Battery Gardiner

Battery Gardiner (1900-1913) - Battery Gardiner was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 4.72 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Taylor (2), Monroe County, Florida. The battery was named in G.O. 78, 15 May 1903, after Captain George W. Gardiner (Cullum 91), 2nd U.S. Artillery, who was killed 28 Dec 1835, in action with the Seminole Indians at Withlacoochee River, Florida. Battery construction started Jun 1898, was completed Jan 1899 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 12 Feb 1900 at a cost of $ 18,000.00. Deactivated in 1913. Endicott Period Part of the Harbor Defense of Key West. Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with two 4.72" Armstrong guns mounted on Armstrong carriages. This was a two story battery with the guns mounted on the top level and two magazines below. No powder or shell hoists were installed. Electric power was furnished from the power plant in Battery De Leon.The guns and carriages were dismounted and shipped to Hawaiian Islands, Jul 1913, and the battery abandoned. Battery Gardiner Armament (edit list) Empl No Caliber Type Barrel Length Model Serial No Manufacturer Carriage Service Dates Notes 1 4.72" Rifle 218.4" Armstrong 11002 Armstrong Pedestal, Armstrong, #9082, Armstrong 1900-1913 See note 1 2 4.72" Rifle 218.4" Armstrong 11003 Armstrong Pedestal, Armstrong, #11004, Armstrong 1900-1913 See note 1 Source: RCW Form 1, 30 Sep 1921, 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 86-87, 211 Note 1: Carriages (and presumably the guns) transferred 19 May 1913 to Fort Kamehameha, Hawaii. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Battery Gardiner Plan Current Status Battery was destroyed in 1962. No period guns or mounts in place. Location: (map point is approximate) Truman Annex, NAS Key West, Florida Maps & Images Lat: 24.546288 Long: -81.805130 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 20' Sources: Links: CDSG Visited: Area 2 Jan 2010