Battery Hardman

 (1908-1917) - Battery John Hardman was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 6 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Baldwin (1), Sagadahoc County, Maine. The battery was named in G.O. 20, 25 Jan 1906, after Captain John Hardman, 2nd Maryland Regiment, Continental Army, who was wounded and taken prisoner at Camden, South Carolina, and who died while a prisoner of war 1 Sep 1780. Battery construction started in 1905, was completed in 1908 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 13 Nov 1908 at a cost of $ 33,000.00. Deactivated in 1917.

Endicott Period (1890-1910)


Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with one 6" M1905 gun mounted on an M1903 Disappearing carriage. This was a two story battery with the guns located on the upper level and the magazines below. Shells were moved from the magazine level to the gun loading platform by hand. No shell or powder hoists were provided. Electrical power was furnished by a temporary power plant in Battery Cogan.

The gun was mounted in July 1908.



World War I (1917-1918)
The guns of Battery Hardman were ordered dismounted for use on railway mounts abroad on 24 Aug 1917. The gun was actually dismounted 26 Nov 1917 and shipped to Watervliet 8 Dec 1917. The gun was transferred to Watervliet on 4 Dec 1917 and eventually made its way to France in 1918. This gun was returned to the U.S. in 1919 but not to Battery Hardman. Battery Hardman remained unarmed and the remaining carriage was ordered scrapped on 26 May 1920.

Current Status
Part of Fort Baldwin Memorial State Park, Sagadahoc County, Maine. No period guns or mounts in place.

Sources:
 * U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, FUDS Archives Search Report, Findings, Fort Baldwin Military…ME011702, Phippsburg, ME. Large pdf download

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