Battery Burnham

 (1900-1909) - Battery Burnham was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 8 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Mason (2), San Francisco County, California. The battery was named in G.O. 21, 28 Feb 1902, after 1st Lt. Howard M. Burnham, 5th U.S. Artillery, who was killed in the battle of Chickamauga, Georgia,on 19 Sep 1863, during the U.S. Civil War. Battery construction started in 1899, was completed in 1900 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 21 Aug 1900. at a cost of $ 32,137.62. Deactivated in 1909.

Endicott Period (1890-1910)
Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with one 8" M1888 gun mounted on an M1896 Disappearing carriage. This was a two story battery with the gun located on the upper level and the magazine below. Shells were moved from the magazine level to the gun loading platform by a hand operated Hodges back delivery shell hoist. No powder hoists were provided. Electrical power was furnished by the emplacement power plant.

A limited field of fire and the caliber of the gun made Battery Burnham ineffective and it was deactivated in 1909. Both the gun and the carriage were removed that year. The carriage was transferred to Battery Ord, Fort Columbia in October 1909. The M1888 gun was apparently transferred to Benicia Arsenal.



Current Status
Battery repurposed, no period guns or mounts in place.

Sources: Links: 
 * , page 10
 * California Military Museum - Battery Burnham