Battery Farnsworth

 (1898-1917) - Battery Elon Farnsworth was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 8 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Constitution (2), New Castle Island, Rockingham County, New Hampshire. The battery was named in G.O. 194, 27 Dec 1904, after Brigadier General Elon J. Farnsworth, U.S. Volunteers, who was killed in action at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, 3 Jul 1863, during the U.S. Civil War. Battery construction started in 1897, was completed in 1899 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 23 Jul 1898 at a cost of $ 65,000.00. Deactivated in 1917.

Endicott Period (1890-1910)
Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with two 8" M1888MII guns mounted on M1894 Disappearing 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 platform ammunition lifts operated by hand. No shell or powder hoists were provided. Electrical power was furnished by the emplacement power plant.



World War I (1917-1918)
The guns of were ordered dismounted for use abroad on 24 Aug 1917. They were transferred to NYC on 1 Oct 1917. The carriages were ordered scrapped in May 1918. Battery Farnsworth was not rearmed.

World War II (1941-1945)
A reinforce concrete mine observation station (M1) was built on top of Battery Farnsworth gun emplacement #1 and accepted for service 13 March 1943 at a cost of $ 4,061.

Current Status
Part of Fort Constitution State Historical Site, New Castle Island, Rockingham County, New Hampshire. No period guns or mounts in place.

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