Battery Irons

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Battery Irons (1900-1913) - Battery Irons was a concrete Endicott Period 4.7" gun battery located on Fort Armistead (1), Maryland. Battery construction started 2 Apr 1898, was completed in July 1898 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 5 Jan 1900 at a total cost of $10,616.08. The Battery was named inG.O. 78, 15 May 1903, for 1st Lt. Joseph F. Irons, 1st U.S. Artillery, who died 26 Aug 1847, of wounds received at the battle of Churubusco, Mexico, while reconnoitering the Tete-du-Pont Battery, during the Mexican-American War. Deactivated in 1913.

Battery Irons 2009
Battery Irons Entrance


History

Part of the Harbor Defense of Baltimore.

Battery Irons was a reinforced concrete Endicott Period 4.7" Armstrong gun battery with two British Armstrong guns mounted on Armstrong Barbette Carriages. The carriages arrived at Fort Armistead (1) on 12 Aug 1898 and presumably the gun tubes arrived with them. The guns and the carriages were removed and shipped to Fort Ruger in the Hawaiian Islands on 24 Jul 1913.


Battery Irons Armament (edit list)
Empl
No
Caliber
Type
Barrel
Length
Model Serial
No
Manufacturer Carriage Service
Dates
Notes
1 4.72" Rifle 218.4" Armstrong 11001 Armstrong Pedestal Mount, #11016, Armstrong 1900-1913 See Note 1
2 4.72" Rifle 218.4" Armstrong 11005 Armstrong Pedestal Mount, #11015, Armstrong 1900-1913 See Note 1
Source: CDSG, RCW Form 1, 1 Jan 1920, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 86, 209
Note 1: Guns and carriages removed and shipped 24 Jul 1913 to Fort Ruger, CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA
Fort Armistead Battery Irons Plan.jpg


Current Status

On Fort Armistead Baltimore City Park. No period guns or carriages are in place. The Battery is covered with graffitti and a bit overgrown.


Location: Fort Armistead (1), Maryland.

Maps & Images

Lat: 39.208494 Long: -76.533921

Sources:

Links:

Visited: 2 Apr 2009

Battery Irons Picture Gallery

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