Battery Bagley

Battery Bagley (1903-1926) - Battery Bagley was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 12 inch coastal mortar battery on Fort Caswell, Brunswick County, North Carolina. The battery was named in G.O. 138, 1899, after Ensign Worth Bagley, U.S. Navy, who was killed at Cardenas, Cuba, 11 May 1893. Battery construction started in 1898, was completed in 1899 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 5 Mar 1903 at a cost of $ 115,787.65. Guns and carriages removed in 1926. Battery Bagley Central Magazine Battery Bagley Mortar Pit A Battery Bagley View, the two towers were part of an enclosed observation/plotting room complex Endicott Period (1890-1910) Part of the Harbor Defense of Cape Fear River. Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal mortar battery with eight 12" M1890 mortars on M1896 mortar carriages. Battery Bagley Armament (edit list) Empl No Caliber Type Barrel Length Model Serial No Manufacturer Carriage Service Dates Notes A1 12" Mortar 141.125" M1890 3 Watervliet Mortar, M1896, #216, Maryland 1903-1911 See note 1 A2 12" Mortar 141.125" M1890 41 Builders Mortar, M1896, #218, Rarig 1903-1911 See note 1 A3 12" Mortar 141.125" M1890 39 Builders Mortar, M1896, #217, Maryland 1903-1911 See note 1 A4 12" Mortar 141.125" M1890 37 Builders Mortar, M1896, #219, Rarig 1903-1911 See note 1 B1 12" Mortar 141.125" M1890 7 Niles Mortar, M1896, #215, Maryland 1903-1911 See note 1 B2 12" Mortar 141.125" M1890 8 Niles Mortar, M1896, #213, Maryland 1903-1911 See note 1 B3 12" Mortar 141.125" M1890 37 Bethlehem Mortar, M1896, #214, Maryland 1903-1911 See note 1 B4 12" Mortar 141.125" M1890 9 Niles Mortar, M1896, #212, Maryland 1903-1911 See note 1 Source: RCB, 10 Oct 1903, CDSG, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 140-141, 210 Note 1: Around 1911 the mortars and carriages were swapped with a set of eight older 12" M1886M mortars mounted on M1891 carriages from Battery Lincoln (1) at Fort Banks (2). Battery Bagley Armament (edit list) Empl No Caliber Type Barrel Length Model Serial No Manufacturer Carriage Service Dates Notes A1 12" Mortar 120" M1886M 73 Builders Mortar, M1891, #20, Builders 1911-1920 See note 1 A2 12" Mortar 120" M1886M 61 Builders Mortar, M1891, #18, Builders 1911-1920 See note 1 A3 12" Mortar 120" M1886M 63 Builders Mortar, M1891, #17, Builders 1911-1920 See note 1 A4 12" Mortar 120" M1886M 41 Builders Mortar, M1891, #19, Builders 1911-1920 See note 1 B1 12" Mortar 120" M1886M 26 Builders Mortar, M1891, #27, Builders 1911-1920 See note 1 B2 12" Mortar 120" M1886M 23 Builders Mortar, M1891, #29, Builders 1911-1920 See note 1 B3 12" Mortar 120" M1886M 16 Builders Mortar, M1891, #28, Builders 1911-1920 See note 1 B4 12" Mortar 120" M1886-1890MI 9 Watervliet Mortar, M1891, #30, Builders 1911-1920 See note 1 Source: RCW Form 1, 1 Nov 1919, CDSG, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 134-135, 210 Note 1: Battery Bagley Plan World War I (1917-1918) The U.S. entry into World War I resulted in a widespread removal of large caliber coastal defense gun tubes for service in Europe. Many of the gun and mortar tubes removed were sent to arsenals for modification and mounting on mobile carriages, both wheeled and railroad. Most of the removed gun tubes never made it to Europe and were either remounted or remained at the arsenals until needed elsewhere. The mortar tubes and carriages of Battery Bagley were not affected by the World War I redistribution but the older M1886 mortars and their M1891 carriages were approved for scrapping on 30 Sep 1918 and ordered scrapped 26 May 1920 as a part of the post-war disarmament program. The eight scrapped mortars were replaced with four newer M1890MI mortars and M1896MI mortar carriages from an unnamed battery at NAS Rockaway, Fort Tilden. These newer mortars were transferred to Battery Bagley, 30 Jul 1920, and placed two per pit. The exact match of mortars and carriages to positions is unknown but the list below identifies the mortar tubes and carriages. Battery Bagley Armament (edit list) Empl No Caliber Type Barrel Length Model Serial No Manufacturer Carriage Service Dates Notes ? 12" Mortar 141.125" M1890 46 Builders Mortar, M1896, #202, Columbus 1920-1926 See note 1 ? 12" Mortar 141.125" M1890 93 Watervliet Mortar, M1896, #203, Columbus 1920-1926 See note 1 ? 12" Mortar 141.125" M1890 102 Watervliet Mortar, M1896, #223, Rarig 1920-1926 See note 1 ? 12" Mortar 141.125" M1890 103 Watervliet Mortar, M1896, #225, Rarig 1920-1926 See note 1 Source: CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA CDSG, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 140-141, 210 Note 1: Mortars and carriages transferred from NAS Rockaway, Fort Tilden 30 Jul 1920. Mortar tubes transferred to Aberdeen 20 Jul 1926, two Rarig carriages transferred to Aberdeen 5 Aug 1926 other two abandoned in place. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA As Fort Caswell transitioned from caretaker status to private ownership, all four of the mortar tubes and the two Rarig carriages were transferred to the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Jul-Aug 1926, the remaining two carriages were abandoned in place. Current Status No period guns or mounts in place. {"selectable":false,"height":"-500","width":"-500"} Location: Fort Caswell, Brunswick County, North Carolina. Maps & Images Lat: 33.890937 Long: -78.024312 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 16.58' Sources: Links: CDSG Visited: 27 Jan 2010 Picture Gallery Click on the picture to see a larger version. Contribute additional pictures - the more the better! Battery Bagley Mortar Pit B Battery Bagley Mortar Pit A Data Booth Battery Bagley Mortar Pit B Data Booth Battery Bagley Power Room Battery Bagley Latrine Battery Bagley Guard Booth Battery Bagley Commander's Room Battery Bagley Magazine Gallery Battery Bagley Shell Room Entrances