Battery Talbot

Battery Talbot (1899-1919) - Battery Talbot was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 4.72 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Adams (1), Newport County, Rhode Island. The battery was named in G.O. 30, 19 Mar 1902, after Lt. Silas Talbot, of Rhode Island, who served with distinction in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, and who died 30 Jun 1813. Battery construction started in April 1898, was completed in December 1898 and transferred to the Coastal Artillery for use 17 Jan 1899 at a cost of $ 16,883.76. Deactivated in 1919.

Endicott Period

Part of the Harbor Defense of Narragansett Bay.

Original Battery Talbot 4.72" Armstrong Gun now in Equality Park, Newport, RI

Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with two 4.72" Armstrong guns mounted on Armstrong Pedestal carriages. This was a two story battery with the guns on the upper level and two magazines below. No shell or powder hoists provided. Electrical power furnished from the power plant in Battery Edgerton.

Battery Talbot Armament (edit list)

Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model		Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates	Notes
1	4.72" Rifle	40 cal	Armstrong		12124	Armstrong	Pedestal, Armstrong, #10982, Armstrong	1899-1919	See note 1 Donated to Westerly RI
2	4.72" Rifle	40 cal	Armstrong		12123	Armstrong	Pedestal, Armstrong, #10981, Armstrong	1899-1919	See note 1 Donated to Newport RI
Source: RCW Form 1, 15 Jun 1925, CDSG, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 86-87, 204 Note 1: CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA

Battery Talbot Plan

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. The guns and carriages of Battery Talbot were apparently alerted for service abroad because they were later ordered to be remounted and retained. On 22 Jul 1919 the guns and carriages were approved for scrapping and ordered scrapped on 26 May 1920. The scrapping did not take place and in 1923 one gun and carriage was donated to the City of Westerly, Rhode Island and the other was donated to the city of Newport, Rhode Island. The Newport gun #12123 is still on display at Equality Park in Newport.

Current Status

Part of Fort Adams State Park. No period guns or mounts in place.

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Location: Fort Adams, Newport County, Rhode Island Maps & Images Lat: 41.475847 Long: -71.341336 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: .....'

Sources:

• U.S.Army, Supplement to the Harbor Defense Project of Narragansett Bay, (HDNARB-AP-45), 1 Feb 1945, CDSG

Links:

• CDSG

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