Battery Stoneman

Battery Stoneman (1901-1942) - Battery Stoneman was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 12 inch coastal mortar battery on Fort Terry, Suffolk, New York. The battery was named in G.O. 30, 19 Mar 1902 after MG George Stoneman, U.S. Volunteers (Bvt. MG, U.S. Army), who served with distinction during the U.S. Civil War, and who died on 5 Sep 1894. Battery construction started on 1 Jul 1898, was completed in October 1900 and transferred to the Coastal Artillery for use 2 Mar 1901 at a cost of $ 112,000.00. Deactivated in 1942.

Endicott Period

Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal mortar battery with eight 12" M1890MI mortars mounted on M1896MI mortar carriages. The battery was organized into two mortar pits (A and B) of four mortar each. The shell rooms and powder magazines were built into rooms between the mortar pits and rooms on either flank. All of these rooms were covered on top with about 25' of earth. The mortars in each pit were surrounded with the 12' concrete walls on 3 sides and on top of that was another 25' of earth. In back of mortar pit A was the emplacement power plant. At the rear of each pit was a telephone and data booth used to set and issue the firing commands. The data booths were accepted for service 15 Jun 1906 at a cost of $ 1,800.00.

Battery Stoneman Armament (edit list)

Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model		Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates	Notes
Mortar Pit A
A1	12" Mortar	141.125"	M1890MI		39	Bethlehem	Mortar, M1896MI, #159, Builders	1901-1942	See note 1
A2	12" Mortar	141.125"	M1890MI		50	Bethlehem	Mortar, M1896MI, #163, Builders	1901-1918	See note 2
A3	12" Mortar	141.125"	M1890MI		171	Watervliet	Mortar, M1896MI, #160, Builders	1901-1942	See note 1 See note 3
A4	12" Mortar	141.125"	M1890MI		51	Bethlehem	Mortar, M1896MI, #240, Watertown	1901-1918	See note 2
Mortar Pit B
B1	12" Mortar	141.125"	M1890MI		13	Niles	Mortar, M1896MI, #162, Builders	1901-1943	See note 1
B2	12" Mortar	141.125"	M1890MI		49	Bethlehem	Mortar, M1896MI, #192, American Hoist	1901-1918	See note 2
B3	12" Mortar	141.125"	M1890MI		43	Bethlehem	Mortar, M1896MI, #191, American Hoist	1901-1942	See note 1
B4	12" Mortar	141.125"	M1890MI		42	Bethlehem	Mortar, M1896MI, #161, Builders	1901-1918	See note 2
Source: RCW Form 1, 1 Nov 1927, 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 140-141, 206 Note 1: Mortars and carriages ordered scrapped 12 Oct 1942. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Note 2: Mortars transferred 31 May 1918 to Watertown CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Note 3: Mortar swapped out from #52. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA

Battery Stoneman 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. During the war two mortars were removed from the front of each mortar pit and transferred 31 May 1918 to the Watertown Arsenal for modification and possible use as railroad mortars. None of these mortars made it overseas and they were not returned to Battery Stoneman. The four empty carriages were scrapped during the 1920 disarmament program on 26 May 1920.

World War II

The four remaining mortars and carriages were ordered scrapped 12 Oct 1942 during the first large scale scrap drive of World War II.

Current Status

No period guns or mounts in place.

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Location: Plum Island, Suffolk County, New York. Maps & Images Lat: 41.189017 Long: -72.164722 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 39.06'

Sources:

• U.S.Army, Supplement to the Harbor Defense Project of Long Island Sound, (HDLIS-AN-45), 15 Feb 1945, CDSG

Links:

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

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