Battery Mellon

 (1904-1920) - Battery Charles Mellon was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 3 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Dade (3), Egmont Key, Pinellas County, Florida. The battery was named in G.O. 194, 27 Dec 1904, after Captain Charles Mellon, 2nd U.S. Artillery, who was killed in action with Seminole Indians at the head of Lake Monroe, Florida, 8 Feb 1837. Battery construction was completed and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 28 Jun 1904 at a cost of $ 15,333. Battery deactivated in 1920.

Endicott Period (1890-1910)
Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with three 3" M1898MI Driggs-Seabury guns mounted on M1898 Masking Parapet mouunts. This was a two story, "L" shaped battery with the guns located on the upper level and the magazines below. On the left flank of the battery was the #3 magazine and a bombproof. Shells were moved from the magazine level to the gun loading platform by hand. No shell or powder hoists were provided. Electrical power was furnished by the emplacement power plant in Battery Howard.



World War I (1917-1918)
The guns of were not affected by the World War I redistribution but the following 1920 disarmament program caused the battery to be deactivated, the guns shipped back to Watervliet and the carriages scrapped. The guns were transferred to Watervliet on 26 Aug 1920 and the carriages were ordered scrapped on 20 May 1920.

Current Status
Part of Egmont Key Florida State Park, Egmont Key, Pinellas County, Florida. No period guns or mounts in place.

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