Battery Wallace (1)

Battery Wallace (1) (1900-1917) - Battery Wallace was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 8 inch coastal gun battery on Fort McDowell (1), Angel Island, San Francisco County, California. The battery was named in G.O. 16, 14 Feb 1902, after 1st Lt. Robert B. Wallace, 2nd U.S. Cavalry, who died 13 Mar 1900 of wounds received in action at Caloocan, Luzon, Philippine Islands, on 10 Feb 1899. Battery construction started in 1899, was completed in 1900 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 1 Aug 1900 at a cost of $40,420.42. Deactivated in 1917. Battery Wallace Gun Emplacement #1 Battery Wallace Shell Hoist Endicott Period (1890-1910) Part of the Harbor Defense of San Francisco. Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with one 8" M1888 gun mounted on an M1896 Disappearing carriage. The Battery had a single Back Delivery Hodges shell hoist and no powder hoists. The electric plant was a 10 hp Hornsby-Akroyd oil engine belted to a 6 kW, 120 volt Eddy Generator. No traversing, elevating, depressing or retracting motors were installed on the carriage and the power plant was primarily for lighting. 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. On 24 Aug 1917 the gun at Battery Wallace was ordered dismounted for use abroad. The gun was removed from Battery Wallace 31 Dec 1917 and shipped to Watervliet Arsenal. The gun was moved among several storage locations and was finally processed for disposal at Aberdeen 21 Jan 1946. The carriage was scrapped at Fort McDowell (1) in May of 1918. Battery Wallace Armament (edit list) Empl No Caliber Type Barrel Length Model Serial No Manufacturer Carriage Service Dates Notes 1 8" Rifle 278.5" M1888MII 11 Bethlehem Disappearing, M1896, #28, Watertown 1900-1917 See note 1 Source: RCW Form 1, 1 Mar 1920, 1 Oct 1927, CDSG, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 110-111, 215 Note 1: Gun transferred 31 Dec 1917 to Watervliet Arsenal, carriage scrapped May 1918. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Battery Wallace Plan Current Status Part of Angel Island California State Park, San Francisco County, California. No gun or mounts in place. Location: Fort McDowell, Angel Island, San Francisco County, California Maps & Images Lat: 37.8575199 Long: -122.4405858 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 235.5' Sources: Kent, Matthew W., Harbor Defenses of San Francisco - A Field Guide 1890 to 1950, Copyright 2009, Blurb, ISBN 978-1-61584-163-9, page 129 Links: Angel Island Artillery History CDSG Visited: 29 Aug 2009 Picture Gallery Battery Wallace Magazine Battery Wallace Interior Battery Wallace BC Station Battery Wallace Gun Carriage Counterweight Well Battery Wallace Switchboard Room from Above Switchboard Room Entrance Switchboard Room Exterior Battery Wallace Gun Emplacement #1 from the Rear Battery Wallace Gun Emplacement #1 from the Side Battery Wallace Side Wall Enclosure Battery Wallace Small Side Building (probably officer's latrine) Battery Wallace Large Side Building (probably enlisted latrine) Battery Wallace Magazine & BC Post from the Rear