Fort Rosecrans
Fort Rosecrans (1852-1959) - Established 26 Feb 1852 as the Fort at Ballast Point and renamed Fort Rosecrans in 1899 after Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans. Located in San Diego County, California. The military reservation was transferred to the U.S. Navy Department 1 Jul 1959.
Fort Rosecrans History
The initial fortifications were planned for Ballast Point about the location of the old Spanish Fort Guijarros but actual construction of earthworks didn't begin until 1873. Plagued by a chronic lack of funds, the first batteries weren't completed until 7 Feb 1898.
Endicott Period (1890-1910)
Part of the Harbor Defense of San Diego. Established to protect the entrance to San Diego Harbor.
Four Endicott Period Batteries were constructed beginning in 1897 and two of them remained active through 1943.
Initial post construction was completed in 1904 as a small two company coastal fort. Officers row contained the commanding officer's quarters and four sets of duplex company grade officer quarters. Two 116 man barracks and two sets of duplex NCO quarters housed the enlisted men. A guardhouse, hospital, administration building and various support buildings completed the basic post. A small expansion took place between 1909 and 1911 with the addition of more NCO quarters, a PX/gym and a morgue.
The post was laid out along San Diego bay with the major buildings all in a row facing the bay. The traditional central parade was not possible because of the slope of the land. The gun batteries were all situated to the south of the post buildings.
| Battery Click on Battery links below |
No. | Caliber | Type Mount | Service Years | Battery Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Calef-Wilkeson | 1 3 |
10" 10" |
Disappearing Disappearing |
1898-1899-1900-1942 1897-1898-1898-1942 |
$ 217,262 | Emp #1 Emp #2,3,4 |
| Battery McGrath | 2 2 |
5" 3" |
Balanced Pillar Pedestal |
1899-1900-1900-1917 1919-1943 |
$ 18,204 | Guns to France From Fort Pio Pico, Battery Meed |
| Battery Fetterman | 2 | 3" | Masked Pedestal | 1898-1903-1903-1920 | $ 8,865 | Destroyed 1940 |
| Source: CDSG | ||||||
Taft Period (1905-1915)
Construction on two Taft Period mortar batteries began just before the United States entered World War I. Battery Whistler was built at the north edge of the reservation while Battery White (2) was built on the western edge.
| Battery Click on Battery links below |
No. | Caliber | Type Mount | Service Years | Battery Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Whistler | 4 | 12" | Mortar | 1916-1919-1919-1942 | $ 118,000 | Mortars from Battery Laidley, Fort De Soto, modified |
| Battery White (2) | 4 | 12" | Mortar | 1915-1919-1919-1942 | $ 144,200 | Mortars from Battery Rodney, Fort DuPont (1) |
| Source: CDSG | ||||||
World War I (1917-1918)
During World War I the 5" guns of Battery McGrath were ordered dismounted for shipment abroad. They were later replaced with the 3" guns from Fort PioPico, Battery Meed. After the war, the 3" guns and carriages of Battery Fetterman were ordered scrapped.
The post expanded greatly during World War I and many temporary buildings were built. The 1921 plans show some of these buildings still in place. Many of them remained until World War II.
World War II (1941-1945)
Three World War II temporary batteries, and four 1940 program batteries were constructed over the war years.
| Battery Click on Battery links below |
No. | Caliber | Type Mount | Service Years | Battery Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Zeilin | 2 | 7" | Pedestal Mount | 1937-1943 | $ ? | Naval Guns Buried |
| Battery Gillespie | 3 | 5" | Pedestal Mount | 1937-1943 | $ ? | Naval Guns |
| Battery Strong | 2 | 8" | Barbette Carriage | 1937-1937-1942-1946 | $ 100,726 | LR Navy Guns |
| Battery 126 Battery Ashburn |
2 | 16" | Casemated Barbette | 1942-1944-1944-1948 | $ 1,323,912 | LR Navy Guns |
| Battery 237 Battery Woodward |
2 | 6" | Barbette with Shield | 1943-1943-1944-1946 | $ 255,912 | |
| Battery 238 Battery Humphreys |
2 | 6" | Barbette with Shield | 1942-1943-1944-1946 | $ 199,661 | |
| Battery 155 - Point Loma | 4 | 155mm | Panama Mounts | 1941-1941-1942-1943 | $ 7,166 | |
| Battery AMTB - Fetterman | 2 | 90mm | AMTB Fixed | 1943-1943-1943-1946 | $ 19,600* | * shared by 3 batteries |
| Battery AMTB - Cabrillo | 2 | 90mm | AMTB Fixed | 1943-1943-1943-1946 | $ 19,600* | * shared by 3 batteries |
| Source: CDSG | ||||||
On 1 Jul 1959 the reservation was transferred to the Navy Department.
Current Status
Active military reservation and Cabrillo National Monument.
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Location: Point Loma, San Diego, San Diego County, California. Maps & Images Lat: 32.676012 Long: -117.237682 |
Sources:
- Hart, Herbert M., Tour Guide to Old Western Forts, Pruett Publishing Co., Boulder CO, 1980, ISBN 0-87108-568-2, page 33
- Frazer, Robert W., Forts of the West, University of Oklahoma Press, Norman OK, 1965, ISBN 0-8061-1250-6, page 29-30
- Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 85
- CABRILLO: The Guns of San Diego Historic Resource Study, NPS
- The Journal of San Diego History
Links:
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