Battery Greene-Edgerton

Battery Greene-Edgerton (1898-1942) - Battery Greene-Edgerton was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 12 inch coastal mortar battery on Fort Adams (1), Newport County, Rhode Island. The battery was named in G.O. 43, 4 Apr 1900, after MG Nathaniel Greene, Continental Army, a distinguished citizen of Rhode Island, who exercised important command under General Washington and in the Carolinas during the Revolutionary War. In 1906 the battery was administratively split into two batteries. The new half of the battery was named in G.O. 20, 25 Jan 1906, after Ltc. Wright P. Edgerton, professor, United States Military Academy, who died 24 Jun 1904. Battery construction started in September 1896, was completed in June 1898 and transferred to the Coastal Artillery for use in May 1898 at a cost of $ 63,350.00. Deactivated in 1942.

Battery Greene-Edgerton History

Part of the Harbor Defense of Narragansett Bay.

Endicott Period

Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal mortar battery with fifteen 12" M1890MI mortars and one 12" M1890 mortar mounted on M1896MI mortar carriages. The mortars were arranged into four mortar pits, each pit having four mortars. In 1906 the battery was administratively split into two batteries, each with two mortar pits. Pits A and B stayed as Battery Greene, pits C and D became pits A and B of Battery Edgerton. These two batteries were single story batteries with the magazines and the guns on the same level. The magazines were located in front of the guns behind concrete walls. Shells and powder were wheeled from the magazine using shell carts.

Battery Greene-Edgerton Armament (edit list)

Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model		Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates	Notes
Battery Greene
A1	12" Mortar	141.125"	M1890MI		8	Builders	Mortar, M1896MI, #27, Robert Poole	1898-1942	See note 1
A2	12" Mortar	141.125"	M1890MI		10	Watervliet	Mortar, M1896MI, #29, Robert Poole	1898-1918	See note 2
A3	12" Mortar	141.125."	M1890MI		19	Watervliet	Mortar, M1896MI, #26, Robert Poole	1898-1942	See note 1
A4	12" Mortar	141.125"	M1890MI		29	Bethlehem	Mortar, M1896MI, #28, Robert Poole	1898-1918	See note 2
B1	12" Mortar	141.125"	M1890MI		12	Watervliet	Mortar, M1896MI, #17, Robert Poole	1898-1942	See note 1
B2	12" Mortar	141.125"	M1890MI		5	Watervliet	Mortar, M1896MI, #24, Robert Poole	1898-1918	See note 2
B3	12" Mortar	141.125"	M1890MI		7(B)	Bethlehem	Mortar, M1896MI, #25, Robert Poole	1898-1942	See note 1
B4	12" Mortar	141.125"	M1890MI		21	Watervliet	Mortar, M1896MI, #22, Robert Poole	1898-1918	See note 2
Became Battery Edgerton
C1	12" Mortar	141.125"	M1890MI		1	Builders	Mortar, M1896MI, #21, Robert Poole	1898-1942	See note 1
C2	12" Mortar	141.125"	M1890MI		9	Watervliet	Mortar, M1896MI, #23, Robert Poole	1898-1942	See note 2
C3	12" Mortar	141.125."	M1890MI		7(a)	Builders	Mortar, M1896MI, #20, Robert Poole	1898-1942	See note 1
C4	12" Mortar	141.125"	M1890MI		23	Bethlehem	Mortar, M1896MI, #18, Robert Poole	1898-1942	See note 2
D1	12" Mortar	141.125"	M1890MI		11	Watervliet	Mortar, M1896MI, #13, Robert Poole	1898-1942	See note 1
D2	12" Mortar	141.125"	M1890MI		14	Watervliet	Mortar, M1896MI, #15, Robert Poole	1898-1942	See note 3
D3	12" Mortar	141.125"	M1890MI		2	Builders	Mortar, M1896MI, #19, Robert Poole	1898-1942	See note 1
D4	12" Mortar	141.125"	M1890		6	Watervliet	Mortar, M1896MI, #16, Robert Poole	1898-1942	See note 2
Source: RCW Form 1, 1 Nov 1927, RCB, 31 Dec 1904, CDSG, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 140-143, 204. Note 1: Guns & carriages ordered salvaged 14 Nov 1942. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Note 2: Mortars removed and shipped 23 May 1918 to Morgan carriages scrapped 26 May 1920. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Note 3: Mortar and carriage shipped to SHPG 11 Feb 1918. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA

File:Fort Adams (1) Battery Greene-Edgerton Plan.jpg

Battery Greene-Edgerton Plan

World War I

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. Early in 1918 a single mortar and carriage were shipped from Battery Edgerton to Sandy Hook Proving Ground (SHPG) to determine if they could be mounted on railway cars for use overseas. In May 1918 seven more mortars were shipped back to Morgan for modification. Each of the four mortar pits was left with the front two emplacements empty and the two rear emplacements armed. This was a planned reduction in most of the coastal mortar batteries that reduced crowding and manpower in the pits when the mortars were salvoed. The front carriages were removed and the front emplacements were filled with concrete in 1925.

World War II

The salvage of the remaining armament was approved on 14 Nov 1942.

Current Status

No period guns or mounts in place.

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Location: Fort Adams, Newport County, Rhode Island Maps & Images Lat: 41.472256 Long: -71.340001 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: Pit A=18.3', Pit B=18.21', Pit C=18.1', Pit D=18.1'

Sources:

• U.S.Army, Supplement to the Harbor Defense Project of Narragansett Bay, (HDNARB-AP-45), 1 Feb 1945, CDSG

Links:

• Coast Defense Study Group, CDSG Press, CDSG Digital Library

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