Battery Sanders

 (1903-1943) - Battery William Sanders was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 6 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Revere, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. The battery was named in G.O. 194, 27 Dec 1904, after Brigadier General William P. Sanders, U.S. Volunteers (captain, 6th U.S. Cavalry), who died 19 Nov 1863, of wounds received in action at Knoxville, Tennessee, 16 Nov 1863, during the U.S. Civil War. Battery construction started in 1903, was completed in 1906 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 28 Jun 1906 at a cost of $ 136,000.00. Deactivated in 1943.

Endicott Period (1890-1910)
Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with six 6" M1903 guns mounted on M1903 Disappearing carriages. This was a single story battery with the guns located on a raised platform and the magazines below. Shells were moved from the magazine to the gun loading platform by shot cart. No shell or powder hoists were needed or provided. Electrical power was furnished by the emplacement power plant and the Battery Ripley power plant.

This battery was administratively divided in 1906 into Battery Sanders (4 guns) and Battery Pope (2 guns). These batteries were again administratively realigned on 12 May 1909, so that each had three guns. The original emplacements 1-3 became Battery Pope, emplacements 1-3. Original emplacements 3-6 retained the Battery Sanders name but became emplacements 1-3. See Battery Pope for the disposition of that battery.



World War I (1917-1918)
The guns of were not affected by the World War I redistribution or the following 1920 disarmament program.

World War II (1941-1945)
Battery Sanders was a part of the Harbor Defenses of Boston until 1943 when it was deactivated. The guns were transferred to Watervliet 5 Jun 1943 and the carriages were ordered salvaged 16 Jun 1943.

Current Status
Part of Fort Revere Park, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. No period guns or mounts in place.

See Also:
 * Battery Pope
 * Fort Revere

Sources:
 * U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, FUDS Archives Search Report, Findings, Fort Revere, Project No. D02MA021502, September 1995. Large PDF Download

Links: