Battery Swift
Battery Swift (1898-1917) - Battery Swift was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 8 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Caswell, North Carolina. The battery was named in G.O. 134, 1899, after Capt. Alexander J. Swift, U.S. Corps of Engineers, Engineer in Charge of Fort Caswell construction, who died 24 Apr 1847 in New Orleans. Battery construction started in 1896, was completed in 1898 and transferred to the Coastal Artillery for use 6 Dec 1898 at a cost of $ 121,170.86. Gun tubes removed in 1917.
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Battery Swift History
Part of the Harbor Defense of Cape Fear River.
Endicott Period
Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with four 8" M1888MI guns mounted on M1896 disappearing carriages.
| Empl No |
Caliber Type |
Barrel Length |
Model | Serial No |
Manufacturer | Carriage | Service Dates |
Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8" Rifle | 278.5" | M1888MI | 34 | Watervliet | Disappearing, M1896, #12, Pond |
1898-1917 | See note 1 | |
| 2 | 8" Rifle | 278.5" | M1888MI | 25 | Watervliet | Disappearing, M1894, #8, Watertown |
1898-1917 | See note 1 | |
| 3 | 8" Rifle | 278.5" | M1888MI | 27 | Watervliet | Disappearing, M1894, #7, Watertown |
1898-1917 | See note 1 | |
| 4 | 8" Rifle | 278.5" | M1888MI | 28 | Watervliet | Disappearing, M1894, #6, Watertown |
1898-1917 | See note 1 | |
| 1 | 5" Rifle | 225" | M1897 | 16 | Bethlehem | Balance Pillar, M1896, #1, Watertown |
1903-1905 | See note 2 | |
| Source: RCW Form 1, 1 Nov 1919, RCB, 10 Oct 1903, CDSG, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 108-111, 210 Note 1: Guns transferred to Watervliet 21 Dec 1917. Carriages were ordered scrapped in may 1918. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Note 2: Renamed Battery McDonough (1) 1903, Gun & carriage removed to Battery Shipp 1905 | |||||||||
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 of Battery Swift were caught up in the World War I redistribution and on 24 Aug 1917 they were reported as ordered dismounted for use abroad. The tubes were transferred to Watervliet for modification on 21 Dec 1917 and subsequently to the Philadelphia Port of Entry but the war ended before the gun tubes could be shipped to France. The gun tubes were not returned to Battery Swift and the Battery was not rearmed.
Current Status
On the property of the North Carolina Baptist Assembly. No period guns or mounts in place.
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Location: Fort Caswell, North Carolina Maps & Images Lat: 33.891009 Long: -78.021415 |
Sources:
- Herring, Ethel and Williams, Carolee, Fort Caswell in War and Peace, 2nd Ed., NC Baptist Assembly, Oak Island, NC, 1983-1999, ISBN - 0-9671897-1-3
- Coast Defense Study Group, CDSG Press, CDSG Digital Library
Links:
Visited: 27 Jan 2010
Battery Swift Picture Gallery
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