Battery Sedgwick

 (1901-1942) - Battery Sedgwick was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 12 inch coastal mortar battery on Fort Greble (2), Newport County, Rhode Island. The battery was named in G.O. 43, 4 Apr 1900 after Major General John Sedgwick, U.S. Volunteers, a distinguished soldier of the Mexican-American War and the U.S. Civil War, who was killed at the Battle of Spottsylvania, 9 May 1864. Battery construction started in September 1898, was completed in November 1900 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 23 Jan 1901 at a cost of $ 140,837.27. Deactivated in 1942.

Endicott Period
Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal mortar battery with eight 12" M1890MI mortars mounted on M1896MI mortar carriages. This was a single level battery with two mortar pits each having four mortars. The magazines were located in concrete shelters adjacent to the mortar pits and under an earth covering. The mortar shells and powder were wheeled out to the loading platform on shot carts. Electrical power was furnished by an internal emplacement power plant.



World War I
On 3 May 1918 four mortars were ordered dismounted and prepared for shipment. The mortars were turned over to the quartermaster for shipment on 4 Jun 1918 and shipped to Morgan.

World War II
The four remaining mortars and carriages were ordered scrapped in 1942 during the first large scale scrap drive of World War II.

Current Status
Part of Dutch Island State Wildlife Management Area Park, Dutch Island, Newport County, Rhode Island. No period guns or mounts in place.

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