
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  Bomb Proof Room: Inside
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  Magazine Room 1
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  Magazine Room 2
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  Magazine Room 3