Battery Nash

 (1904-1917) - Battery Nash was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 8 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Ward (2), Kitsap County, Washington. The battery was named in G.O. 194, 27 Dec 1904 after Brigadier General Francis Nash, Continental Army, who died 17 Oct 1777, of wounds received in action at Germantown, Pennsylvania, 4 Oct 1777, during the Revolutionary War. Battery construction started in 1899, was completed in 1903 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 18 Jan 1904 at a cost of $ 120,432.00. Deactivated in 1917.

Endicott Period (1890-1910)
Built to protect the Bremerton Navy Yard and the Rich Passage.

Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with three 8" M1888 guns mounted on M1896 disappearing carriages. Battery Nash was a two story battery with the guns on the upper level and the magazines and service rooms on the lower level. Each gun emplacement had an associated shot room, powder room, shell room and hoist room below. In 1907 Taylor-Raymond back delivery electric motor driven hoists were installed and transferred for use on 28 Apr 1907. A 25 KW gasoline driven power plant was installed next to emplacement #1 and transferred for use on 2 May 1910.



World War I (1917-1918)
All three of the 8" Battery Nash guns were ordered dismounted for service abroad on 24 Aug 1917. The guns were then transferred to Watervliet Arsenal for modification to a mobile configuration 31 Dec 1917. None of the guns were actually shipped overseas, they all remained stateside at various storage locations. All three of the carriages were scrapped in May 1918.

Current Status
On private property but visible from NE Point View Drive. No period guns or mounts in place.

Recent Blog Posts
 * Fort Ward and Middle Point Military Reservation in Washington State

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