Battery Huger

Battery Huger (1899-1943) - Battery Isaac Huger was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 12 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Sumter, Charleston County, South Carolina. The battery was named in G.O. 194, 27 Dec 1904 after Bvt. Maj. Gen. Isaac Huger, Continental Army (Brig. Gen. Continental Army), Revolutionary War veteran, who died 17 Oct 1797. Battery construction started in 1897, was completed in 1898 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 15 Jun 1899 at a cost of $ 97,200.00. Deactivated in 1943. Battery Huger Battery Huger Gun Emplacement #1 Endicott Period (1890-1910) Part of the Harbor Defense of Charleston. Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with two 12" M1888MII guns, one mounted on an M1892 Barbette carriage and one mounted on an M1896 disappearing carriage. This is a two story battery built into old Fort Sumter, with the guns on the upper level and the magazines and service rooms below. Two hand operated Hodges shell hoists were originally installed at the battery to hoist the 12" shells from the magazine level to the gun level. A 10 KW electric power plant was installed under the left flank of the battery to provide for interior battery lighting. The electric power plant was upgraded several times with equipment transferred from Fort Fremont and relocated to under the right flank of the battery. Battery Huger Armament (edit list) Empl No Caliber Type Barrel Length Model Serial No Manufacturer Carriage Service Dates Notes 1 12" Rifle 440" M1888MII 30 Watervliet Barbette, M1892, #14, Morgan 1899-1943 See note 1 2 12" Rifle 440" M1888MII 22 Watervliet Disappearing, M1896, #17, Bethlehem 1899-1943 See note 1 Source: RCW Form 1, 1 Jul 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 136-139, Note 1: Guns and carriages ordered scrapped 6 Dec 1942 and 9 Dec 1943 Battery Huger Plan 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 Huger were not affected by the World War I redistribution or the following 1920 disarmament program. New electric motor driven Taylor-Raymond back delivery shell hoists were installed in 1917. These hoists were accepted for service, #1 on 4 Dec 1917, #2 on 22 Aug 1917. World War II (1941-1945) Battery Huger was obsolete at the beginning of World War II and the battery was deactivated in 1942-43. Battery 230 and Battery 520 on Fort Moultrie provided large caliber protection for the harbor when they came on line as a result of the 1940 Modernization program. On 25 Nov 1942 authorization for the dismantling and scrapping of the guns and carriages of Battery Huger was issued. Current Status No period guns or mounts in place. Location: Fort Sumter, Charleston County, South Carolina Maps & Images Lat: 32.7523573 Long: -79.8746663 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: Gun #1=35.26', Gun #2=35.83 Sources: U.S.Army, Supplement to the Harbor Defense Project of Charleston, S.C., (HDCN-AN-45), 15 Mar 1945, CDSG Links: CDSG Visited: 23 Jan 2010 Picture Gallery Click on the picture to see a larger version. Contribute additional pictures - the more the better! Battery Huger Exterior View Battery Huger BC Post Front Battery Huger BC Post Rear Battery Huger BC Post Interior