Battery Adair

 (1904-1920) - Battery Adair was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 3 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Taylor (2), Monroe County, Florida. The battery was named in G.O. 78, 15 May 1903, after 1st Lt. Lewis D. Adair, 22nd U.S. Infantry, who died 5 Oct 1872, of wounds received in action with Sioux Indians at Heart River Crossing, Dakota Territory, 4 Oct 1872. Battery construction started Jun 1899, was completed Mar 1901 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 13 Oct 1904 at a cost of $ 28,275.00. Deactivated in 1920.

Endicott Period
Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with four 3" M1898 guns mounted on modified M1898 balanced pillar mounts. Gun emplacements #2-#4 were accepted for service 23 Apr 1901, emplacement #1 was accepted for service 13 Oct 1904. This battery was a two story battery built on top of the U.S. Civil War casemates along the west curtain of Fort Taylor (2). The four 3" guns were emplaced on the upper level with a separate magazine for each emplacement on the lower level. Shell and powder hoists were not required because the 3" ammunition was light enough to be hand carried.



World War I
Battery Adair survived the World War I redistribution but was caught in the 1920 disarmament plan. On 27 Mar 1920 all four guns were ordered removed and the carriages salvaged. The guns were transferred to Watervliet 17 Sep 1920 and the mounts were scrapped 20 May 1920.

Current Status
No period guns or mounts in place.

See Also:
 * Fort Taylor

Blog Posts:
 * Fort Zachary Taylor at Key West Florida

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