Battery Dickenson

 (1908-1947) - Battery Dickenson was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 6 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Wetherill, Newport County, Rhode Island. The battery was named in G.O. 78, 25 May 1903, after 1st Lieutenant George Dickenson, 4th U.S. Artillery, who was killed 13 Dec 1862 at the battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia, during the U.S. Civil War. Battery construction started in July 1901, was completed in July 1902 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 7 May 1908 at a cost of $ 36,500.00. Deactivated in 1947.

Endicott Period
Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with two 6" M1900 guns mounted on M1900 Barbette carriages. This was a two story battery with the guns mounted on the upper level and two magazines on the lower level. Shells were moved from the magazine level to the gun loading platform by two back delivery Hodges electric shell hoists. Electrical power was furnished by an emplacement power plant in Battery Wheaton.

Battery Wheaton, Battery Walbach, Battery Dickenson, Battery Zook, and Battery Crittenden were all accepted for service on the same day, 7 May 1908.



World War I
Battery Dickenson was unaffected by the World War I redistribution and the following 1920 disarmament program.

World War II
Battery Dickenson was declared excess on 30 Apr 1947.

Current Status
Part of Fort Wetherill State Park, Jamestown, Conanicut Island, Newport County, Rhode Island. No period guns or mounts in place.

See Also:
 * Fort Wetherill
 * Endicott Period
 * Harbor Defense of Narragansett Bay

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