Battery Merrill

 (1907-1920) - Battery Merrill was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 6 inch coastal gun battery on Fort St. Philip, Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. The battery was named in G.O. 78, 25 May 1903, after Captain Moses E. Merrill, 5th U.S. Infantry, who was killed 8 Sep 1847, at the battle of Molino del Rey, Mexico. Battery construction started 10 Jun 1901, was completed 8 Jul 1907 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 1 Oct 1907 at a cost of $ 97,328.15. Deactivated in 1920.

Endicott Period (1890-1910)
Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with four 6" M1900 guns mounted on M1900 Pedestal carriages. 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 four hand operated Taylor-Raymond ammunition hoists. Electrical power was furnished by the central power plant.



World War I (1917-1918)
The two guns and carriages of emplacements #3 and #4 were dismounted and shipped to the east coast on 23 May 1918. The guns and carriages wound up in Battery Montgomery (2) at Fort Monroe. The remaining guns and carriages were transferred to New Orleans on 4 Oct 1921 for storage following the 11 Mar 1920 deactivation of Fort St. Philip.

Current Status
Private property, access by boat with permission, in very dangerous condition. No period guns or mounts in place.

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