Battery Van Swearingen

 (1898-1917) - Battery Van Swearingen was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 4.72 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Pickens, Escambia County, Florida. The battery was named in G.O. 78, 15 May 1903 after Captain Joseph Van Swearingen, 6th U.S. Infantry, killed 25 Dec 1837 in the Seminole Indian Wars in the Battle of Okeechobee. Battery construction started in June 1898, was completed in October 1898 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 29 Jun 1898 at a cost of $ 7,497.94. Deactivated in 1917.

Endicott Period (1890-1910)
Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with two 4.72" Armstrong guns mounted on Armstrong carriages. This is a two story battery with the guns on pedestal mounts on the second level and two magazines, one for each emplacement, below on the first level. No hoists were required and electricity was furnished from a central plant.



World War I (1917-1918)
Both of the 4.72" guns from Battery Van Swearingen were transferred for service overseas to the Army Transport Service (ATS) on 24 Oct 1917. ATS transferred the guns and carriages back to Battery Van Swearingen 24 May 1919 after World War I ended. The guns and carriages were subsequently donated to organizations. Gun # 9718 and associate carriage were donated to Danialsville, Georgia and gun # 9719 was donated to Orlando, Florida.

In 1922, a C.R.F. station for Battery Payne was built into gun emplacement #1 of Battery Van Swearingen. The station was turned over for use 3 Mar 1923 at a cost of $ 1,946.49.

Current Status
Battery Van Swearingen is part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore and is administered by the National Park Service. No period guns or mounts in place.

Sources:
 * , page 197
 * De Quesada, Alejandro M., A History of Florida Forts: Florida's Lonely Outposts, SC : History Press, Charleston, 2006, ISBN 1596291044, page 192

Links: 
 * Gun Batteries NPS