Battery Cullum
Battery Cullum (1898-1933) - Battery Cullum was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 10 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Pickens, Escambia County, Florida. The battery was named in G.O. 43, 4 Apr 1900, after Brigadier General George W. Cullum, U.S. Volunteers, a distinguished officer of the U.S. Civil War, who, by his munificence toward the United States Military Academy, endeared himself to all its graduates. Battery construction started in 1895, was completed in 1898 and transferred to the Coastal Artillery for use in March and June 1898 at a cost of $ 188,920.24. Deactivated in 1933.
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Endicott Period (1890-1910)
Part of the Harbor Defense of Pensacola.
Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with four 10" M1888MII guns mounted on three M1894 Disappearing carriages and one M1896 Disappearing carriage. This was a two story battery with the guns located on the upper level and the magazines below. Shells were moved from the magazine level to the gun loading platform by Taylor-Raymond back delivery shell hoists. No powder hoists were provided. Electrical power was furnished by an emplacement power plant and commercial power.
The sand slopes of Battery Cullum were damaged in the hurricane of September 26-27, 1906. The slopes were restored and bermuda grass was planted to stabilize the sand.
A BC Station and plotting room was constructed in 1915 in back of and between gun emplacements 3 and 4. The BC Station and plotting room was accepted for service 20 Aug 1915 at a cost of $2,310.84.
The four emplacements of Battery Cullum remained a single battery until 1916 when it was administratively divided into two batteries. Emplacements 1 and 2 became Battery Sevier and emplacements 3 and 4 became emplacements 1 and 2 of Battery Cullum.
| Empl No |
Caliber Type |
Barrel Length |
Model | Serial No |
Manufacturer | Carriage | Service Dates |
Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Cullum Until 1916 | |||||||||
| 1 | 10" Rifle | 367.25" | M1888MII | 25 | Watervliet | Disappearing, M1894, #6, Kilby | 1898-1916 | See note 1 | |
| 2 | 10" Rifle | 367.25" | M1888MII | 42 | Watervliet | Disappearing, M1894, #7, Kilby | 1898-1916 | See note 1 | |
| 3 | 10" Rifle | 367.25" | M1888MII | 44 | Watervliet | Disappearing, M1894, #8, Kilby | 1898-1916 | See note 1 | |
| 4 | 10" Rifle | 367.25" | M1888MII | 30 | Watervliet | Disappearing, M1896, #38, Bethlehem | 1898-1916 | See note 1 | |
| Battery Cullum 1916-1918 | |||||||||
| 1 | 10" Rifle | 367.25" | M1888MII | 44 | Watervliet | Disappearing, M1894, #8, Kilby | 1916-1918 | See note 1 | |
| 2 | 10" Rifle | 367.25" | M1888MII | 30 | Watervliet | Disappearing, M1896, #38, Bethlehem | 1916-1918 | See note 1 | |
| Battery Cullum 1921-1933 | |||||||||
| 1 | 10" Rifle | 367.25" | M1888MII | 48 | Watervliet | Disappearing, M1894, #8, Kilby | 1921-1933 | See note 2 | |
| 2 | 10" Rifle | 367.25" | M1888MII | 49 | Watervliet | Disappearing, M1896, #38, Bethlehem | 1921-1933 | See note 2 | |
| Source: RCW Form 1, 21 Jan 1929, RCB, 31 Dec 1904, 31 Dec 1909, CDSG, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 124-125 Note 1: CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Note 2: Guns from Fort Stevens (1) one each from Battery Walker and Battery Lewis via Watervliet. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA | |||||||||
World War I (1917-1918)
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 Cullum were not affected by the World War I redistribution or the following 1920 disarmament program but the battery was declared obsolete and deactivated in 1933.
World War II (1941-1945)
In 1942 the Battery Trueman was relocated from its original location into old Battery Cullum. The guns and carriages were moved into two new emplacements built between the old emplacements of Battery Cullum. The magazines were rehabilitated. This construction began in March 1942, was completed in December 1942 and transferred for service in May 1944 at a cost of $ 20,330.00. Included in the rehabilitation was a new stair system and an ammunition hoist.
Current Status
No period guns or mounts in place. This battery was fenced off and no access to the battery structure was available.
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Location: Fort Pickens, Escambia County, Florida Maps & Images Lat: 30.326823 Long: -87.293651 |
Sources:
- Historic Structure Report and Resource Study, Pensacola Harbor Defense Project 1890-1947, Florida Unit, National Park service, March 1982
- U.S.Army, Supplement to the Harbor Defense Project of Pensacola, (HDPEN-AN-45), 1 Jul 1945, CDSG
Links:
Visited: 25 Apr 2013, 16 Dec 2009
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