Battery Ord

 (1898-1917) - Battery Jules Ord was constructed at Fort Columbia between December of 1896 and July of 1898. The battery was transferred for service on July 16, 1898, for a total cost of $137,298.79. The Battery is named after Lt. Jules G. Ord, who was killed in action at San Juan Hill in the Spanish American War on December 27, 1904.



Endicott Period (1890-1910)
Battery Ord was the first active Endicott Period battery emplacement in Fort Columbia. This battery is unusual in that it was actually two separate sets of emplacements. The main battery was armed with two 8-inch disappearing rifles and the other emplacement was armed with a single 8-inch disappearing rifle and an experimental carriage. Originally, the third separate gun emplacement was named Battery Neary but at some time the name was dropped and became part of Battery Ord. In 1909 the third gun emplacement was modified to mount a standard M1896 disappearing carriage and the existing M1888MII gun was mounted on it. The replacement carriage came from deactivated Battery Burnham on Fort Mason, California. In 1910, the third rifle emplacement magazine room and the corridor were remodeled and used as a switchboard room.

World War I (1917-1918)
The guns for the battery were ordered dismounted on 24 Aug 1917 and shipped to France later in the year and were never replaced. The gun carriages were sold and removed by 1920.



Current Status
The battery is in fair condition and open to the public. However, the main emplacement is partially closed due to safety and deterioration issues of some areas of the battery. There is no access to the buried third gun emplacement. No period guns or carriages in place.

Sources: Links: 
 * Information displays at the battery