Battery Croghan

 (1900-1946) - Battery Croghan was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 3 inch coastal gun battery on Fort San Jacinto, Galveston County, Texas. The battery was named in G.O. 194, 27 Dec 1904, after Colonel George Croghan, Inspector General U.S. Army, who died 8 Jan 1849. Battery construction started 12 Jul 1899, was completed Jan 1900 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 31 Mar 1900 at a cost of $ 32,988.75. The 1900 Galveston hurricane damaged the battery before it could be armed and it was repaired, armed and re-transferred for use 21 Aug 1911. Deactivated in 1946.

Endicott Period (1890-1910)
The major mission of Battery Croghan was the protection of the shipping channel mine fields.

Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery slated for two 15 pounder 3" Driggs-Seabury M1898 rapid fire guns mounted on masking parapet carriages. The battery was completed and accepted early in 1900 before the 1900 Galveston hurricane but not armed. The battery structure survived the hurricane but was left exposed on its pilings. The battery was refurbished and the ramparts rebuilt. When the time came to arm the battery, the more modern rapid fire 3" M1903 guns mounted on M1903 pedestal mounts were emplaced. The carriages were transferred 9 Dec 1907 and the guns were mounted sometime before 1 Jan 1910.

A stand alone mine casement that was destroyed during the 1900 Galveston hurricane was relocated and reconstructed on the right rear traverse of Battery Croghan. A exposed cable tunnel leads from the mine casement room of Battery Croghan to the water's edge.



World War I (1917-1918)
Battery Croghan was not impacted by the World War I transfers.

World War II (1941-1945)
] Battery Croghan served throughout World War II but after the end of the war all the batteries were placed in an inactive status. The guns and carriages were declared obsolete (18 Oct 1945) and were processed for salvage 27 May 1946.

Current Status
Accessible from the end of Seawall Avenue. No period guns or mounts in place.

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