Battery Burnes

Battery Burnes (1904-1945) - Battery Thomas Burnes was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 3 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Totten (3), New York. The battery was named in G.O. 194, 27 Dec 1904, after 2nd Lt. Thomas Burnes, 2nd U.S. Artillery, who died 28 Oct 1864 of wounds received in action at Hatchers Run, Virginia, 27 Oct 1864, during the U.S. Civil War. Battery construction started in 1903, was completed 5 May 1904 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 5 May 1904 at a cost of $ 10,000.00. Deactivated in 1945. Endicott Period Part of the Harbor Defense of Eastern New York. Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with two 3" M1902MI guns mounted on M1902 carriages. This was a two story battery with the guns mounted on the upper level and a magazine for each emplacement located on the lower level. No shell or powder hoists were provided. Battery Burnes Armament (edit list) Empl No Caliber Type Barrel Length Model Serial No Manufacturer Carriage Service Dates Notes 1 3" Rifle 154.35" M1902MI 57 Bethlehem Pedestal, M1902, #57, Bethlehem 1904-1945 See note 1 2 3" Rifle 154.35" M1902MI 58 Bethlehem Pedestal, M1902, #58, Bethlehem 1904-1945 See note 1 Source: RCW Form 1, 15 Apr 1904, 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 72-73, 206 Note 1: Guns and carriages processed for salvage 18 Oct 1945. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Battery Burnes 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. The guns of Battery Burnes were not affected by the World War I redistribution or the subsequent 1920 disarmament program. World War II The two M1902MI guns and M1902 carriages were salvaged 18 Oct 1945, at the end of World War II. Current Status No period guns or mounts in place. Location: Fort Totten, Queens County, New York Maps & Images Lat: 40.795334 Long: -73.780618 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: Gun #1=54.88', Gun #2=55.15' Sources: Links: Coast Defense Study Group, CDSG Press, CDSG Digital Library Visited: 21 Aug 2010