Battery Ord

Battery Ord (1898-1917) - Battery Ord was constructed at Fort Columbia between December of 1896 and July of 1898. The battery was transferred for service on July 16, 1898 for a total cost of $137,298.79. The Battery is named after Lt. Jules G. Ord, who was killed in action at San Juan Hill in the Spanish American War on December 27, 1904.

Battery Ord History

Battery Ord was the first active Endicott Period battery emplacement in Fort Columbia. This battery is unusual in that it was actually two separate emplacements. The main battery was armed with two 8-inch disappearing rifles and the other emplacement was armed with a single 8-inch disappearing rifle. In 1910 the third gun emplacement was condemned due to drainage problems and was filled with earth. Later on the third rifle emplacement magazine room and corridor was remodeled and used as a switchboard room. The guns were shipped to France in 1917 and put on railroad cars to help bolster the allied defense during World War I. The guns were never replaced. The gun carriages were sold and removed by 1920.

Current Status

The battery is in fair condition and open to the public. However, the main emplacement is partially closed due to safety and deterioration issues of some areas of the battery. There is no access to the buried third emplacement.

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Location: Fort Columbia, Washington

Maps & Images

Lat: 46.25282 Long: -123.920696